Social Workers 160 views0 applications

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Major Responsibilities

• The Social/Case worker will assume full responsibility to assess the level of risk that children are exposed to, and immediately report any cases that could evolve into high risk cases to the direct line Supervisor (Case Management Officer/CPiE Coordinator /Project Coordinator/CPIE Specialist).
• Identify, prioritize, assess and support children at risk of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect.
• Monitor and report on child protection issues and violations in assigned communities or zone.
• Provide case management services in line with the National Standard Operating Procedures for case management & Global Child Protection Case Management Guidelines.
• Take at least 25 identified CP cases of vulnerable children from Initial Assessment to Case Closure using the Inter-Agency Case Management forms during the project performance period.
• Ensure that children are followed up and receiving proper case management and that cases are prepared for case discussions/case management meetings
• Ensure regular case review meetings and conferences are conducted to reflect on progress and to accommodate the lessons learned and improve case management system accordingly; [participate in Best Interest Determination as appropriate.
• Be proactive in identifying opportunities to better support children through facilitating processes, systems etc.
• Ensure adequate alternative care services: Seek to understand traditional care strategies for UASC (including potential protection risks linked to these). Assess the capacity of the community to absorb children that need care, and the complementary support that is potentially required.
• Mobilize community leaders and community-based organizations (such as foster parents’ groups) to support alternative care.
• Provide psychosocial support for children in care, parents and caregivers
• Provide parents and caregivers with information on child psychosocial distress, and on how they can support their children to recover, as well as access services.
• Establish regular structured recreational activities, led by community volunteers/Community focal points, and coordinate these with other activities. This may include child friendly spaces, ensuring that age and gender-sensitive activities are developed and implemented for children and adolescents.
• Work with other sectors to ensure that they consider the protection and wellbeing of children and assist them to make their services child-friendly and accessible.
• Ensure full responsibility & accountability –for maintaining, drafting and updating reports which include case management reports and field activities report.
• Promotes and ensures the principles of child protection and child participation are respected within the Plan International projects and with identified child protection resources at field level.
• Support training and orientation of CPC members, Community Focal Points and Foster families on child protection, SGBV and positive parenting.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Ensure CPIE risk assessment is done for assigned zone
• Ensure all child protection concerns are reported and also participate in case management meetings.
• Ensure the action plans of Girl/Boys clubs, CBCPM and that for the animation of CFS are closely follow-up by Community Focal Point.
• Report on opportunities and constraints and any adjustments needed in the project.
• Ensure assessment, documentation, good follow up of all referred cases and report accordingly;
• Follow-up survivors from child abuses, identification and evaluations of their needs
• Give feedback on the project during community meetings with beneficiaries and Community leaders a month.
• Ensure Children and Young People Safe Guarding Policy of Plan International Cameroon is respected by all.
• Comply with Plan International’s Fraud Policy at all times to safeguard and protect Plan’s assets and reputation of honesty.

Information and Co-ordination

• Provide regular weekly updates with inputs from all Community Animators
• Submit monthly reports to CPiE Coordinator/ Project Coordinator on activities implemented.
• With the permission of the CPiE Coordinator/Specialist can represent Plan in CPIE stake holders meetings.

Human Resources and Administration

• Participate in the training and briefing of Social Workers and Community Focal Points of CFS and other key stakeholders on CPiE and/or related issues.

Dealing with Problems

• Maintain neutrality to the on-going crisis.
• The job requires intense interventions on the field, in areas often at risk. This requires prudence, vigilance and compliance with security instructions on the part of the animator.
• Excellent and creative leadership skills will be utilized to properly implement the activities, in accordance with the standards, principles and with possible resistance from colleagues as is often the case in emergency response work
• S/he should work under pressure and accept travels and stays in areas often austere.

Key relationships

• Keeps and maintain high contact with children, their families and communities
• Maintains a high contact with other partners at the Divisional Delegation of Health, Social Affairs, Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family, Basic Education, networks and other organizations.
• Maintains high contact with local partners.

Qualification and Experience

• GCE A/ Level or its equivalent. A degree in social sciences, law, education or related field with good knowledge of established international child protection standards and CPIE principles, can be an advantage; with at least 2 years of experience in Social Work or community development.
• Be able to speak English. Ability to speak the local language of the assigned zone will also be an added advantage.
• Has experience in working with children (boys and girls)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Resident in the assigned communities

Skills

• Timely and effective delivery of project activities and other outputs (reports, etc.)
• Commitment to child protection, gender equality and participation
• Skills in participatory assessment, recreational activities, informal education, life skills training and sensitization on child and adolescent protection and prevention of GBV.
• Good computer skills (Microsoft Words, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer)
• Ability to network with grassroots structures.

• Competence in working with survivors from CPIE abuses, case management

Behaviors

• Commitment and adherence to humanitarian values and standards,
• Not been involved in any child protection issues
• Demonstrates neutrality in the current socio-political crisis.
• Works with trustworthiness and integrity
• Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks, diverse cultural contexts and harsh living conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
• Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity.
• Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive under pressure.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

1. Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
2. Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
3. Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
4. Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
5. Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

1. Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
2. Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
3. Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
4. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

1. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
2. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
3. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
4. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

5. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
6. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
7. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
8. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Physical Environment

The position holder will work in a typical office environment with some of his/her colleagues in the same office environment and others in the field.

Level of contact with children

Mid contact- the job responsibilities of this position does will require the post holder to occasionally have any one-to-one contact with children.

We strongly encourage female applicants.

Closing Date: February 07th, 2022

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for. Our organisation is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We will provide equality of opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination on any grounds. We foster an organisational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion while supporting staff to adopt good practice, positive attitudes and principles of gender equality and inclusion.