Child Protection PSS Worker

Job Description

Organization description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education, and power. Given the disparity faced by women and girls, IRC seeks to narrow gender inequalities and ensure social inclusion of all vulnerable groups in broader policies, processes and actions affecting their lives. In Ukraine, the IRC started emergency programming in April 2022 in the field of child protection (CP), protection and rule of law (ProL), women’s protection and empowerment (WPE) (i.e. gender-based violence), health and cash and basic needs.

Job Overview:

Under the supervision of the Child Protection (CP) Psychosocial Support Officer (PSS) Officer, the CP Psychosocial Support (PSS) Worker will be responsible for leading and implementing PSS activities for children and their caregivers. CP PSS activities include social-emotional learning (SEL) activities for children (6 – 11 years), SEL and life skills activities for adolescents (12 – 17 years), arts-based and other skills-building activities for children (2 – 17 years), as well as parenting and stress management activities for children’s and adolescents’ caregivers. Activities are implemented in IRC’s Safe Healing and Learning Spaces (SHLS), which are secure, caring and predictable places where children and adolescents living in conflict and crisis settings can learn, develop and be protected. The CP PSS Worker will have good technical and organisational capabilities to ensure that PSS activities are implemented in line with IRC’s program guidelines and according to CP minimum standards and principles. The CP PSS Worker will be based in Kharkiv and report to the CP PSS Officer.

Major Responsibilities:

PSS for children and caregivers

- Help in setting schedules for weekly activities for children / adolescents / caregivers

- Facilitate social-emotional, recreational, creative and life-skills activities for children and adolescents based on the SHLS schedule

- Facilitate sessions for parents / caregivers to help improve their stress management skills, positive parenting practices, and strategies to support children and adolescents with psychosocial needs

- Engage with children / adolescents in a positive way, using a child-centred approach

- Create a safe environment for children to play, socialize and learn according to established schedules and routines

- Ensure that children and youth are safe from harm

- Observe children and adolescents with special needs and ensure they are well integrated into activities

- Refer identified and suspected child protection cases to the IRC focal point

- Answer questions from community members and parents / caregivers about what activities are taking place

- Support M&E activities as requested to support quality programming

Community Engagement & CP Risk Reduction

- Identify barriers to accessing available services for vulnerable/specific groups of children and propose measures to reduce/eliminate those barriers

- Identify key protection risks and mitigation/reduction measures

- Identify gaps in CP response services available to the community and share concerns with the CP PSS Officer / within IRC, protection actors and other relevant stakeholders

- Ensure broad dissemination of information on rights, duties, and services available

- Maintain relationships with communities, including local leaders, different groups, and stakeholders, youth groups, children etc. to foster an environment of support to children and their families and IRC programming

- As needed, organize community meetings for information dissemination or other purposes

- Ensure, to the extent possible, that children and adolescents actively participate and help shape IRC’s activities

- Encourage and foster social cohesion among host and IDP community

- Support distributions of risk reduction items (inc. PSS kits) and follow-up monitoring

Administration & Reporting:

- Take attendance, report material needs and support other administrative tasks as required

- Report supply/material needs to the supervisor

- Complete relevant activity tracker and contribute to activity reports, according to guidance provided by the CP PSS Officer

- Provide information on a weekly basis to the CP Officer

Coordination & Representation:

- Actively coordinate with staff from other IRC sectors in the field, including Protection & Rule of Law, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Health, Economic Relief and Development

- Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant local actors in the field, including community, non-governmental and governmental actors

- Upon request by his/her supervisor, actively take part in relevant CP coordination meetings at the local and national level (e.g. national CP Cluster)

Other:

- Attend trainings organised by the IRC

- Stay informed about the child protection situation and developments within the communities and surrounding areas

- Consistently and proactively monitor the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment

- Promote and adhere to the principles, objectives and code of conduct of the IRC

- Act both professionally and personally in a manner that brings credit to the IRC and does not compromise its humanitarian mission

- If necessary, provide translation and interpretation at meetings, training sessions and/or documents for a better understanding of all staff

- Conduct any other task requested by his/her supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Child Protection PSS Officer

Direct reports: N/A

Other internal contacts: Protection & Rule of Law (ProL), WPE, MEAL, ERD, Health, Finance, Supply, Grants, HR and other relevant departments

Requirements

The Child Protection PSS Worker will need to meet the requirements below:

- Degree desired in Social Work, Psychology, Education, Human Rights, Social Science, Humanities or other related field

- Previous experience in implementing PSS programming for children and demonstrated understanding of working with children, particularly vulnerable children and children at-risk of violence, exploitation abuse or neglect

- Experience with community work, community mobilization and engagement, and working with children affected by conflict

- Clear understanding of and interest in the well-being of children and supporting their healing after the experience of violence

- Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting

- Ability to keep records and write simple and basic reports of activities

- Comfortable speaking about sensitive topics in an honest, professional, and thoughtful manner

- Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries

- High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail

- Computer literate, including Microsoft Word and Excel

- Language: Fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, basic skills in English

This position will be based in Kharkiv, with frequent travel to field locations.

Standards of Professional Conduct

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Qualifications