VAC-11898 Child Protection Social Worker

UNICEF child
protection supports to strengthen child protection system in Afghanistan
closely working with government sectors and non-government partners on system
building, justice for children, birth registration, elimination of harmful
practices and child protection in emergencies. UNICEF supports to strengthen
psycho-social support services to better respond to the needs of children
abused or at risk of abuse and violence.

The key
challenge in responding to the growing child protection crisis is the absence
of a qualified, incentivized workforce. To meet the needs of Afghan children
and women within the current context, UNICEF anticipated a need of 25 social
workers per 100,000 children.

However, due
to the turnover of social workers as well as the expiry of NGO partnerships,
the numbers of social workers are in constant fluctuation, and continuous
training and deployment is needed. Therefore, to be able to provide the
services to the most vulnerable children in Afghanistan and in line with the
aforementioned strategy, UNICEF continues to recruit and train members of the
social welfare workforce who will support the provision of humanitarian child
protection integrated specialized services including case management, family
tracing and reunification (FTR), provision of psychosocial support (PSS),
referrals to education, health, and other specialized services, and income
generating activities for vulnerable children and their families, among other
interventions.

The Child
protection social worker is required to closely work with the team and relevant
stakeholders to achieve the goals and objective designed for this program. S/he
is also required to manage and oversee the effective implementation of case
management, awareness raising activities, PFA, and other activities.

Specific Responsibilities for CP social worker

Under
the guidance of UNICEF Child Protection Specialists and Child Protection
Officers, and in coordination with Child Protection Provincial Supervisor, the CP
social worker will be responsible for:

• Support the case management
  process of child protection cases.
• Provide guidance and supports to the
  Child Friendly Space facilitators and para social workers.
• Support and follow up the referral
  pathway, and ensure children are receiving the appropriate services
  through a coordinated approach.
• Coordinate with provincial supervisor
  in supporting child protection cases.
• Ensure children are safeguarded
  through care processes and minimum standards of care are applied.
• Have proper coordination with
  district and village CPANs and interaction with provincial CPAN.
• Actively engage in all
  capacity-building opportunities, including formal training in close
  coordination with the technical social work advisor.
• Support the case management and
  other assistance related to PSVG (protection and support for vulnerable
  groups).
• Support child protection
  campaigns, community mobilization, and mediation.
• Collaborate with other child
  protection colleagues and key stakeholders to regularly report child
  protection issues.
• Any other relevant duty assigned
  to him/her by the supervisor(s).

Reporting to CP Extender and CTG Account Manager

Specific Responsibilities for CP social worker

Under the guidance of UNICEF Child Protection Specialists and Child Protection Officers, and in coordination with Child Protection Provincial Supervisor, the CP social worker will be responsible for:

• Support the case management process of child protection cases.
• Provide guidance and supports to the Child Friendly Space facilitators and para social workers.
• Support and follow up the referral pathway, and ensure children are receiving the appropriate services through a coordinated approach.
• Coordinate with provincial supervisor in supporting child protection cases.
• Ensure children are safeguarded through care processes and minimum standards of care are applied.
• Have proper coordination with district and village CPANs and interaction with provincial CPAN.
• Actively engage in all capacity-building opportunities, including formal training in close coordination with the technical social work advisor.
• Support the case management and other assistance related to PSVG (protection and support for vulnerable groups).
• Support child protection campaigns, community mobilization, and mediation.
• Collaborate with other child protection colleagues and key stakeholders to regularly report child protection issues.
• Any other relevant duty assigned to him/her by the supervisor(s).

N/A

Required
Qualifications:

• Graduates of social work, psychology,
  or counselling departments at registered universities, if there are
  insufficient graduates from these specific degree programmes, graduates
  from related fields such as education, social science, health, or law will
  be recruited if they pass minimum training standards.
• At least three years’ work
  experience in child protection programs with national or international
  organizations.
• Be resident of the target
  province and district, have complete familiarity with the relevant province
  and access to the hard-to-reach areas.
• Working experience with children
  in conflict with the law, children with mental health disorders and
  without parental care.
• Understanding of PSS, social work,
  case management and protection needs of vulnerable children.
• Strong level of expertise in
  communication with children and families, representation, facilitation,
  mobilization, and negotiation with children and community.
• Fluency in Pashto and Dari is a
  must (English will be an asset).