Jobs Opportunity: Social workers - UNICEF

Location: Bamenda/Kumba/Buea, NW, CM

Company: Plan International

Plan International is an independent non-profit development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. 

We believe in the power and potential of every child. However, these are often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. In addition, it is 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. Moreover, 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 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE

Social Worker (Service Provider or Staff): Responsible for supervising the activities of Community Focal Points, provide training on Child Protection Community Based Mechanisms(CPCBM), support women of CPCBM to counsel girls on sexuality related issues, follow-up identified cases needing psychosocial support and supervises the radio programs. Liaison between the Community Focal Point and CPiE Specialist.

The Social Worker will provide regular reports on programme activities his/her zone of intervention on weekly/monthly basis to the CPiE Specialist. He/she will be responsible for consolidating monitoring data from the zone allocated to him/her.

The Social Worker will also provide support to Community Focal Point in making referrals to local protection agencies, if concerns are raised about children by beneficiaries and others humanitarian actors.  He/she will approve any referrals made.

 He/she will ensure that data is collected and consolidated as required.

Dimensions of the Role

• This position is responsible for the supervision and delivery of the Child Protection activities in the field in accordance wiith Plan International’s emergency child protection response in one Division identified for the project in the North or South West Regions of Cameroon. The Social Worker will work with Child Protection Community Based Mechanisms, Child Friendly Spaces as well as Case Management. The Social Worker will be in charge of trainingCPCBMs, provide effective support in the direct implementation, monitoring and evaluation of CPIE related activities at the divisional level. S/he will work under the direct supervision of a Team Leader with technical support from a CPiE Specialist.  The Social Worker shall supervise the functionality of  Child Friendly Space, Girls/boys clubs and CPCBMs to ensure CPiE activities are implemented as planned.
• The Social Worker will be based in the assigned Division and will report to the Team Leader for Social Workers

Accountabilities

• Supervise at least 06 Community Focal Point.
• Support Community Focal Point in needs assessments of at least 02 CFS
• Supervise the set-up  at least 02 Child Friendly Spaces(CFS)
• Organize other recreational activities for children (boys and girls) in CFS
• Train at least 02  CPCBMs on agreed modules.
• Ensure that some women of the 02 CPCBMs  actually counsel girls on sexuality, early and unwanted pregnancies.
• Carry out orientation on Children and adolescent protection for at least 12 foster families
• Assist the Community Animators in the collection of data of at least 60 children without Birth Certificates using tools developed and agreed upon by CPSWG.
• Visit CFS at least 2 times a week.
• Supervise adolescent boys and girls club making sure that at least 100 youths participate in Youth Clubs in assigned zone.
• Ensure CPIE risk assessment is done for assigned zone.
• Do home visit to at least 12 foster families per month
• Ensure at least 30 cases of children in need of Psychosocial Support are reported in the course of the project.
• Take the 30 identified cases from Initial Assessment to Case Closure using the Inter-Agency Case Management forms
• Ensure proper reporting of Child Protection issues in his/her zone.
• Support in the identification of potential partnerships in CPIE at the Divisional level.
• Ensure that issues of gender, education, DRR, conflict sensitivity are identified and reported.
• Ensure that Children and Young People Safe guarding standards are considered in the activities
• Supervise  life skills activities with youth groups (girls and boys) in the assigned community;
• Facilitate various sensitization campaigns with women and girls;
• Assist Community Focal Point in proper referral of abuse cases to the competent humanitarian actor/s. 
• Visit at least 02 CPCBM Committees based on their action plan at least once a month.
• Comply with Plan International’s Children and Young People Safe Guarding Policy at all times
• Comply with Plan International’s Fraud Policy at all times to safeguard and protect Plan’s assets and reputation of honesty,
• Perform any other duties to be assigned to support the attainment of organizational goals.

1. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• 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.

2. Information and Co-ordination

• Provide regular weekly updates with inputs from all Community Animators (Friday 1: 00)
• Submit monthly reports (23rd of each month) to CPiE Specialist on activities implemented.
• With the permission of the CPiE Specialist can represent Plan in CPIE stake holders meetings.

3. 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.

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

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.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

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,

Behaviours: 

• 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, diversed 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.

Desirable

• Empathy on issue affecting children rights and equality for girls
• Good planning and organizational abilities
• Team work
• Integrity
• Humility

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

• Work in hot and cold climate

Level of contact with children

High level: Frequent interaction with children

NEXT STEP: 
 To apply for this job, kindly click on "Apply". Your application should include:

• A cover letter
• A comprehensive CV including details of two referees, one of whom should be your current of most recent supervisor
   
  Location: Yaoundé – CAMEROON
• Closing date: September 3rd, 2019

Plan International Cameroon operates in an equal opportunity environment and actively encourages diversity.  Only applications received in French or English, will be considered and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Plan international has a child protection and gender equality policies that are integral part of the recruitment process.

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