Job Description

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Child Protection Officer is responsible for field level implementation, coordination of case management processes and monitoring and evaluation of child protection activities as well as providing leadership and guidance to child protection community workers and staff. Manage individual cases for children with protection concerns, deliver capacity building trainings for CP volunteers, community structures and staff partner agencies.  To coordinate Save the Children program activities in the field offices.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Child Protection Coordinator 

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana, Samburu and Wajir and we work through partners in many other parts of the country. We employ nearly 300 staff and will have an operating annual budget in 2023 of approximately US$20-25 million. Save the Children has a three-year country strategic plan upon which all our interventions and priorities are premised.

Staff directly reporting to this post:  Child Protection Community workers

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Case management

• Manage and support the individual case management and BIA & BID development processes in the  field offices, 
• Provide mentorship and support to the community supervisors and workers through on the job training and guidance to enhance their case management skills and competencies
• Design a capacity building strategy for BID community workers and other stakeholders involved in the of BIA & BID process.
• Actively participate in interagency coordination meetings such as BID panels, CPWG and Case conferences both at DMO and the field office.
• Analyse training schedules for the BID community workers and provide technical support and guidance for effective implementation of BID/BIA process
• Ensure timely management of data and documentation of cases at camp level; and through coordination with MEAL assistants ensure children records, data are accurately recorded in the CPIMS database and updated regularly with case progress. 
• Contribute to the design of an overall programme contingency plan when needed
• Provide BID Supervisors with technical support regarding complex cases or specific technical difficulties
• Produce timely progress reports, including both quantitative and qualitative information, on Child Protection activities and input into regular situation reports, monthly and quarterly reports
• Ensure correct management of BID/BIA documentation at camp level
• Manage and coordinate  the planning of the Camp Child Protection activities to ensure minimal disruption to programme activities-Including staffing issues and office administration; to ensure effective management of programme resources
• Facilitate regular interviews and home visits with relevant persons who can give information on the child (the child, his/her family, leader, teacher, neighbour…) 
• Participate in camp level interagency meetings and engage in the identification and building of linkages with other partners/agencies, the Government and the community to ensure that issues related to child protection are raised and addressed. 
• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, security, equal opportunities and other relevant policies
• Manage BID community workers staff annual leave and time off ensuring minimal disruption to programme activities
• Collect required data and coordinate with the MEAL team on a monthly basis and ensure data is correctly captured
• Identify and build links with other partners, ensuring that issues for child protection are raised and addressed
• Coordinate the identification, follow up of children in alternative care  and , monitoring  of foster parents/Guardianship
• Ensure the placement of children  in alternative care adhere to SCI procedure  and with the Kenya alternative care guidelines(Guidelines for Alternative Care of Children in Kenya 2011)

Program Planning and implementation

• With the support of the Child protection coordinator, Develops a feasible, coherent time bound  and detailed implementation plan for all active grants
• Under the support and guidance of the Child protection Coordinator, coordinate plans for the implementation of the project activities in all camps.
• Work with the Child protection Coordinator and other team members and sister departments to develop project implementation and procurement plans 
• Ensure that project activities are implemented in accordance with the approved work plans and with the involvement of partners and concerned stakeholders at all levels
• Participate and/or take lead in joint activities such as distributions and assessments as and when assigned.
• Conduct regular data collection using existing tools in order to track project performance on indicators and measure overall impact and for donor reporting purposes and make recommendations on the improvement of these tools

Reporting, Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Ensure monthly, weekly and quarterly reports are submitted in good time and meets the quality standards
• Ensure project activities are implemented in the most efficient, cost effective and sustainable manner without compromising quality and Save the Children’s value for money
• Ensure that good practices and lessons are documented and shared with the MEAL team and the Child protection team for replication and wider dissemination 
• Identify and contribute to development of case studies and success stories to ensure milestones are documented and reported on.
• Ensure that field based monitoring data and information is collated regularly and made available to Child protection  Coordinator and the MEAL Team for data entry, reporting and monitoring purposes
• Work with the Child protection  Coordinator and the MEAL Team to prepare and/or revise project monitoring tools (LOGFRAME, IPTT, MEAL PLANs) to track indicators and monitor achievement of objectives and impact of the program
• Travel to all project sites to conduct regular monitoring of projects quality together with other project team members
• filling of forms and quality data collection using the CPIMS forms
• In collaboration with the MEAL Team, focus on project data collection to generate practical information that can be used for ongoing program decision-making while also capturing results at the impact level
• Assist the Child protection  Coordinator in preparation of periodic progress reports in a timely manner for both internal and external use (monthly sitrep, quarterly and final reports)

Partnerships and coordination

• Develop partnerships and rapport with the refugee community structures to enhance community participation, ownership and sustainability of programmes by orienting them on the project goals and to solicit their involvement in the implementation of the project especially in case management and implementation of the community based child protection systems and activities. 
• Collaborate and coordinate with other aid agencies, governmental institutions and other child protection organizations in order to promote cooperation and strengthen systems for children
• Represent Save the Children in interagency working groups and camp coordination meetings and partner training as may be required by the CP coordinator.
• Develop and cultivate team work both internally and within the inter-agency circle

Grants Management and Accountability

• Under the support of the CP coordinator work closely with finance and awards team to ensure effective budget monitoring for the project in line with donor requirements and contractual obligations, including Grant opening, mid-term and closing meetings.
• Ensure full and meaningful utilization of assigned budget lines in accordance with phased budget whilst ensuring quality and value for money.
• Ensure timely production of activity/events reports as well as monthly reports as per the agreed timelines.

Staff management and capacity building

• Ensure community workers are fully supported and managed, through coaching and mentoring.
• Develop SMART objectives for all line reports and ensure continuous performance management and review
• Develop leave plans and work plans that are In line with the project timelines and ensure close collaboration HR on matters staff management.

Program Support Operations: 

• Coordinate with other departments to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities including logistics (transport, warehousing and asset management), procurement, security and administration 

Coordinate with other SCI programs/sectors to ensure integration and that the project runs smoothly and efficiently and draws from best experiences and lessons for improved programming.

Child safeguarding

• Ensure the safety and protection off all children through child friendly interventions and ensure concerns are managed using the appropriate channels.
• Ensure programmes and activities do not put children and their families at risk and that risk assessment is done in all activities.

Ensure all line reports (community workers) understand the child safe guarding policy and mechanisms for reporting concerns

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children 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 others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

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

Experiences and Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Good communication skills with fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili 
• Graduate degree in social work / Law/BLM social sciences or equivalent with preferably 3 year work experience in social work, child protection, case processing and emergency response.
• Knowledge of community based child protection approaches, preferably including experience in participatory approaches and child participation methodologies.
• Good IT skills including the use of Word and database software
• Demonstrable ability to adapt to changing programme priorities and emergency priorities that may arise
• Strong self-starter, able to take initiative and adapt to changing circumstances and priorities
• Positive attitude towards community work with emphasis on the ability to learn from communities and support innovative approaches to problem solving
• Commitment to Save the Children’s Child Protection Policy.
• Understanding of the dynamics, local language and context of the refugees is essential

DESIRABLE SKILLS:

• Previous experience in working with IA CPIMS is an added advantage.
• Experience of working with refugee and host communities in a Somali context and other agencies that support Child Protection.
• Child communication and interviewing skills
• Ability to adapt to different cultures
• Experience and skills in management of staff

Skills Required

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