Child Protection Caseworker at Life at Best Development Initiative

Life at Best Development Initiative (LABDI) is a team of change-makers who believe that every helping hand can create a better future for survivors of wars. We started extending help to vulnerable children and women who were affected by the insurgency which began in Borno state, Nigeria, in 2009. This moment intensified when we found that there were many such vulnerable children, women, and households who needed help with food, shelter, and education. Our team expanded and we spread out into different parts of the BAY states to make sure we cover all possible areas and help as many children, women, and households as possible. We support children, families, and communities affected by insurgencies and natural disasters.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Child Protection Caseworker

Location: Yobe

Role Purpose

• The Caseworker will be responsible for the implementation of the Comprehensive Case Management as well as FTR activities when necessary and coordinating with relevant LABDI staff and stakeholders involved in protection, family tracing and reunification (FTR) including child protection community mobilization staff.
• In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the Caseworker will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Role Dimensions:

• Internal: All Staff and in LABDI with relevant qualification and experience
• External: State level sections, Local and Internation and National NGOs 

Key Areas of Accountability

• Reinforce adherence to the CP guiding principles throughout all activities with children and their families. This includes ensuring informed consent/assent and the best interest of the child.
• Participate and support the identification of children harmed or at-risk of harm and provide individual case management in accordance with all case management steps and principles, such as:
• Conduct initial assessments of CP cases and prioritize based on risk level.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of CP cases.
• Develop case management plans that address the needs identified in the initial and comprehensive assessments of CP cases and seek support from the supervisor as needed.
• Provide basic counselling and psychosocial support.
• Refer and accompany children in need to more specialized services.
• Follow up regularly to ensure that all services and action items listed in the case plan are implemented within the agreed upon time frame. Ensure that progress is regularly reviewed.
• Regularly monitor and support children and their families through visits, emotional support, counselling, referrals, etc.
• Work in close, daily collaboration with the IRC sectors to ensure children and their families have discrete and confidential access to services via the internal referral procedures.
• Work with the CP team to ensure the response to the evolving needs of children and their families.
• Identify concerns related to and support adherence to CP referral protocols and CP guiding principles, and bring these concerns to the CP Officer
• Maintain effective working relationships with relevant partners, including community leaders and other implementing partners.
• Complete monthly activity reports, according to the mentorship provided by the CP Officer
• As required and depending on the needs, the CP Case worker may sporadically also need to support the Implementation of LABDI CP programs and help, amongst others,
• Any other duties assigned by the line manager.

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling LABDI values.
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance, and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
• widely shares their personal vision for LABDI, engages and motivates others.
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity. 

Qualifications

• Minimum of Diploma in Social Sciences, Social Work or Community Development.

Experience and Skills:
Essential:

• Minimum of 3 years sectoral (child protection) experience in a similar position
• Experience working and communicating with children.
• Excellent technical understanding of child protection and community-based approaches
• Excellent technical understanding of child protection (especially case management) and community-based approaches.
• Excellent understanding of case management including FTR process.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks.
• Able to lead a team to achieve results.
• Flexibility and ability to work independently and in a team. 
• Able to work to tight deadlines and under pressure.
• Able to operate in an extremely harsh living and working environment. 
• Gender awareness and sensitivity
• Commitment to the aims and principles of LABDI. A good understanding of the LABDI mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.
• Awareness of using positive discipline; an officer should never shout at, humiliate, or hit children. 

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the area, socio-culture, and local language where the post is located as an added advantage.

Equal Opportunities:

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the LABDI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

• We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
• Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Application Closing Date
19th June, 2024.