Child Protection Associate (2 positions)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Child protection associate will assist in providing social interventions and assistance to the most at-risk and vulnerable refugee clients and children. The Associate will be required to conduct assessments and case management, including follow-up to ensure clients and children are receiving appropriate services. The associate will be expected to track the impact of the assistance provided to clients and children.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Identify refugee children who are unaccompanied and separated children, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, or any other form of trauma.
• Identify refugee children in need of social support, such as financial assistance, medical assistance, birth registration, legal protection, and family tracing.
• Carry out social assessments and monitor socio-environmental risks faced by refugee children to ensure risk mitigation.
• Prepare Best Interest Determination and Best Interest Assessment reports for refugee children.
• Identify children who require psychosocial support and link them with counselors for timely support.
• Make regular home visits to assess children's needs and progress under the UNHCR Child Protection Project within Nairobi.
• Assist in outreach and community dialogue activities on issues related to child abuse and children with special needs.
• Make referrals to partner agencies for vulnerable refugee children and follow up with clients to facilitate access to external services.
• Prepare summaries for presentations in the internal HIAS Psychosocial Panel, enter data into the case management database, and give feedback to refugees.
• Monitor impacts of social assistance for vulnerable refugees and children.
• Open files for all clients (soft and hard) and ensure that case management complies with HIAS SOPs and other sector standards.
• Mobilize and organize target communities in the respective site office coverage area to form community structures responsible for spearheading child protection activities in accordance with the approved project description and work plan.
• Organize and train established community structures on all child protection acts, covenants and charters/agreements, local, national and international.
• Carry out weekly and monthly identification of potential foster parents, assess and train those who meet the criteria in readiness for assigning of foster children.
• In liaison with Child Protection Monitors and Community Outreach workers; conduct awareness and sensitization campaigns in the communities.
• Conduct support groups, committee meetings and participate in community forums/trainings.
• Establish and maintain networks with existing community structures and other partners for referral and networking purposes.
• Conduct a mapping exercise for all sector agencies and link with them for collaboration and support in provision of child protection services – these will include Area Advisory Councils.
• Provide weekly and monthly reports to the Child Protection Officer and other technical officers highlighting individual performance, progress against targets and client needs as instructed by the Child Protection Officer.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• A University Degree in Social Work, Community Development, Gender and Development Studies or another related area of study.
• At least 1-2 years of working experience in the field of Social Work. Experience working with an NGO that deals with refugees is an added advantage.
• Experience in providing children's activities and supervising a Child-Friendly Space (CFS) will be an added advantage.
• Excellent writing skills
• Fluency in English is Mandatory
• Knowledge of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (PSEA)
• Experience in capacity building, including facilitation of community-based training and awareness raising.
• Good knowledge of Nairobi and its environs
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Knowledge of accountability to affected populations.
• Knowledge in PSEA and Anti-Fraud.

DISCLAIMER:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required or permanent location. Location is subject to change based on programmatic needs. Flexibility is essential as we grow and develop. The successful candidate must be comfortable in a fast-paced, changing work environment with many crucial deadlines. All team members may be required to perform duties outside of their normal work hours of responsibilities as needed.

SAMPLE HIRING PROCESS:

We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. Here’s a snapshot of our hiring process:

Step 1: Submit your application!

Step 2: Phone screen with a Human Resources staff person. Step 3: Interview with the hiring manager.

Step 4: Interview with a panel of HIAS employees. Step 5: Reference check.

Step 6: Offer and background check.

Step 7: Start your professional journey with HIAS!

Note: Some of our hiring processes may vary, and not all candidates will advance to each step.

ABOUT US:

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.

VISION:

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.

MISSION:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

VALUES:

Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • (Hachnasat Orchim)

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • (Tzedek)

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • (Chesed)

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • (Chevruta)

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • (Ometz)

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • (Ruach)

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience