Child Protection and Psychosocial Support (CP/PSS) Officer

Plan International Nigeria is part is the global federation of Plan International and was registered as a National Organization in 2014 in Nigeria. Plan International works in 52 developing Countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas. Plan’s Global Strategic Goals (2017-2022) is to advance Children’s Rights and Equality for Girls ad our Ambition is, “together, we take action so that 100 million girls learn, lead, decide and thrive”. We reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalised through the delivery of high-quality programmes that deliver long-lasting benefits to children and their communities.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Position: Child Protection and Psychosocial Support (CP/PSS) Officer
Job Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Grade: C2
Department: Programmes
Reports to: NJR Project Coordinator with the Child Protection Specialist as Technical Lead

Purpose

• The purpose of this role is to coordinate and manage the CP and PSS activities in line with International minimum standards for Child Protection and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Humanitarian Action in Borno state North East Nigeria.

Dimensions of Role

• Communicates within Plan International Nigeria and with partners and related government institutions.
• The post holder will manage the CP and PSS activities interfacing with other programme team members.
• The post holder will also contribute towards the capacity building of Plan Internationals implementing partners and community volunteers.

Key End Results and typical Responsibilities

• Programme development & Quality Management
• In collaboration with the Field Team and CPiE Specialist, the CP/PSS Officer will be responsible:
  • To ensure children harmed or at risk of being harmed are identified and receive individual case management support by ensuring the use of the standardized case management tool, Case Management principles are adhered to by Case Management team members.
  • To manage, provide training and technical support to, and build the capacity of the full case management team in consultation with the CPiE Specialist.
  • To coordinate with other child protection agencies on case management and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support service providers.

Technical Skills:

• Provide technical and management leadership to the Case Management program in accordance with best practice and Plan policies, including its child-centered community-based approach.
• Provide support to Family Tracing and Reunification activities in collaboration with implementing agencies
• Collaborate with other project staff to ensure referrals to other services such as psychosocial support and education/livelihoods interventions
• Ensure that solid case management, referral and information management systems are in place for appropriate identification, responses and follow-up for children harmed or at risk of being harmed
• Ensure regular communication with CPiE Specialist to integrate appropriate child protection in emergencies priorities in program design
• Ensure regular Plan case review meetings and conferences are conducted to reflect on progress and to accommodate the lessons learned and improve case management system accordingly; [participate in Best Interest Determination as appropriate].
• Ensure the [Child Protection Database] is set up, regularly updated, analysed for trends in the caseload, and efficiently and confidentially managed in collaboration with the Data Manager [and relevant partner organizations (e.g. UNHCR, Save the Children and UNICEF)].

Grant Planning & Implementation:

• Produce monthly data and regular narrative reports for different stakeholders as well as donor narrative reports of high quality (in collaboration with line manager and the M&E Manager).
• Supports implementation and ensure adherence to monitoring and evaluation plans.

Staff Supervision & Development:

• Directly supervises partner NGO Case Workers and PSS Workers
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Ensure that all Plan policies are upheld, as well as international Minimum Standards for Child Protection, Case Management, and UNHCR Guidelines.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of regular program and staff reporting and annual performance reviews, as appropriate
• Assist with the recruitment of Case Management staff.
• Ensure training, support and ongoing capacity building opportunities for volunteers and staff on technical and project management skills.
• Provide evaluations on staff performance in accordance with Plan Policies and Guidelines.

Monitoring & Reporting:

• Initiate regular, participatory assessments/feedback surveys with client communities.
• Contribute to high-quality Plan and donor reports on activities, indicators and achievements, as well as best practices and lessons learned.
• Provide inputs into and consolidate weekly, monthly and quarterly progress reports on the Case Management activities; Submit reports for all field activities, trainings and meetings.
• Maintain effective and efficient oversight, quality control and reporting systems and processes that ensure regular field monitoring and modifications as required.

Coordination & Representation:

• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Regularly attend CP sub-cluster and MHPSS Working group meetings at LGA and State levels to contribute to coordinator of case management responses and Psychosocial support across agencies.

Program Development:

• Contribute to the development of the CP program strategic direction for responding to children harmed and at risk of being harmed
• Contribute to proposal development activities (narrative and budget) through planning and program design with relevant field-based staff and ensure technical standards are taken into consideration

Other:

• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of field teams; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to Plan management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for Plan programs
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop Plan programs

Human Resource Development:

• Supports the orientation, on-going development/training and builds capacity of local partner staff when required.

Learning and knowledge management:

• Shares relevant information within the team establishing and supporting the proper documentation of activities
• Resource Mobilisation
• Support resource mobilisation efforts by supporting proposal preparation and related engagement.

Dealing with Problems:

• Ability to manage competing priorities and expectations from internal and external stakeholders and remain calm and resilient in the face of pressure.
• Manage multiple and work with distant colleagues to form a virtual efficient administration team;
• Use Plan procedures to settle conflicts among colleagues;
• Resolve problems that are not covered by established process.
• Analyse possible causes of problems and suggest solutions to get them resolved.
• Refer, whenever necessary, the case to the Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist for consideration.

Communications and Working Relationships:

• Working contacts inside and outside the organization; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact
• Work with other members of the programme units to ensure effective and efficient programme delivery.
• Support the preparation of reports for domestic and international consumption.
• Provide timely responses concerning queries linked with relevant projects or programmes.
• Report to the Child Protection specialist;
• Provide support to Plan International Nigeria’s programme delivery and resource mobilisation.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• BA or equivalent in Social Science, Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Human Rights or related degree desired
• Previous experience in emergency preparedness and response
• Experience working with case files and databases and providing regular documentation preferred
• At least 3 years’ experience in implementing child protection programs, preferable social work or case management, in humanitarian or development settings
• At least 2 years direct experience providing services to children at risk and victims of abuse, exploitation and violence, providing gender-sensitive and child-friendly counseling services, and/or developing/implementing referral pathways and case management systems
• Previous experience supervising and managing a team in a cross-cultural setting
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building and mentoring of staff
• Experience in grant management and proposal writing preferred

Skills & Knowledge:

• Demonstrated understanding of the skills necessary to work with children and particularly vulnerable children
• Ability and willingness to work in a participatory manner with a diverse range of client communities
• Personal qualities: Team player, clear communicator, flexible, network-builder, able to handle pressure well under minimal supervision, and a commitment to child rights and gender equality
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems, think and plan strategically, and communicate with key actors in a dynamic and unpredictable operating environment
• Excellent community mobilization skills
• Strong skills in monitoring, evaluation, research and conducting participatory, community-led assessments.
• Knowledge of Sphere and established international child protection/GBV standards, methodology and tools
• Knowledge of community mobilization and facilitation techniques
• Computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Languages: Fluency in English

Behaviours:

• Creates strong sense of purpose and commitment within own part of operations and with stakeholders
• Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations
• Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness.
• Leads by example to motivate high performance of others
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour
• Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity
• Provides good and adequate administrative and logistical support to enable programmes to meet meets it’s agreed financial and program outcomes.
• Actively seeks for support in addressing difficulties in execution of duties.
• Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and Organisational development.
• Very strong commitment to continuous learning

Physical Environment and Demands:

• Based in Maiduguri, Borno State with field visits to implement and supervise programme activities.

Level of Contact with Children:

• High contact- the job responsibilities of this position require the post holder to have very frequent contact with children. It is expected that children shall be protected at all times.

Application Closing Date
8th February, 2018.

Application Method
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's to email, Using the Position applied for as the subject of the