Social Case Worker - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

JOB PURPOSE

The purpose of Social Case Workers is to provide comprehensive and evidence-based support to children who are in need of care and protection. They identify children who require care and protection, develop case plans, and monitor progress towards achieving the goals of the plan. They also facilitate the participation of children in decision-making processes related to their care and protection especially during developing a case plan.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT: 

• Identify and assess the needs and rights of children, particularly those who are vulnerable, marginalized, or at risk of harm.
• Conduct a thorough assessment of children in need of protection and care, identifying their needs and risks, and developing an appropriate plan of action.
• Manage cases of children in need of protection and care, by following Case Management and Referral System SOPs and guidelines, developing and implementing plans for their care and protection, monitoring progress, and making adjustments as necessary.
• Refer children in need of protection and care to appropriate services and agencies, and coordinate with other service providers to ensure their needs are met.
• Facilitate Psychologist and the Child Protection Unit to provide counseling and support to children and their families, helping them cope with difficult situations.
• Advocate for the rights of children, promoting their participation and empowerment.
• Identify children's rights violations, particularly abuse, neglect, and discrimination/exploitation, and devise proper responses.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of interventions on the lives of children.
• Identify and refer at-risk children to referral partners, follow case management procedures, conduct regular follow-ups, and maintain proper records in both hard and soft forms.
• Liaise with parents/caregivers in host communities to identify and refer separated and missing children.
• Conduct awareness sessions in the community, schools, and other forums and formation/reactivation of Community-based Child Protection Committees, keeping them active through regular follow-ups and awareness sessions and trainings.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of work with children in need of protection and care, preparing reports and other required documentation.
• Maintain records of services provided, service directory and outreach activities, surveys completed, and other reporting as assigned.
• Complete and maintain records, including profiles of separated, missing, unaccompanied children, beneficiary maps, assessment forms, and surveys.
• Conduct regular field visits to identify, refer, and follow up on children at risk.
• In coordination with Psychologist and CPO, prepare narrative and statistical reports on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual basis.
• Assist the CPO in court cases and appear before court when required.
• Performing any other professional task assigned by the CPO and the Commission, and reporting to the designated focal person as required, while ensuring compliance with the KP CP & W Act 2010, as well as the rules and regulations established therein.

2: STANDARDS SETTING AND APPLICATION:

• Non-Discrimination: Social Case Worker should not discriminate against any child on the basis of their gender, race, ethnicity, language, religion, national origin, or any other status.
• Best Interests of the Child: Social Case Worker should always act in the best interests of the child. This means that their decisions and actions should prioritize the child's well-being and take into account their individual needs and circumstances.
• Confidentiality: Social Case Worker should respect the privacy and confidentiality of the child, while also ensuring that the child is safe from harm. They should obtain informed consent from the child and their parents or guardians before sharing any information.
• Professional Conduct: Social Case Workers should adhere to a code of ethics and maintain professional boundaries when working with children, families, and other professionals.
• Case Management: Social Case Workers should have the skills to assess and manage cases involving children and families, including identifying risks, developing safety plans, and making referrals to appropriate resources.
• Collaboration: Social case workers should work collaboratively with CPU staff, such as Child Protection Officers and Psychologists, as well as other professionals, including lawyers and medical professionals etc, to provide comprehensive support to children and families.
• Cultural Competence: Social Case Workers should have an understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and communities, and should be able to provide services that are sensitive and appropriate to the needs of different populations.
• Court Testimony: Social Case Workers may be called upon to provide testimony in court cases involving Child Protection, and should have the skills and knowledge to effectively communicate their professional opinions and recommendations.

3: MONITORING, DOCUMENTATION, REPORTING AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :

• Monitoring: Social Case Workers are responsible for regularly monitoring the safety and well-being of children under their care. This includes conducting home visits, school visits, and other forms of monitoring to ensure that children are safe and that their needs are being met.
• Documentation: Social Case Workers must keep accurate and detailed records of all interactions with children and families. This includes documenting assessments, case plans, progress reports, and any other relevant information related to the child's case.
• Reporting: If Social Case Workers have any concerns about the safety or well-being of a child, they are responsible for reporting these concerns to the Child Protection Officer and other concerned authorities or delegated in KPCPWC.
• Information management: Social Case Workers must effectively manage and organize all documentation and information related to a child's case, ensuring that all electronic and paper records are kept confidential, and that any sensitive information is not shared with unauthorized individuals. This includes using CP-IMS to streamline documentation and ensure that all information is up-to-date and accurate.

REQUIRED EDUCATION

• At least second-class master’s degree in Social Sciences or second-class bachelor’s degree (4-year, post intermediate) in Social Sciences, from a recognized University.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• At least 2 years of experience in providing Child Protection services to children and their families affected by abuse, neglect, and exploitation

REQUIRED SKILLS 

• Strong knowledge of social work theories and practices including psychosocial assessments and intervention techniques
• Ability to work effectively in a team and in a culturally diverse environment
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information
• Willingness to travel to various locations within the province as needed.

Disclaimer:

• MicroMerger reserves the right to reject any or all applications or change the number of positions at any stage without assigning any reason or as per requirements.
• Any Candidate/Applicant who attempts to or influences the recruitment process or the Selection Panel by any means shall be disqualified immediately.
• MicroMerger will not consider applicants not fulfilling the requirements/criteria mentioned above.
• Incomplete applications will not be entertained.
• MicroMerger reserves the right to cancel the whole hiring process at any stage without mentioning any reason.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for tests and/or interviews via call or Email.
• MicroMerger provides equal opportunity to all qualified Males & Females candidates. Females are encouraged to apply. 
• All jobs are of visual nature. Visually impaired applicants cannot be entertained.
• Recruitment will be made on a contract basis, extendable based on arising needs
• Shortlisted candidates will have to bring their CVs, attested copies of CNIC, certificates, experience certificates and educational qualifications at the time of the interview
• No TA/DA or any expense would be admissible during the whole hiring process including interviews, tests etc