Job Title : Child Welfare Assistant
Report & Supervisor To : OCW Manager
Location : Amman with frequent travel to the field offices
ORGANISATIONAL PURPOSE:
Islamic Relief Jordan is a country branch of Islamic Relief Worldwide. Islamic Relief Worldwide is an internationally recognized charity (Charity No.: 328158), looking back on nearly 30 years of experience in humanitarian and developmental aid. It was founded in 1984 in Birmingham, UK, in response to the devastating famine in the Horn of Africa. Since then, Islamic Relief has grown into a charity that is active worldwide, putting development projects, emergency aid, and rebuilding projects into action in over 28 countries around the world.
Islamic Relief Jordan (IRJ) began its operations in 1997 with orphan’s sponsorship, sponsoring hundreds of orphans living in Jordan. IRJ extended its programs to seasonal projects with Ramadan and Qurbani distributions and In-Kind donations. IRJ has established strong partnership with international non-governmental organization and local one’s strengthening the overall response to the Syria crisis. At the onset of Syria humanitarian crisis in late 2011, IRJ provided emergency response to those affected by violence in Syria and has since then scaled up its capacity and operations with number of 110 staff across the country.
IRJ programme unit works toward introducing relevant interventions to Jordanians as well as Syrians and Palestinians refugees that would impact their lives and improve their life conditions. IRJ programme unit act upon IRW mandate and in line with IR-Middle East and Eastern Europe strategy that aims to ensure Safe, dignified and peaceful living conditions for refugees, IDPs and vulnerable groups as well as communities at risk of disasters in the Middle East. IRJ office has expanded with the Syrian crisis in 2011, reaching more than 200,000 refugees by 2013 with an annual income of 35,000,000GBP. The unit has successfully introduced interventions in a multi-sectors response, being the lead agency responsible for humanitarian assistance in the north of Jordan, reaching 200,000 refugees providing food, health care, cash for shelter and non-food items such as hygiene kits and winterization items. The programme unit is now strategizing the Syrian intervention and working toward a holistic integrated approach with the host community and planning to move toward early recovery and then development to ensure sustainability through introducing innovative approaches in education promotion, community development and income generation.
IRJ is committed to SPHERE and CHS Standards in emergency response and HAP 2010 Standard in Accountability and Quality Management.
JOB PURPOSE AND OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES :
With the supervision of OCWP Mgr., Child Welfare Assistant is responsible for OCWP field operation for the orphans that s/he is assigned for. S/he will be in charge to effectively implement and monitor any distribution, home visits and sessions/workshops through close contact with CBOs/partners involving orphans. S/he will also be responsible in implementing OCW Programme in line with IRJ strategy to improve the quality of life of sponsored children and their families in the assigned area. Child Welfare Assistant will also support IRP’s advocacy interventions which aim to ensure women and children are more aware about their social and economic entitlements and able to live in an environment in which their rights are protected.
Technical :
- Review and understanding of programme documents (manual) as well as strategy document in detail for understanding project mandate / deliverables relevant to your role.
- Identification and assessment of new children by carrying out domestic visits to the orphan families for sponsorship
- Contribute in maintaining minimum 50 applications available online at any given time and 50 children to be ready for uploading (collectively).
- Responsible for signing agreement with sponsored orphan’s mother / guardian and maintain updated individual files as per policy.
- Minimum two visits should be carried out every year, one visit at home and the second visit can be carried out in gatherings and focus groups.
- Effective monitoring of the allocated families to ensure sponsorship amount is properly utilized to improve condition of Housing, Health, Education and Nutrition.
- Organize guardians into groups and conduct their meetings during second round of field visits.
- Raise awareness amongst groups on policy and procedures, child and woman rights and protection issues.
- Facilitate in arrangement of IR Partner visits to project areas and sponsors’ calls and meeting with sponsored families as per Policy.
- Conduct Focus groups for the assigned orphans’ (and their area/s) benefits.
- Prepare Factsheet on the assigned orphans in different areas of potential interventions such as education, health, child labor, house condition, etc. which will then be with OCWP Officer and OCWP Mgr.
- Conduct/assist in assessment and data collection to identify the priority needs in project areas.
