Social Worker - Nabaa

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the learning centre in in-take registration by conducting individual interview of a new child and keeping records of their socio-economic, and psycho-social conditions and needs
• Assess the specific needs of children referred by the teachers, and provide follow up one to one sessions (awareness and non-focused PSS) based on needs
• Conduct effective and timely internal referral to case manager and/or clinical social worker based on needs
• Ensure confidential documentation of each case through adequate data collection and management
• Ensure effective communication with teachers and learning centre manager, by participating in regular coordination meetings
• Provide teachers with advice and support on how to deal with, and provide support for, specific cases of children with difficulties and/or misbehaving children, as well as for all students in general, in classroom settings as well as outside
• Provide individual psycho-social support sessions for children identified as in need, as well as follow up with their parents through individual sessions, phone calls and/or house visits
• Provide group non-focused PSS and awareness sessions for students monthly, and encourage the participation of children themselves to build supportive relationships with each other
• Mobilize family, school, and community resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as possible in his or her educational program, in consultation with the teachers and learning centre manager
• Assist in developing positive teaching and positive discipline strategies together with the teachers
• Ensure that the learning centre offers child friendly spaces to all students, and that there is a complaint mechanism available and accessible for students
• Support and ensure effective information sharing across departments, particularly with the Peace Education team and Relief team, in order to provide holistic services to persons in need at the centre
• Participate in community based network and coordination meetings, as well as relevant capacity building training and monthly staff care and team meetings
• Submit monthly reports concerning implemented outreach activities, case observation and trends, referrals, focal points meetings and related challenges and achievements

SERVICES TO STUDENTS:

• Identify each child’s specific needs, and develop an intervention plan.
• Identify and report cases of abuse and neglect.
• Provide safe space and psychosocial support.
• Develop intervention strategies to increase academic success and psychosocial well-being, and reducing protection risks.
• Assist each child in developing skills on non-violent communication, inter-personal / social skills (‘life skills’), anger and stress management, and conflict resolution (on a personal level).

SERVICES TO PARENT/FAMILIES:

• Conduct adequate and timely follow up with parents to understand the family setting affecting the child, and to ensure that they can provide support for their children at home.
• Together with the teacher, organize parents-teacher meetings to provide parents with regular updates and follow up on the child’s performances (academic and behavioural), as well as constructive advice.
• Together with the protection coordinator, provide the parents with support sessions to alleviate their stress and pressure for the parents themselves as well as children.
• Assist parents to access programs, school and community resources available to students, especially students with special needs.

SERVICES TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL:

• Provide teachers with essential information about the identified student(s) to better understand factors (cultural, societal, economic, familial, health, etc.) affecting his/her performance and behavior.
• Assist teachers with behavior management and positive discipline in class rooms for problematic children.
• Provide teachers with regular support sessions where they can openly discuss issues concerning problems and students at the learning centre.
• Assist in developing and implementing educational programs for children with specific needs, from child protection perspective.

SCHOOL-COMMUNITY LIAISON:

• Liaison with relevant specialized agencies (health, social and mental health) to seek opportunities to receive adequate support for students.
• Support the protection team and education team in organizing community based events to create awareness and supportive environment for students by the community.
• Coordinate with community representatives, public services and relevant organisations to map alternative educational opportunities for children with specific child protection needs,such as drop-outs, truants, delinquents, married girls, etc.