War Child, the specialist charity for children affected by conflict. For more than two decades we’ve delivering high-impact programmes that are rebuilding lives across Afghanistan, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic and Yemen. We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution - from reintegrating children formerly associated with armed groups and armed forces (CAAFAG) in the Central African Republic to reuniting children with their families in Afghanistan. We look forward to a world in which the lives of children are no longer torn apart by war. This is a vision that can only be realised through the collective actions of children themselves, communities and their leaders, organisations like War Child, governments and key decision makers

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Psychosocial Support Coordinator, the PSS Officer will be responsible for promoting psychosocial distress and mental order recovery of children and families in line with the organization’s approaches and Inter-Agency Standard Committee guidelines. Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for conducting assessment, planning for activity implementation, and monitoring, capacity building of community-based structures on Psychosocial support (PSS) and coordination with other MHPSS partners and colleagues within in provision of quality PSS services for the children and families under the PSS intervention component of the SHAPE-FCDO funded project.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive psychosocial counseling to children, young people, and their families with MHSPSS issues like depression using the appropriate approaches.
• Develop activity-based work plan to guide effective and efficient implementation of planned PSS activities.
• Support in capacity building of the community-based structures on PSS including PFA to promote quality provision of PSS services.
• Monitor regular PSS activities being conducted by community-based structures like CFS facilitators and provide additional technical support. 
• Collaborating closely with other MHPSS partners and other sub-sectors leads to strengthen referral and timely response.
• Ensure PSS services are mainstream across child protection strategic interventions like case management/ family tracing and reunification and across other sub-sectors.
• Provide psycho-education sessions for clients, their families and community members on a regular basis and as deemed necessary using evidence-based information.
• Carry out awareness raising activities on PSS issues with children, young people, and other community members for timely reporting of a child experiencing PSS issues.
• Provide oversight to client feedback processes to assess quality of care and service access issues.
• Maintain effective working relationships with all relevant stakeholders including other NGOs, civil society groups, authorities, etc.
• Ensure timely and proper documentation (filing, case studies, etc.), information management and reporting on PSS activities is done.
• Participated in assessment activities and coordination meeting to share information on WCUK’s PSS intervention with children and families at district or province levels.
• Ensure WCUK’s Safeguarding Policy and others are observed and demonstrated by the community-based structures working with children in PSS activities like in the Child Friendly Space.
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Our Values

Bold

We use our passion and creativity to deliver high-quality evidence-based work designed to maximize our beneficial impact on children in conflict.

Accountable to Children

Children can rely on us to respond to their voices and to treat them with respect and dignity.

Anti-racism:

Anti-racism is not merely a belief. It includes actions that we mainstream throughout our work to change and challenge policies and behaviors that perpetuate racism.

Transparent

We expect to be held to account by our supporters and beneficiaries and we respond with openness and honesty.

Supportive to each other

We support each other and our partners to achieve ambitious goals and to the best we can be we are honest and open with each other, sharing our success and confronting our challenges.

Safeguarding and PSEAH

Our work with children and at-risk adults to keep them safe is the most important thing we do. We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in all areas of our work. We have zero tolerance for any behaviors and practices that put children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse and/or harm. Successful applicants will be expected to be compliant and sign up to our Safeguarding policy, our Code of Conduct and PSEAH Policy. You can find the Safeguarding and PSEAH policies here: https://www.warchild.org.uk/our-work/quality-and-standards/safeguarding

Experience and mandatory criteria:

• Education qualification of a bachelor’s degree in humanities like Psychology, Development studies, social sciences, etc, and certificates in child protection is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in child protection programming and management, more especially in community-led protection MHPSS and case management strategic interventions in a humanitarian setting with NGO/INGOs.
• Has good understanding /knowledge and experience of risks children have been exposed to in a conflict, drought, and natural disaster like earthquakes.
• Good knowledge and demonstrated skills in applying inter-agency child protection minimum standards including SOPs and guidelines on case management.
• Good experience in building positive relationships with UN Agencies/INGOs and government when implementing child protection strategic interventions like case management.
• Ability to develop the capacity of the child protection team to effectively implement strategic child protection intervention activities like PSS.
• Good skills and knowledge in developing quality reports, good analytical skills for case management trends analysis.
• Ability to work well under pressure and work to deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, in written English and local languages.
• Strong organizational, technological, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Ability to analyze and solve problems and facilitate effective decision making.

How to apply

• Please go to this link: https://airtable.com/appPpkoHUHPuN96cA/shrYKkYGgkZ679OHO, fill in your information and attach your documents before the closing date - (27-Jan-2024).
• Applications after closing date will not be accepted.
• Please note that there is no telephonic inquiry and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for written test/interview.

Child safeguarding and Adults at Risk

Our work with children and at-risk adults to keep them safe is the most important thing we do. We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in all areas of our work. We have zero tolerance for any behaviours and practices that puts children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse and/or harm. Successful applicants will be expected to be compliant and sign up to our Child Safeguarding policy, our Code of Conduct and PSEA: Adults at Risk Policy. You can find the Child Safeguarding and Adults at Risk policy here: Child Safeguarding

Pre-employment checks

• Employment with War Child will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

• A satisfactory police record check to include a International/National Criminal Record Check, and a clear vetting and Due Diligence check

• Receipt of three satisfactory reference