Case Management Workers – Plan International

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

ROLE PROFILEs

Role PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice.

We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan International Uganda (PIU) expects to secure funding from the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (DGD) of the Kingdom of Belgium, through Plan International’s Belgium National Office (BNO) to implement a project aimed at building resilience and protection of children, adolescents and youth living in refugee settlements, IDSs (Internally Displaced Settlements) and vulnerable communities. The project location is in Bidi Bidi refugee settlement (and some surrounding host communities) in Yumbe district in West Nile, Uganda.

This position reports to the Project Officer with the overall responsibility of the case identification, assessment, registration, supporting and reporting.

Dimensions of the Role

Brief description of the position’s role within the Project:

The Case Management Worker through the Best Interest Procedure (BIP) will implement the comprehensive case management process including Best Interest Determination (BID) for an assigned number of individual children who are vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, neglect and violence (especially UASC and CHH).

Position objectives:

• To ensure children harmed or at risk of being harmed are identified and receive individual case management support by conducting assessments, documentation, action plans, direct service provision, referrals, case by case support and follow ups for an assigned case load of children.
• To provide support to families in the process of case management, including foster and alternative care.
• To directly work with other caseworkers and service providers on management of caseload and referrals.
• To support and implement the alternative care systems in place for all UASC in his/her case load.

Accountabilities

Specific Roles and Responsibilities:

The Case Management Worker will be responsible for providing individual case management for assigned children in the project Settlements in accordance with all case Management Steps and related Tools and procedures.

In addition, provide on-going support to families, foster and alternative care systems and communicate regularly with the Project Officer (Child Protection) for up-dates on achievements and challenges.

Subsequently, working in close consultation and with supervision from the Project Officer (Child Protection), the Case Management Worker performs the following specific roles and responsibilities to implement the case management component of the project:

• Community mobilisation, Community Awareness and conducting public community dialogues,
• Coordinate community sensitization on case management services in the settlement and host community
• Conduct quality Case Management process i.e. identification, assessment, case plan development, implementation, follow-up and closure,
• Provision of Psychosocial First Aid (PFA) to Child at Risks including UASC
• Capture and enter timely all cases in ProGres V4
• Family tracing and re-unification of separated children and un-accompanied minors,
• Identify, document and report all vulnerable at-risk children and young people in the settlement and host communities,
• Provide counselling sessions / psychosocial support to individuals (children & Young People – CYP) with protection concerns and their families
• Conduct Best Interest Assessment (BIA) and identify the needs of identified at-risk children/young people.
• Conduct home-visits on a daily basis for the identified at-risk children/young people and understand their changing needs. Based on the needs, revise the case plan
• Identify what non-food items are necessary to be provided with the identified at-risk children/young people.
• Refer the identified at-risk children/young people to other organization which has capacity to provide services which Plan International doesn’t have.
• Directly communicate effectively with other Case Management Workers and service providers as part of conducting individual case management.
• Write a case report for the identified at-risk children/young people for proper data management.
• Work closely with Project Officer (Child Protection) to make sure the child data base is up to date every week.
• Regularly Participate in case management conferences and meetings at field level with supervisor.
• Work with community-based leaders (refugee welfare committees, Child Protection Committees (CPCs), block leaders) and host community  para-social workers, to receive referral on at-risk children and young people,
• Represent Plan International at Settlement coordination meetings
• Contribute to the development activities in relation to case management
• Write quarterly, monthly and weekly (sitrep) gender disaggregated staff activity reports

Other Duties:

• Support activities at Child Friendly Spaces and other activities under CP sectors for the project
• Provide feedback on written documents and the design of future programming.
• Participate in CP sub-sector working group meetings as appropriate and other community meetings – primarily the monthly Case Management Meeting.
• Provide support to other Plan International Uganda sectors (ex: Education, WASH, etc.) and to all monitoring and evaluation activities as necessary.
• Liaise with implementing partners and government stakeholders (e.g.: Lutheran World Federation (LWF), World Vision International (WVI), Uganda Red Cross Society, UNHCR, UNICEF, Medical Teams International (MTI) and Office of the Prime Minister among others) at the community level to identify, Unaccompanied Minors (UAMs) and Separated Children (SC) for family tracing, alternative care and additional support.
• When appropriate, participate in CP sub-sector working group meetings
• Participate in community meetings.
• Consistently and proactively report concerns or incidents relating to the safety and security of Plan International field teams to Plan International management; liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for Plan programs.
• Participate in BID  panels as appropriate
• Other duties as assigned / delegated by the supervisor to enable and develop Plan International Child Protection in Emergencies programs.

