National Ombuds

SOS CHILDREN’S VAGES GHANA is part of a global humanitarian and child welfare organization that provides a stable  family environment for children in need. We have               four  villages currently in operation in Tema, Asiakwa, Kumasi & Tamale. We also  provide social services for families at risk through our Family Strengthening Programme (FSP).

A     Applications are invited from suitably qualified and dynamic persons for appointment as:

National Ombuds – Ghana

Part-time Employment Contract

Location of the role: Ghana/Accra

        The Ombuds Office for SOS Children’s Villages is an independent office supporting children and young people in situations that have not been successfully resolved by SOS                        Children’s Villages safeguarding processes.

An    An Ombuds is a trustworthy person who can listen, support, and guide children and young people. There are national, regional, and global Ombuds.

Ea    Each Ombuds follows the four principles: Confidentiality, Impartiality, Independence and Informality. They work independently of SOS Children’s Villages as a check and balance to saf    safeguarding with the goal of finding a solution to the concern raised.

        In order to further their mission, SOS Children’s Villages has decided to implement an Ombuds Office.

T      The National Ombuds Ghana, as a designated neutral professional, will respond to concerns that the SOS Safeguarding Team has been unable to resolve to the satisfaction of the Chil    child, young person, or adult involved.            

Sh     She/He is a person of trust who has the skills and interest to work through their concerns and find a local solution by:

• Adhering to the principles of confidentiality, independence, informality and impartiality;
• Guiding a fair process through listening and supporting;
• Utilizing dispute resolution skills;
• Being a check and balance; 
• Identifying trends and making recommendations to the SOS Children’s Villages Ghana and General Secretariat (GSC).              

Th     The National Ombuds will operate independently from SOS Children’s Villages Ghana and will report to the Regional Ombuds.

Pr  Profile , skills and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in a relevant area such as child rights or child protection, child and youth studies, mediation, social work, child psychology, safeguarding or psychosocial wellbeing, law;
• Minimum five years demonstrated experience in one of the following fields: ombudsperson, mediation, child safeguarding, child protection, or child rights;
• Good level of knowledge of children’s rights or child protection/prevention and related issues - child safeguarding, child development and health, law, policies, regulations and International Standards related to children's care;
• Very good listener with good observational skills;
• Strong communication skills;
• Strong facilitation/training skills - Ability to develop and implement engaging trainings and ongoing support workshops for staff and children' representatives;
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with children and young people, to identify marginalized children and young people and connect with them and build trust;
• A problem solver, adviser and mediator capable of resolving young people’s and adults’ concerns effectively and in a timely manner;
• Understanding of the local context, including laws, policies, practices, language and social norms;
• Be gender and diverse sensitive and representative;
• Professional proficiency in one Local language and English
• Understand the foundations of the Ombuds’ work;
• Experience working in an NGO or international organization would be an asset.

Th  The  job offers:

• Training and development
• Support from the Regional Ombuds
• Satisfying and stimulating work
• Remote and in-person work arrangements
• The opportunity to work for an NGO that is a member of a recognized international network.