Social worker

   (Bamenda/Kumba, Cameroon)

Posted : 7 August, 2021

Category : Emergency Response   Location : Bamenda/Kumba, Cameroon

Job type : Full Time

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Social worker

Date: 03-Aug-2021

 

Location: Bamenda/Kumba, Cameroon

 

Company: Plan International

 

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.

 

             

 

Post title:

 

Social worker

 

Grade

 

 

 

Department: 

 

Emergency Response

 

Start date

 

 

 

Duty Station:

 

NW and SW regions

 

 

 

 

 

Reports to:

 

Project  Coordinator

 

Purpose: 

 

The CP Social/Case worker will be responsible for providing social services ensuring in line with key child protection principles including best interests of the child, confidentiality, do no harm and child participation. The case worker will work closely with conflict affected children including Unaccompanied and Separated Children and other vulnerable children at risk of and survivors of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect, providing case management services in line with Plan’s Standard Operating procedures, and Global minimum standards of child protection case management.

 

Social /Case 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 program activities his/her zone of intervention on weekly/monthly basis to the CPiE Project Coordinator. 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.

 

 

 

                                            

 

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 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 Project Coordinator on activities implemented.

With the permission of the CPiE 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

 

Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.

Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.

Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.

Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.

Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

 

Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.

Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at : https://jobs.plan-international.org/search/?createNewAlert=false&q=cameroon

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