Child Protection and Gender Equality & Inclusion

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Key relationships

Internally:

The Case management Worker:-

• Shall work in close consultation / supervision with the Project Officer (Child Protection).
• Interacts with CP Specialists and Project Manager and other project staffs working at the PIU West Nile North – Program Area.
• Is a key member of the Child Protection Thematic area supported by Technical Advisor –Protection based at the PIU Country office.

Externally:

The Case management Worker:-

• Work in close collaboration with Child Protection stakeholders at settlement and host community levels.
• Specifically maintain regular day to day working relationships with children, their families, and community based child protection structures established under this project, maintain coordination and collaboration with all other Child Protection stakeholders at refugee settlements and host community level.

Leadership and Business Management Competencies

Leadership Competencies

• Set and communicate ambitious but realistic work goals and priorities, explaining how these contribute to Plan International’s purpose.
• Set high standards for self and others’ behaviour, inside and outside work. Championing our values and commitment to rights, gender equality and safeguarding. Supporting the health, well-being and both physical and psychological safety of our staff, including their safety to speak out.
• Hold self and others to account for what we have agreed, dealing with poor performance quickly, firmly and constructively.
• Create a positive team spirit, helping people work well together, to reflect and continuously improve the efficiency and quality of what we do.
• Collaborate with team members, colleagues and partners in finding creative solutions to problems by sharing information, experience and ideas and actively seeking their input.
• Motivate and developing others by taking an interest, giving constructive feedback and praise, ensuring they are properly trained and helping them utilize their potential.
• Accept change and support others in adjusting to it, helping them understand.

Business Management Competencies

• Understand relevant sectorial context including how the sector operates in terms of funding and governance and awareness of Plan’s purpose, values, and global strategy
• Manage legal and reputational risk including risk assessment, communication, risk management and reporting in full compliance with risk-related standards, including in areas such as Child and Youth Safeguarding and Protection, Gender equality and inclusion, Counter Fraud, Safety and Security
• Manage activities and resources including skills in strategic thinking, planning and organising, financial planning and monitoring, negotiation and programme and project management
• Manage people and information including skills in assessment and coaching, evidence-based management, communication skills, both speaking and writing, and digital working, including personal digital skills.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• Minimum of Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Social works, Development studies, Counselling, Psychology, or relevant discipline.
• Previous work experience in community development or with an INGO (preferably in child protection).
• Experience in facilitating community meetings.
• Minimum 1 to 2 years of professional humanitarian experience (past experience working with refugee communities in emergency is a plus).
• Excellent writing, facilitation, and organizational skills.
• Excellent command of the English language and another local language (ex: Madi, Arabic, etc.).
• Strong drive for results and ensuring timely delivery of quality products.
• Experience managing child protection and gender-based violence cases in a sensitive and child friendly manner.
• Excellent community mobilization skills.
• Ability to work individually and within a team with limited supervision. A self-starter.
• Good analytical, problem solving and project planning skills.
• Computer knowledge – Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
• Willingness to work in a typically rural district and travel 80% of the time in field.

Desirable

• Strong skills in monitoring, evaluation, research and conducting participatory, community-led assessments. Experience working with case files and databases and providing regular documentation.
• Able to communicate clearly and strategically with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of Plan. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.
• Strong capacity building/training/coaching/mentoring skills with communities and internal and external staff.
• Able to ride a motorcycle and possesses a driver’s license (Class A).

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Physical Environment

The work requires long hours of working in the field in a hot and dry climate, and in other days in a rainy season. The staff is expected to be outside the office for 5 – 7 hours per day unless the staff is compiling information and creating reports.

Level of contact with children

High level: Frequent interaction with children

As a Child  Centered Development organisation, Plan International Uganda strives to ensure that children are kept safe in all the areas we operate. The organisation further has a Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy that every staff is required to sign.

Additional Responsibilities:

Children and Young people safeguarding Policy Responsibilities (mandatory for all staff)

• Adhere to the children and young people safeguarding policy and Code of Conduct
• Desist from all forms of child abuses including sexual, emotional, physical and or neglect.
• Desist from behaviour that paces children at risk of harm, exploitation or abuse
• Responsible for implementation of the children and young people safeguarding policy standards and Code of Conduct as they apply to area of responsibility.
• Ensure that all Plan International partners, visitors and associates in his/her area of responsibility are provided with, are made aware off and have signed and returned a copy of the children and young people safeguarding policy and Code of Conduct.
• Inform the partners, visitors and associates that they must comply with the policy in all contacts and communications with children during their visit.
• Report all child safeguarding concerns that have come to his or her knowledge within 12 hours using the approved reporting and responding procedures.

Location: Adjumani / Yumbe

Type of Role: 4-5 months

Reports to: Child Protection Officer

Grade: B

Closing Date: 16th February 2022

Candidates with atleast 1 Covid 19 Vaccination Jab will be considered

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

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