Vacancy Announcement

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health center and to referral hospitals.

The Safeguarding Officer will work closely with the safeguarding Manager and HR Team, supporting the effective operation of the safeguarding services on a day to day basis in PIH and will work to create and promote a safe and healthy working environment and culture that prevents and condemns sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, bully and addresses the misuse of power in all its forms within or outside the organization. S/he will report to the National Safeguarding Manager and work closely with the HR Team in Kono.

He/she will be the first point of contact for staff members for all Safeguarding concerns in Kono and other project location. He/she will be supported by and accountable to the National safeguarding manager in leading and managing safeguarding practice within the organization and ensuring the safeguarding and welfare of all staff, partners, beneficiaries including contractors and community members. He/she will coordinate referrals of safe guarding concern to the safe guarding manager and HR Director, attending coordination meetings, developing reports for relevant meetings and keeping careful records of actions.

He/she will work with the Safeguarding manager in developing and delivering training to staff, partners and beneficiaries including contractors and community members and updating relevant policies, procedures and guidance where necessary.

The role and responsibilities of the Safeguarding Officer are detailed below:

Support the Safeguarding Manager in implementation of PIH’s PSEAH policy standards and code conduct:

• Work with the safeguarding Manager, HR and other programme manager in Kono to ensure integration and mainstreaming of safeguarding and PSEAH measures in all programme budgets, activities and procedures.
• Ensure that complaints /reporting measures /standard operating procedures (SOPs) are functional with focal point persons both for staff and community.
• Play a lead role in developing and establishing the organisation’s approach to safeguarding Children,adult and young people.
• Serve as a point of contact for internal and external individuals and agencies

• Play a lead role in maintaining and reviewing the organisation’s implementation plan for safeguarding and
• Ensure safeguarding standards are met and maintained across PIH operational areas
• Work with the National Safeguarding Manager to deliver high quality staff,partners and beneficaries safeguarding related training.
• To keep informed of current guidance with regards to safeguarding, data protection, confidentiality and cascading the information accordingly.
• To act as the first point of contact for any safeguarding concerns, providing timely, relevant support and advice in order to safeguard the organisation,staff and beneficaries
• To maintain up to date, accurate, confidential records.
• To provide, collate and monitor regular, accurate and timely data on safeguarding and child protection incidents and outcomes.
• Implementing Safeguarding Reporting Systems.
• Reporting Relevant Safeguarding Concerns and refer cases of suspected abuse to the National Safe guarding Manager and HR Director as required.

Training, coordination and management

• Organise and co-facilitate safeguarding trainings and presentation for staff,partners and benefiaries.
• Organise and co-facilitate the onboarding process for new staff in Kono
• Manage and maintain an up to date record of organisational safeguarding training and completion.

• Represent the organisation at external meetings related to safeguarding and attend internal safeguarding related meetings
• Coordinate the dissemination of policy, procedures and resources throughout the organisation
• Manage cases of poor practice and abuse reported to the organisation – including records System
• Manage referrals of all safeguarding concerns
• Update training records and produce reports
• Support on incident management, analysis and lessons learnt

Project Management

• Work with the senior communication specialist and National Safeguarding Mananger to Produce quarterly safeguarding newsletters for the organisation, in line with our safeguarding communication plan.
• Develop and manage visual aids on safeguarding, including posters and brouchurs
• Lead on work with relevant internal stakeholders to design safeguarding evaluation and monitoring tools
• Work with the startigic Health information manaement team to develop safe guarding indicators for all ongoing programmes and grants within the organisation.
• Work to increase beneficiary participation in the design of safeguarding reporting mechanisms (community reponse reporting machanisms)
• Work with the National Safe guarding Manager to Support and lead on projects outlined in the annual safeguarding plans within the organsiation.

Risk Management

• Identify safeguarding risks and work with key internal and external stakeholders to minimise any risks of harm, exploitation,abuse and bully.
• Conduct risk assessment for all on going programmes and Manage a risk register for all programme within PIH in tracking and mitigating PSEAH risks
• Attend and support the safeguarding manager and HR team in incident management meetings
• Work with the National Safe guarding Manager to Support the Human Resources Team to strengthen our safe recruitment practice and minimise safeguarding risks
• Completing safeguarding related risk assessments, putting in place relevant control measures that leads to informed decisions

Implement survivor centered support services including strengthening referral networks

• Support the National Safeguarding Manager to roll-out a safe and survivor centered reporting and feedback mechanisms
• Identify survivor support services at community and district level and ensure timely linkage to care and follow-up.

Note: Perform any other duties as assigned from time to time.The need for flexibility is required and the job holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.

These duties may be amended from time to time by the line manager in consultation with the post holder.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Social Science / Gender and Development/ Law /Sociology/community Psychology or equivalent degree in other relevant fields with relevant skill and proven expertise in Safeguarding/Child Protection in recent roles in development sector.

• Good computer and Microsoft skills

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Technical Competencies/Skills and Knowledge

• The ability to maintain strict confidentiality of highly sensitive information.

• Demonstrable experience in safeguarding/Child Protection and Gender

• Demonstrable interest in working to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse

• Demonstrable interest in working with young people and communities.

• Ability to work with conflict and emotionally distressing matters

• Proven track record or working with complex issues of a difficult and sensitive nature

• Ability to deliver core training through different levels within and outside the organization

• Show a commitment to diversity, equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices.

• Ensure that all information is secured, used and maintained in line with internal and external standards including ensuring that confidential information is processed in line with the HR policy.

• Excellent administrative and organizational skills

• Ability to meet all deadlines

• Excellent communication, negotiating, mediating and interpersonal skills, in particular, an ability to relate well to young people, parents/careers, colleagues and professionals

• Ability to work in a crisis situation

• A practical understanding of safeguarding and how to create safe environments

• Experience working in an international development setting and an understanding of the safeguarding risks faced by our project participants and partners (desirable, not essential)

Behavioral Competencies

• Demonstrable interest and commitment in working to prevent SEAH and in working with survivors of safeguarding incidents.

• Empathy for the challenges survivors face in reporting and the pressures an investigation places on all stakeholders, including the alleged perpetrator and management.

• The ability to demonstrate integrity throughout the decision making process.

• The ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships and to work in an inclusive and collaborative manner with internal and external stakeholders.

• Exemplary interpersonal relationship skills; ability to collaborate with a staff of diverse backgrounds and cultures

• Strong interest for social justice.

• Willingness to live in a rural area and travel within the District regularly