Protection Officer –Protection Case Management

Overall purpose of the role

Deliver protection case management countrywide for individuals experiencing or at heightened risk of violence, coercion or deliberate deprivation. Coordinate referrals and individual protection assistance to reduce identified risks, while supporting safe practice among assigned community mobilizers and information disseminators.

Responsibilities and duties

1. Individual case management

• Identify and assess eligible individuals, explain available services and confidentiality, obtain informed consent, and develop an agreed case and safety plan.
• Provide appropriate counselling, practical assistance, referrals, and follow-up based on the individual’s needs, strengths, and support networks.
• Regularly review case progress, maintain confidential records, and escalate urgent or complex cases to the designated supervisor.
• Conduct protection risk monitoring;

2. Referrals and individual protection assistance

• Maintain service mapping and referral contacts with colleagues and partners. Check accessibility, consent and referral outcomes, sharing only necessary information with authorised providers.
• Assess and document how individual protection assistance (IPA), including cash where approved, would address a specific protection risk within the case plan.
• Prepare assistance requests against approved criteria and budgets for authorised review. Coordinate safe delivery, track receipt discreetly, and follow up on whether assistance reduced the identified risk.
• Arrange consent-based case coordination and continuity during access interruptions or transfers. Close cases against agreed criteria and retain records according to approved procedures.

3. Quality and accountability

• Coach assigned community mobilizers and assistants, review case quality through authorised access and participate in qualified supervision. Raise workload, safety and service-capacity concerns with the Team Leader.
• Maintain secure case files separate from monitoring datasets. Report anonymised trends and service gaps, follow safeguarding procedures and contribute to workplans and activity reporting.

• 4. Professional standards and technical support

• The role does not replace specialised GBV or child-protection case management, clinical care or legal representation. Do not investigate allegations, promise assistance before approval, or approve your own assistance requests. Keep assessment, approval and payment responsibilities separate under DRC procedures.
• Follow DRC safeguarding, PSEA, confidentiality and Code of Conduct requirements. Seek guidance from the Country Protection Manager or designated technical supervisor and undertake other reasonable duties within the role.

Education, skills and experience required

• Degree in social work, psychology, social sciences or a related field; a relevant diploma with substantial directly relevant experience may be considered subject to HR approval.
• At least two years of relevant humanitarian protection experience, including individual case management or supervised casework.
• Practical knowledge of informed consent, risk assessment, action planning, confidentiality, safe referrals and case closure.
• Experience supporting people with diverse ages, genders and disabilities in displacement or conflict-affected settings. IPA or cash-for-protection experience is an advantage.
• Ability to coach assistants, community mobilizers and maintain clear records, coordinate services and recognise situations requiring specialist support.
• Competence in Microsoft Word, Excel and email; willingness to travel to remote locations under approved security arrangements.