Child Protection Assistant - Zamfara at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Overview/Summary: 

• This position is responsible for implementing, and supervising activities at the sites, support in training community structures, conduct case management, group psychosocial support for children and adolescents, positive parenting sessions for parents and caregivers and work closely with CP community-based structures to monitor and implement program activities.
• They will also work closely with the CP officer, Meal Officer and line manager, and the Consortium management team to ensure quality data collection and management, report writing and budget implementation.

Major Responsibilities:

• Ensure vulnerability assessments are conducted for all Identified and referred cases, to identify vulnerable children and families and their needs, prioritizing the identification of children experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence including Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) and Children and Armed conflicts (CAAC).
• Ensure quality case management through the development of individualized case-specific actions plans for at risk children and their families with an emphasis on high-risk cases of children.
• Coordinate with respective governmental agencies and other key stakeholders on vulnerable cases.
• Develop daily and weekly activity schedules and draft progress reports (i.e., vulnerability assessments, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), awareness-raising activities, as well as prevention activities to reduce exposure to risk for vulnerable children)
• Ensure data protection principles are followed when using CPIMS in managing sensitive personal data of children and their families.
• Coordinate communication and support for children and their families and link them to specialized services or other IRC sectors where needed to ensure integrated service provision.
• Develop creative engagement activities through Safe Healing and Learning Space (SHLS) for affected children and families, providing resilience building opportunities to foster social and leadership development.
• Ensure regular communication with the CP manager for updates on achievements and challenges.
• Provide daily guidance on SHLS activities to the SHLS facilitators in accordance with the standard tools and procedures including weekly support supervision.
• Ensure there is regular interaction with community members and established community mechanisms like the community-based protection committees (CBPCs) to support protection activities.
• Conduct service mapping in location of implementation to support the establishment of referral pathway.
• Work closely with the CBPCs to ensure safe identification and referral of children with protection concerns.
• Ensure monthly child protection monitoring is conducted.
• Ensure parents and caregivers of vulnerable children are enrolled into the positive parenting sessions.
• Support the establishment, management, and delivery of the SAFE approach by facilitators and engage in ongoing skills building using Social-emotional learning (SEL) /SAFE materials.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  The Child Protection Officer
Position directly supervises:  CBCPCs and SHLS Facilitators

Indirect Reporting: The NW Protection Manager, Consortium Management Team.
Other Internal: Heal; External contacts: child protection systems strengthening (CPSS), Partners CP sector

Qualifications

Education:  

• Minimum qualification of a degree or HND in Social Works, Psychology, Education, and any of the other social sciences.
• At least 2 years’ experience in implementing child protection programs in humanitarian or development settings.
• Demonstrated understanding of working with children and particularly vulnerable children.
• Experience as an active participant in social groups, with an understanding of group dynamics and processes.
• Capacity building, facilitation, or training experience
• Experience in supporting the delivery of psychosocial activities, emergency response, child protection case management including family tracing and reunification, and setting up child safeguarding mechanisms.
• Personal qualities: Team player, flexible, network-builder, time management and ability to handle pressure well.
• Fluency in English required and in Hausa preferred.