Vacancy Announcement: Community Development Worker (Kisumu Office)
SOS
Children’s Villages in Kenya is a member of SOS – Kinderdorf International, the
largest private child welfare organization in the world.
SOS
Children’s Villages in Kenya is a child-focused Non-Governmental Organization
established in 1973 to provide care and support to children who have lost or
are at risk of losing the care of their biological family.
The
organization’s vision is “No child should grow up alone” and its programmes are
driven by the mission of “building families for children in need, helping them
shape their own futures and sharing in the development of their communities”.
In
this regard, the organization works to reduce poverty; increase access to
quality education and decent work; reduce inequalities and build strong
institutions as laid out in SDGs 1, 4,8,10 and 16.
This
is done through programmes that are geared towards addressing the political,
economic, health and
social root causes that lead to high levels of child vulnerability and put
families at risk of breaking down.
The programmes focus on Alternative Care, Family Strengthening, Youth Empowerment, Education, Health Care and Advocacy.
SOS
Children’s Villages in Kenya implements programmes in five (5) of Kenya’s 47
Counties namely Nairobi, Mombasa, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu and Meru. We seek to
recruit suitably qualified person to fill the position of Community Development
Worker (Kisumu Office).
Job
Summary: Reporting to the Family Strengthening Coordinator, the Community
Development Worker will facilitate program development, provide overall
coordination and strategic direction, forge networks with other stakeholders
and monitor, evaluate and report on other sub- projects within the family
support
program.
H/she
will also be responsible for planning and implementing activities within the
family support program including the capacity building projects.
In
addition, he/she will coordinate the family support program activities and
ensure that they conform to the goals and objectives of the family
strengthening programs. The position will in particular support the Family
support Team Leader in this regard.
Key
performance areas and main responsibilities:
1.
Management of the Family Support program
· Assist
in the development of strategies relating to the program
· Follow
ups and support the community health volunteers in project implementation
· Hold
monthly meetings with CHVs to review progress of activities
· Implement
all activities within the family support program
· Propose
measures for program strengthening especially of the support groups
· Prepare
detailed annual plans, budgets, reports and planning schedules.
· Holds
regular reviews and assessments with all beneficiaries /Target Groups, Support
Groups, Community Health Workers and contact persons and identify areas for
improvement.
· Maintain
a healthy relationship at all times between the staff, families and contact
persons
· Develop
case plans with all care givers enrolled in the programme
· Update
of the viral loads for care givers and children who are on care who are enrolled
in the project
· Develop
MOU with all health facilities in the project area
· Review
the family case plans after every six months
2.
Responsible for all Target Group assessments and selection of beneficiaries
into the program
· Carry
out social assessments of the families and individuals referred from the health
facilities.
· Conduct
home visits to families assessed to verify further information given and also
establish their economic status.
· Using
the selection criteria and with the help of the other social workers, select
beneficiaries to be supported by the program.
· Always
maintain an up to date record of beneficiaries in terms of number of families,
children, adults, youth and sex.
· Ensure
that all records are well kept; maintain an excellent filing system in form of
hard copies as well as in the computers.
· Update
the fact sheet and other records on quarterly basis.
3.
Facilitate Open communications within the Family Support Team and other
departments
· Attend
regular department meetings.
· Ensure
that up-to-date records for all reports, minutes of meetings, correspondence
etc are properly documented and safely kept.
· Facilitate
effective communication within the case workers (CHV) in the project area
· Facilitate
open communication and coordination between the family support program and
other programs in the project area.
· Objectively
resolve problems and make timely decisions affecting the team and the
operations of their work.
· Facilitate
good working relationship with health facilities in the project area
4.
Facilitate the educational development of children in the target group
· With
the assistance of the community representatives develop selection criteria to
identify children to be supported for bursary and assist them in the selection.
· Monitor
the performance and progress of all the children supported in the program every
term and develop progress charts.
· Prepare
holiday programme ensuring that sufficient educational and recreational
activities are offered to the children.
