Case Manager

Details

Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. UNICEF’s Programme in Italy was set up in 2016 to respond to a large influx of unaccompanied minors arriving primarily through the Central Mediterranean route.

Context

In the first quarter of 2024, arrivals remain lower compared to the same period in 2023, however, since early March, departures have resumed consistently from Tunisia and Libya, with peaks of over 1,000 people landed in Lampedusa over 24 hours. Furthermore, there has been an increase of extremely vulnerable cases, including single-parent families, pregnant girls, and children under 14 traveling alone (UASC). Despite the Italian child protection system foreseeing a solid legal framework for the protection of UASC, the legal provisions remain partially implemented and the system continues being challenged by the constant increase of numbers of children in first and second-line reception centers. The reception capacity continues to be overwhelmed, with an ongoing struggle to accommodate refugees and migrants, particularly unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). Child protection and gender-based violence (GBV) support services within first line reception centers across Italy are inadequate, the tendency to promiscuity and overcrowding, especially in times of high numbers of arrivals, combined with overall substandard living conditions (e.g. reported limited availability of separate bathroom facilities, no locks on bedroom doors), limited expertise of staff and availability of accessible information on available GBV services, negatively impact protection and security of children and women exposing women, girls and children to the risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. Despite efforts from the Italian Government, including the declaration of the state of emergency to handle the increase of migratory flows and a solid legal framework, the system remains highly fragmented, with several disparities in quality of services and care. The declared state of emergency was renewed for six more months as of 10 April 2024. Against this background and under the framework of the EU Union Action Programme, UNICEF aims at strengthening the capacity of the Italian protection and reception system from arrival to all the subsequent reception phases, to ensure protection and care for the most vulnerable refugee and migrant children, including those transitioning to adulthood, UASC, families, and women survived/at risk of gender-based violence. These people of concern (PoC) will have access to emergency protection interventions, alternative care solutions, and lifesaving information. Under the supervision of the Case Management Coordinator and the Child Protection Specialist - and in close coordination with other relevant EU and UN Agencies - the Case Manager will support local Prefectures in Sicily (Ragusa, Catania, Trapani, Agrigento) and Calabria (Reggio Calabria) to properly manage cases of unaccompanied children, those transitioning to adulthood, and women survived and/or at risk of GBV.

Task description

The position will be covering Area IV of the Prefecture of Reggio Calabria. Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Case Manager Coordinator and the Child Protection in Emergency Specialist, the UNV Case Manager will work in Area IV of the Prefectures of Reggio Calabria to support the local authority in properly manage cases of unaccompanied children (UASC), those transitioning to adulthood, families with children and women survived and/or at risks of GBV. The case manager will facilitate the coordination between prefectures and local protection services (e.g. local health services, justice and social authorities, including Juvenile Courts, Social Services, Regional Ombudspersons for Childhood and Adolescence, Managing Bodies of reception facilities, anti-violence centers and Civil Society Organizations). Specifically, he/she will provide: • Technical advice and guidance to Area IV of Prefectures to support prompt and appropriate transfer/allocation in adequate reception facilities and facilitate foster care options when available. • Implement a comprehensive Child Protection Case Management (CP CM) based on international standards throughout the following steps: best interest assessment, action planning, implementation, follow up and case closure. • Maintain the mapping of available protection services updated. • Facilitate the referral mechanisms between Prefectures and CP actors and stakeholders (e.g. Juvenile Courts, Health and Social Services, Guardians, Ombudspersons, Reception facilities, Anti-violence Centers and all the other relevant players/services). Further, the case manager will provide: • If and as needed, technical support to the other operational teams (GBV team) to collect qualitative/quantitative data on the protection needs of PoC (with a specific focus on girls and women) in hotspots and/or first line reception facilities to gain insights into the existing gaps around protection needs, safety, and related aspects. • Gather and systematize data on the intervention conducted by case managers to facilitate analysis of their effectiveness and impact. • Any other related tasks may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs: • As an active team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to [UNICEF Italy] and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: Task 1: Support local Prefectures in performing their legally duties as concerns the most vulnerable cases among UASC, families and women survived to/at risk of gender- based violence, in line with international and national standards. Deliverables linked to Task 1: - 1 report at the end of the contract on the continuous support (technical advice and guidance) provided to local authorities. - Daily case management support for UASC, families and women survived to/at risk of GBV. - 1 updated mapping of protection services available per location with related referral mechanism to be enacted. Tasks 2: Support the identification of protection needs with regular participatory assessments: Deliverables linked to Task 2: - Information regarding protection needs is gathered by consistently supporting other teams (GBV team) through different methods (if and as needed Focus Group Discussions and/or safety audits) conducted in hotspots and/or primary reception facilities. • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.