Search for Common Ground Job Vacancy : Case Management Officer (Child Protection)

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels, Belgium, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict – away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 600 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 55 offices in 34 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.

The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work, with a dedicated and enthusiastic staff that is committed to its mission and values. You will be joining a highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in the role.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Case Management Officer (Child Protection)

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Reports to: Deputy Program Manager.
Direct Reports: The Case Management Officer will manage 4 Case Management Assistants.

Position Summary

The Case Management Officer supports the direct implementation of the “Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Groups including the Civilian Joint Task Force in North East Nigeria” program through ensuring the provision of case management services for children in need of protection, in addition to supervising, mentoring and technical support to Case Management Assistants and Community Case Workers
This will ensure the quality of case management response to select beneficiaries to support their well-being and protection.
The Case Management Officer will work closely with all team members including Case Management Assistants, Community Case Workers, Community Mobilisers, Education Officers, Enterprise Officers, in addition to the Deputy Program Manager and Child Protection Manager.

About the Project

In the past decade, states in the North East region of Nigeria have faced frequent attacks by Boko Haram militants leading to widespread displacement, violations of national laws, international humanitarian and human rights laws, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. Children, who are the most vulnerable members of society, have suffered the worst impacts as pre-existing problems of access to social protection, education and healthcare increase, new threats emerge, and the systems to protect children fails
This project aims to ensure that children verified and separated from CJTF receive a comprehensive child protection package including counseling, psychosocial support and socio-economic reintegration, and that their communities understand the importance of their separation and reintegration
Search will work closely with the children, their families and communities, and CJTF to address the psychosocial and economic needs of the children and to influence the attitudes of communities and CJTF so they understand the negative impact of associating with armed groups on children and prevent the CJTF from using children.
By increasing resilience of children associated with CJTF and increasing their employability, this project will facilitate lasting reintegration of these children and amplify positive narratives around their role in communities as productive civilian actors and agents for peace.

Roles and Responsibilities

Provide on-the-job mentoring and technical assistance to Case Management Assistants and Community Case Workers.
Ensure alignment with Inter-Agency Case Management Guidelines, standardized operating procedures and tools.
Adherence to key child protection principles including best interests of the child and do no harm.
Ensure adherence to child safeguarding and Code of Conduct.
Together with the Line Manager, ensure the establishment and implementation of work plans, setting clear targets and activity plans.
Ensure that Case Management Assistants and Community Case Workers follow case management steps ensuring that each step is properly implemented and documented in the individual’s file.
Ensure Case Management Assistants register and regularly update cases in the Case Management Information Management System as well as hard copy.
Support individual cases, when necessary, and provide regular monitoring of all aspects of case management services.
Conduct weekly supervision meetings with all Case Management Assistants, providing technical advice on cases and psychosocial support. Facilitate peer-to-peer support groups where appropriate.
Monitor timescales for response, decision-making, follow-up and review.
Review staff caseloads to ensure that they are manageable and share challenges with senior management.
Conduct regular case file audits and check that protocols and principles are respected.
Map existing specialized services and make sure that the referral pathway is up-to-date to facilitate beneficiaries’ access to services in conjunction with that shared by the Child Protection Sub-Sector Working Group.
Ensure case information and data is collected systematically and accurately.
Ensure implementation of information management protocols, particularly in terms of confidentiality of data (including data base).
Ensure regular communication with the line manager on activities’ updates, achievements and challenges via meetings, reports and ad hoc communication upon request and needs. Flag urgent issues when they arise.
Manage Case Management Assistants to follow up on administrative and logistical procedures connected with the accomplishment of the planned activities.
Ensure proper use of equipment and other material resources available to the project.
Organize regular case conference meetings to address challenging cases and ensure children receive quality services with dignity.
Perform any other duties as required by the supervisor or Line Managers as may be reasonably requested.
Share necessary security updates with Security Manager in Case Management Assistant’s areas of intervention to ensure safety of beneficiaries and team members in ongoing risk assessments.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.

Qualifications
Education:

University Degree or equivalent in Social Work, Psychology, Law or Sociology.

Required Experience:

Minimum of 2 years case management experience in Child Protection
Minimum of 2 years in an advisory/ technical role
Minimum of 2 years management/ supervisory experience
Experience working in emergency settings
Experience working in different communities in Borno State
Experience working with refugees, host communities, and other vulnerable populations
Experience in Community Based Protection programming
Experience using CPIMS (Child Protection Information Management System)
Experience working with Children Associated with Armed Groups

Other Relevant Requirements:

Good understanding of Child Protection Minimum Standards and the Inter-Agency Guidelines for Case Management and Child Protection.
Knowledge of types of child abuse and their impact (violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation)
Familiarity with referral pathways in and around Maiduguri
Understanding of psycho-social support
Excellent analytical and writing skills
Excellent ability to develop positive helping relationships with children and caregivers.

Desirable:

Strong reporting skills capturing case management information.
Knowledge of risk assessment to ensure changing protection concerns captured.
Good analytical, problem solving and project planning skills.
Community oriented and respect for local culture.
Good IT skills, particularly with MS Office – Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint.
Strong command of both written and spoken English.
Knowledge of a local language (Hausa, Kanuri) a must.
Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour.
Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity.
Provides good administrative and logistical support to team.
Actively seeks support in addressing difficulties in execution of duties.
Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and organizational development.
Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations.
Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness.
Leads by example to motivate high performance of others.
Strong commitment to continuous learning.