· Ensure
that all the children are ready for school whenever the new term begins by
purchasing personal school materials for them well in advance to avoid lateness
and delays.
5.
Facilitate and ensure the effectiveness of all the support groups, Community
Health Workers and community representatives
· In
collaboration with the VCT counsellors, conduct group counselling sessions for
the support groups and provide emotional support.
· Organize
trainings for the support groups and Community Health Workers according to
need.
· Facilitate
the CHWS and Support groups in their efforts to provide psychological and
social support to each other.
· Monitor
the progress of support groups through attending their meetings at least once
every month.
· Follow
up on the activities of the Community Health Workers and ensure data collection
tools are timely filled and collected
· Provide
incentives in form of trainings and material rewards to the Community Health
Workers to motivate them
6.
Establish links and develop networks with NGOs, CBOs, donors GOK departments
and community
· Identify
potential donors, government of Kenya departments and private businesses and
establish networks.
· Coordinate
activities with partners in areas of mutual interest.
· Maintain
good relations with the local and international sponsors through ensuring
prompt correspondence and providing regular updates on progress of the
programmes.
· Handle
and respond to high-level correspondence in consultation with the Project
Coordinator and/or his appointee.
7. Data
Management and Protection
· At all
times ensures that personal data of donors, sponsors, SOS CV beneficiaries and
their families as well as SOS co-workers is handled confidentially and in
accordance with prevailing SOS-Kinderdorf International data protection laws.
· Combine
and rearrange data from source documents where required, enter data from source
documents into prescribed computer database, files and forms
· Transcribe
information into required electronic format, Scan documents into document
management systems or databases and store completed documents in designated
locations.
· Check
completed work for accuracy; maintain logbooks or records of activities and
tasks undertaken on/in the databases.
· Respond
to requests for information and access relevant files while ensuring compliance
with data integrity and security policies
· Ensure
that data on all program participants is accurate and up to date as per the set
standards/frequency of updating and review (every 3 – 6 Months)
Minimum
Qualifications & Experience Required
1.
A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences / Community Development / Child
Psychology or related disciplines.
2.
Knowledge in data collection, analysis and knowledge management
3.
Prior experience with project cycle management in a complex project
4.
At least 3 years progressive experience working with vulnerable populations
(children, youth, women) and community groups.
5.
Previous experience in child -focused organizations working with children on
care, protection and advocacy OVC Case management approach will be an added
advantage.
6.
Strong analytical ability as well as excellent oral and written communication
skills in English and Kiswahili is preferred.
7.
Must be a team player with excellent interpersonal skills
8.
Strong written and oral skills in English, Kiswahili and local language
9.
Strong report writing skills.
10.
Should be able to ride motor circle
Child
Protection Policy: At all times, avoid actions or
behavior that could be construed as poor or potentially abusive practice.
Whatever decisions and actions taken should be with the best interest of the
child in mind.
Data
Protection Policy: At all times ensure that
personal data of donors, sponsors, SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya
beneficiaries and their families as well as co-workers is handled
confidentially and in accordance with prevailing SOS-Kinderdorf International
data protection laws.
How to
Apply
If
you believe your experience, competencies and qualifications match the job and
role specifications described; send a Cover Letter & updated CV in PDF with
details of 3 traceable referees one of which must be immediate former employer
to recruitment@soskenya.org addressed to the Human Resources
and Administration Manager to reach us on or before 18th December 2022.
The
email Ref should be ‘Community Development Worker – Kisumu’
Only
shortlisted candidates will be contacted
SOS
Children’s Villages holds strict child safeguarding principles and a
zero-tolerance policy for conducts of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse
in the workplace and other places where the organization’s activities are
rendered. Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring decisions
will give due emphasize to assessing candidates value congruence and thorough
background checks, police clearance reference check processes.
SOS
Children’s Villages is an equal opportunity employer and its Recruitment Policy
addresses itself to the core values of best practice, diversity and equality.