Vacancy Announcement: Social Worker (Nairobi 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 Social Worker (Nairobi Office).
Job Summary: Reporting to the Family Strengthening Coordinator,
The Social 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 5 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 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 21st May 2023.
The email Ref should be ‘Social
Worker - Nairobi’
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.