Social Work Advisor, STEER Project at Save The Children

The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Role Purpose

• As a member of the STEER Team, the Social Work Advisor will support technical programme management, information gathering, results communication and documentation. He/She will be expected to support project level assessment, project planning and coordination.
• With supervision from the STEER Technical Director, the Social Work Advisor will generally support the design and implementation of high quality Social Work Interventions in the STEER Project States and provide technical oversight on activities of the Social Work Coordinators in the Project.

Scope of Role

• Reports to: STEER Technical Director
• Staff directly reporting to this post: STEER Social Work Coordinators (CRS/Lagos/Kad./Kn/Bau.)
• Budget responsibility: None

Key Areas of Accountability
Programme support:

• Provide programme technical support through frequent field visits to the implementing States, presenting a report with recommendations.
• Ensure teams develop quality timely workplans and budgets according to the frequency requested by the project.
• Support training of Project Staff on Social Work or other related topics.
• Support to build the social workforce capacity of local government agencies (LGA), civil society organizations (CSO), community-based organizations (CBO) and partner institutions on case Management
• Develop job descriptions for Community Case Management Workers (CCMWs) to be placed in partner organizations.
• Support recruitment, interviewing, and hiring or sign up CCMWs and CSO Social Work staff.
• Provide Technical Support to Partner CSOs to support CCMW to provide resolution and referral services for clients who require specialized counselling
• Support Partners to coordinate activities of Community Case Management Workers (CCMW) these includes; Routine Home visits, Case management, Referrals, Linkages and Collaboration with other Service providers.
• Evaluate the work of CSO Social work staff as well as their CCMW to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
• Provide technical support to CSO Partners to develop and implement care plans including reviews and evaluations.
• Provide direct support to beneficiaries or households, such as handling a referral for child advocacy issues, conducting a needs evaluation, or resolving complaints.
• Provide technical Support to partners to form and coordinates activities on CPC, Kids and Youth clubs, caregivers forum including meetings to build resilience among children in distress in all STEER project communities
• Participate in technical meetings related to Social work programmes, when requested.
• Monitor that accountability and participation mechanisms for adults and children are planned for and correctly implemented in the STEER Project.
• Supported by the STEER Technical Director, lead on supporting national level coordination with stakeholders and Save the Children direct responses.
• Observe principles of child rights programming inform in all activities related to social work programming including design, analysis, implementation and M& E with a particular focus on gender and diversity, children’s participation. Ensure quality of practice by adhering to the SC Practice Standards on Child Participation.
• Establish and maintain relationships with other agencies and organizations within STEER communities to meet community needs and to ensure that quality services are provided.
• Support recruitment of technical staff for the project, as well as induction.

Documentation and reporting:

• Support State teams to produce timely high quality reports and documentation both to meet donor and internal demands.
• Provide information and other communication materials for effective support of other departments by meeting service requirements.
• Provide program updates to STEER partners, and stakeholders on a regular basis
• Contribute to policy development relating to Social Work and ensure this is consistent with Save the Children overall approach.
• Submits monthly reports to the STEER Technical Director
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Representation and proposal development:

• Participate on the development and review of Social Work related national documents (guidelines, policies, etc.) providing technical inputs in line with Save the Children position paper, policies and evidence based programme expertise.
• Support proposal development, including budgets, for funding both to maintain and expand Save the Children’s work and influence within the social work sector.
• Comply with the requirements of Save the Children’s child protection policies and other staff policies.

Management and Human Resources development:

• Line manage staff as defined by the Country Office organogram.
• Support learning and development of line managed staff, by directly building their capacities, advising on learning needs, sharing training opportunities and encouraging the use of e-tools for self-learning.
• Ensure performance reviews line managed staff and other HR requirements are met.

Place of Work:

• The post will be based in Abuja, but will require approximately 50% time travelling in other States.

Skills, Experience and Education
Essential:

• MSc. in Social Work with three (3) years’ work experience in social work, or a BS/HND in Social Science with 7 years’ work experience.
• Substantial track record of success on social work programming in the context of HIV including OVC.
• Experience in project management of at least 2 years.
• Demonstrable experience in budget formulation and monitoring.
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities, manageable work plans and evaluate progress.
• Demonstrable ability to acquire a high level of thematic expertise on priority issues within social work.
• Experience in providing technical support to partners and in particular government at senior levels.
• Proven capacity to develop a network of contacts with key players from amongst government, donors, international agencies and NGOs, to maintain these relationships over time and to raise significant funding from donor grants.

Desirable:

• Strong computer skills required, especially the ability to work comfortably in the MS office package
• Ability to work independently and manage various projects in a team setting with limited supervision
• Demonstrated ability to assess priorities and handle multiple tasks simultaneously to meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels.
• Proven capacity to deliver results against objectives, reporting schedules and workplans.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Proficient in word processing, presentations and spreadsheet computer packages.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s values and mission.
• Analytical & research skills, experience in conducting health systems research, ability to analyse data.

Additional Qualifications:

• Work experience in health/public health and or in a health/public health organisation, including as a trainer.
• Experience with providing institutional support and technical assistance to development partners, government/community institutions

Additional skills:

• Ability to work effectively both independently (with minimal supervision) and as a member of a team
• Commitment to gender equity, child rights, community empowerment, and grassroots development approaches
• Effective planning and organising skills
• Effective interpersonal skills – oral and written communication skills

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; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.