Case Management Officer (Child Protection) at Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit
organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With
headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels,
Belgium, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals,
organizations, and governments deal with conflict – away from
adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks
to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on
their commonalities. With a total of approximately 600 staff
worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 55 offices in 34
countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and
the United States.

The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work,
with a dedicated and enthusiastic staff that is committed to its
mission and values. You will be joining a highly motivated staff
with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in
the role.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Case Management Officer
(Child Protection)

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Reports to: Deputy Program Manager.
Direct Reports: The Case Management Officer will manage 4 Case
Management Assistants.

Position Summary

• The Case Management Officer supports the direct implementation
  of the “Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children
  Associated with Armed Groups including the Civilian Joint Task
  Force in North East Nigeria” program through ensuring the provision
  of case management services for children in need of protection, in
  addition to supervising, mentoring and technical support to Case
  Management Assistants and Community Case Workers
• This will ensure the quality of case management response to
  select beneficiaries to support their well-being and
  protection.
• The Case Management Officer will work closely with all team
  members including Case Management Assistants, Community Case
  Workers, Community Mobilisers, Education Officers, Enterprise
  Officers, in addition to the Deputy Program Manager and Child
  Protection Manager.

About the Project

• In the past decade, states in the North East region of Nigeria
  have faced frequent attacks by Boko Haram militants leading to
  widespread displacement, violations of national laws, international
  humanitarian and human rights laws, and a deepening humanitarian
  crisis. Children, who are the most vulnerable members of society,
  have suffered the worst impacts as pre-existing problems of access
  to social protection, education and healthcare increase, new
  threats emerge, and the systems to protect children fails
• This project aims to ensure that children verified and
  separated from CJTF receive a comprehensive child protection
  package including counseling, psychosocial support and
  socio-economic reintegration, and that their communities understand
  the importance of their separation and reintegration
• Search will work closely with the children, their families and
  communities, and CJTF to address the psychosocial and economic
  needs of the children and to influence the attitudes of communities
  and CJTF so they understand the negative impact of associating with
  armed groups on children and prevent the CJTF from using
  children.
• By increasing resilience of children associated with CJTF and
  increasing their employability, this project will facilitate
  lasting reintegration of these children and amplify positive
  narratives around their role in communities as productive civilian
  actors and agents for peace.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide on-the-job mentoring and technical assistance to Case
  Management Assistants and Community Case Workers.
• Ensure alignment with Inter-Agency Case Management Guidelines,
  standardized operating procedures and tools.
• Adherence to key child protection principles including best
  interests of the child and do no harm.
• Ensure adherence to child safeguarding and Code of
  Conduct.
• Together with the Line Manager, ensure the establishment and
  implementation of work plans, setting clear targets and activity
  plans.
• Ensure that Case Management Assistants and Community Case
  Workers follow case management steps ensuring that each step is
  properly implemented and documented in the individual’s file.
• Ensure Case Management Assistants register and regularly update
  cases in the Case Management Information Management System as well
  as hard copy.
• Support individual cases, when necessary, and provide regular
  monitoring of all aspects of case management services.
• Conduct weekly supervision meetings with all Case Management
  Assistants, providing technical advice on cases and psychosocial
  support. Facilitate peer-to-peer support groups where
  appropriate.
• Monitor timescales for response, decision-making, follow-up and
  review.
• Review staff caseloads to ensure that they are manageable and
  share challenges with senior management.
• Conduct regular case file audits and check that protocols and
  principles are respected.
• Map existing specialized services and make sure that the
  referral pathway is up-to-date to facilitate beneficiaries’ access
  to services in conjunction with that shared by the Child Protection
  Sub-Sector Working Group.
• Ensure case information and data is collected systematically
  and accurately.
• Ensure implementation of information management protocols,
  particularly in terms of confidentiality of data (including data
  base).
• Ensure regular communication with the line manager on
  activities’ updates, achievements and challenges via meetings,
  reports and ad hoc communication upon request and needs. Flag
  urgent issues when they arise.
• Manage Case Management Assistants to follow up on
  administrative and logistical procedures connected with the
  accomplishment of the planned activities.
• Ensure proper use of equipment and other material resources
  available to the project.
• Organize regular case conference meetings to address
  challenging cases and ensure children receive quality services with
  dignity.
• Perform any other duties as required by the supervisor or Line
  Managers as may be reasonably requested.
• Share necessary security updates with Security Manager in Case
  Management Assistant’s areas of intervention to ensure safety of
  beneficiaries and team members in ongoing risk assessments.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder
may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line
with the above key duties.

Qualifications
Education:

• University Degree or equivalent in Social Work, Psychology, Law
  or Sociology.

Required Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years case management experience in Child
  Protection
• Minimum of 2 years in an advisory/ technical role
• Minimum of 2 years management/ supervisory experience
• Experience working in emergency settings
• Experience working in different communities in Borno State
• Experience working with refugees, host communities, and other
  vulnerable populations
• Experience in Community Based Protection programming
• Experience using CPIMS (Child Protection Information Management
  System)
• Experience working with Children Associated with Armed
  Groups

Other Relevant Requirements:

• Good understanding of Child Protection Minimum Standards and
  the Inter-Agency Guidelines for Case Management and Child
  Protection.
• Knowledge of types of child abuse and their impact (violence,
  abuse, neglect, exploitation)
• Familiarity with referral pathways in and around Maiduguri
• Understanding of psycho-social support
• Excellent analytical and writing skills
• Excellent ability to develop positive helping relationships
  with children and caregivers.

Desirable:

• Strong reporting skills capturing case management
  information.
• Knowledge of risk assessment to ensure changing protection
  concerns captured.
• Good analytical, problem solving and project planning
  skills.
• Community oriented and respect for local culture.
• Good IT skills, particularly with MS Office – Microsoft Word,
  Excel, Powerpoint.
• Strong command of both written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of a local language (Hausa, Kanuri) a must.
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and
  standards of behaviour.
• Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity.
• Provides good administrative and logistical support to
  team.
• Actively seeks support in addressing difficulties in execution
  of duties.
• Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and
  organizational development.
• Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations.
• Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness.
• Leads by example to motivate high performance of others.
• Strong commitment to continuous learning.

Application Closing Date
28th February, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply
online^[1]

Application Instruction
Interested candidates should send the following:

• Current Resume
• Cover Letter (which includes expectations of compensation and
  projected start date)

Note

• The system only has the functionality to upload two documents
  per application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No
  phone calls please.