- Do research for secondary data and other needed second hand data from different resources for concept note and proposal writing purposes.
Operational:
- Preparation of annual work plans against PMT (performance measured time frame) by ensuring timely completion of assigned tasks in stipulated time period.
- Coordinate with internal (Programme, Finance, Log. & Proc., Admin, Media, other departments) and external (government departments, clusters, other organization’s representatives working in assigned areas, community activists, guardian groups, child protection services providers and sponsored families) stakeholders on child and woman related matters.
- Ensure that the allocated families receive sponsorship money in time and complaints are resolved in time.
- Families are informed about additional gift amounts and gifts are ensured to be used as per donor/partner guidelines.
- Maintenance of hard record that includes assessment record, legal documents, progress report forms, score cards, school progress report and other documentation.
- Ensure appropriate beneficiary’s data collection and screening prior to making any transaction.
- Ensure proper filling of forms and formats as per desired standards.
- Extend support to MEAL / Communications on as and when required basis.
- Close coordination with line manager and team members for effective implementation of project activities.
- Ensure that up to date register of the orphans is maintained.
Organizational:
- Ensure compliance with IR’s policies and procedures in true spirit for effective delivery of services to communities.
- In depth understanding of IR values and their demonstration in the field while working with communities.
- Abide by the IR zero tolerance policy towards bribery and corruption through sensitization / empowerment of communities on coping mechanism so that they can raise voice as and when feel inappropriate.
- Thorough knowledge of IR strategic priorities to ensure effective implementation with future sustainability.
- Assist in identification and documentation of organizational successes for showcasing IR work.
- Focused efforts to be made for mainstreaming of marginalized groups i.e. persons with disability and old age, minorities, woman and children.
- Strengthen mechanism to Influence the decision makers through communities to pay attention towards the protection needs of people.
- Participation and facilitation in implementation of IR seasonal programmes and emergency response as and when required.
Value Added Skills (Please mention training / skills which can add value if the candidate is already equipped with):
• Knowledge on Child / woman rights and protection issues
• Social Mobilization
• Inclusion
• Psychosocial Support
• Advocacy and Campaigning
• GBV / Protection
• Health and Hygiene Promotion
• Monitoring and Accountability
Note: This job description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and will be amended in the light of the changing needs of the organization.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCE: All are required unless marked (D) as desired.
Technical skills and experience:
- Good communication skills
- Very good translation skills
- Fluency in English and Arabic both written and spoken
- Good teamwork spirit
- Can conduct orientation to the beneficiaries effectively
- Field experience in different settings (camps, urban, slum areas, etc.)
Core humanitarian competencies :
- Understanding of humanitarian contexts and principles:
- Good understanding of humanitarian issues, with experience of/or ability to work directly with local NGOs or communities.
- Sympathy with the aims and objectives of organization and a commitment to humanitarian principles and the Red Cross and INGO's code of conduct
Achieving Results effectively:
- Demonstrate ability to effectively develop implementation/activity plans to ensure timely delivery results.
- Ability to work in participatory manner with others to assess needs, implement and monitor activities.
- Strong interpersonal abilities.
- Good time management abilities.
- Strong translation skills both verbally and written (Arabic-English, English-Arabic).
- Able to form recommendation for creative solution in problem solving
- Ability to work on your own initiative as well as part of a team.
Developing and maintaining relationships:
- Good communication skills with the beneficiaries, communities and CBOs.
- Good verbal and written communications skills and the ability to relate to people from all backgrounds.
- Ability to effectively influence and liaise with key stakeholders on behalf of and in line with organizational beliefs.
Managing yourself in a pressured and changing environment:
- Demonstrated ability at being flexible and adapt to changing situations.
- The ability to remain calm while dealing with conflicting priorities and working under pressure.
- Able to work flexible hours when necessary and strive towards task completion.
Operating safely and securely in a humanitarian response:
- Relevant experience in risk management.
- Relevant experience in implementing security policy/protocols.
- Relevant experience in Child Protection and Case Management.
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor degree in Social Science, English Literature or related fields of study
- Knowledge of the political situation and cultural norms in Jordan in general is desired
- Experience in the same field of work is desired
Languages:
- Good in spoken and written English.
- Fluency in spoken and written Arabic.