Child Protection Officer

Overview

Focus on quality processing of Best Interest Assessments and Determinations for children in refugee camps.

You have:

• At least Degree in Social Work/Social Sciences or equivalent.
• At least four years relevant experience in similar settings.
• Prior experience in child protection and best interest determination process in refugee set-ups is essential.
• Substantial management and leadership experience, preferably in emergency programmes.
• Demonstrable competence in proposal and report writing.
• Has high-level communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.
• Fluent in English and Kiswahili (both spoken and written).
• Working knowledge of local language strongly preferred.
• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Commitment to Save the Children’s Child Protection Policy.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The role will primarily focus on quality and timely processing of Best Interest Assessments (BIAs) and Best Interest Determination (BID) for children in the refugee camp in the pursuit of durable solutions and child protection concerns issues faced by children. This will require close coordination and liaison with UNHCR, UNICEF protection unit as well as the members of CPWG. The holder of this role will also provide leadership to the case management team and ensure teams are fully supported and enabled to deliver.

SCOPE OF ROLE

Reports to: CP Coordinator

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, supporting children through both development and humanitarian relief programs. These initiatives are delivered directly and in collaboration with local partners. Our current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, livelihoods, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

In 2012, as part of a global reorganization, Save the Children unified the operations of Save the Children UK, Canada, and Finland into a single entity in Kenya. In February 2014, we completed a second transition by merging with the British INGO Merlin, integrating their health and nutrition programs into our portfolio. Today, Save the Children maintains an operational presence in Nandi, Kajiado, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kakuma Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana, and Wajir, and works through partners in many other regions across the country. We employ approximately 230 staff, including members of the Global team who are hosted and hired in Kenya, but support Save the Children International (SCI) global operations. In 2025, our annual operating budget was approximately USD 20 million.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Child Protection Assistant/s

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

• Manage and support the individual case management through BIA & BID development processes in the field offices.
• Provide mentorship and support to the community supervisors and workers through on the job training and guidance to enhance their case management skills and competencies.
• Design a capacity building strategy for caseworkers and other stakeholders involved in the of BIA & BID process.
• Actively participate in interagency coordination meetings such as BID panels, CPWG and Case conferences at the field office.
• Analyze training schedules for the case workers and provide technical support and guidance for effective implementation of BID/BIA process.
• Ensure timely management of data and documentation of cases at camp level; and through coordination with MEAL assistants ensure children records, data are accurately recorded in the CPIMS database and updated regularly with case progress.
• Contribute to the design of an overall programme contingency plan when needed.
• Provide technical support for complex cases or specific technical difficulties.
• Produce timely progress reports, including both quantitative and qualitative information, on Child Protection activities and input into regular situation reports, monthly and quarterly reports.
• Ensure correct management of BID/BIA documentation at camp level including case reviews.
• Facilitate regular interviews and home visits with relevant persons who can give information on the child (the child, his/her family, leader, teacher, neighbor…)
• Participate in camp level interagency meetings and engage in the identification and building of linkages with other partners/agencies, the Government and the community to ensure that issues related to child protection are raised and addressed.
• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, security, equal opportunities and other relevant policies
• Manage case workers staff annual leave and time off ensuring minimal disruption to programme activities
• Collect required data, coordinate with the MEAL team on a monthly basis, and ensure data is correctly captured.
• Identify and build links with other partners, ensuring that issues for child protection are raised and addressed.
• Coordinate the identification, follow up of children in alternative care and, monitoring of foster parents/Guardianship
• Ensure the placement of children in alternative care adhere to SCI procedure and with the Kenya alternative care guidelines (Guidelines for Alternative Care of Children in Kenya 2011)
• Collect complaints and feedback during field activities and ensure that these are shared with MEAL officers for updating of the CFRM database.
• Escalate complaints and feedback of a serious nature to program manager and field office child safeguarding focal point.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal. development and encourages others to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• At least Degree in Social Work/Social Sciences or equivalent.
• At least three (4) years relevant experience in similar settings.
• Prior experience in child protection and best interest determination process in refugee set-ups in essential.
• Substantial management and leadership experience, preferably in emergency programmes.
• Demonstrable competence in proposal and report writing .
• Has high-level communication skills’, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.
• Fluent in English and Kiswahili (both spoken and written). Working knowledge of local language strongly preferred.
• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Sets high standards for quality and consistently achieves project goals.
• Maintains and extends an effective network of individuals within the organisation and with government and development partners.
• Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.
• Demonstrates and shares detailed technical knowledge and expertise.
• Proven ability to work as a team.
• Commitment to Save the Children’s Child Protection Policy.

Additional job responsibilities

The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities :

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety:

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

THE ORGANIZATION

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday. All children learn from a quality basic education and that, Violence against children is no longer tolerated.

Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best-qualified talent.

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer:

Beware that there are individuals who may take and use SCI’s name in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job-seekers. We do not use recruiting persons or agencies to help us identify candidates for employment. If you’re contacted by a person promising you recruitment or placement at SCI for a charge, do not accept, and please get in touch with us at [email protected].

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 7 hours ago - Updated 7 hours ago - Source: savethechildren.net