Child Protection Project Coordinator

Position Overview:

The Child Protection Project Coordinator plays a crucial role in overseeing and managing the overall implementation of UPEL services for children in need of judicial protection and in conflict with the law across Lebanon. S/he supervises 5 case managers, who in turn supervise caseworkers in each UPEL office. The Child Protection Project Coordinator will be responsible for the oversight of quality service provision and ensure that the best interests of the child are advocated for at a national and field level, as well as in relevant coordination meetings, and are the primary consideration in all actions taken on behalf of a child by UPEL staff in accordance with law 422/2002.

In close collaboration with the Operations Manager and the UPEL board, the Project Coordinator will coordinate with key stakeholders and child protection actors regarding UPEL’s work for vulnerable children at national and governorate level. In addition, the Project Coordinator will be responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of UPEL’s work, overseeing databases, and drafting narrative donor reports. The Project Coordinator will be involved in the technical capacity building of UPEL’s case management staff, and will provide technical guidance as needed.

Responsibilites:

Technical Support & Management:

Supervise and manage the performance of the case management teams in the 6 regions in Lebanon and ensure that the teams are adhering to child protection guiding principles, code of conduct, child safeguarding policy and the National Standard Operating Procedures for the Protection of Juveniles.

Provide technical support to the case management teams in the 6 regions in the delivery of the CM activities as per project proposal and budget.

Conduct trainings and workshops for the teams in priority capacity building areas.

Ensure all UPEL case management staff have a strong understanding of their role as advocates for vulnerable children and youth within the judicial system.

Ensure weekly/ monthly activity plans and reports are in place in all 6 regions.

Proactively identify challenges and gaps in the technical and operational needs of UPEL to identify solutions to improve systems in place.

Conduct monthly monitoring visits to all UPEL offices and provide relevant support as needed.

Ensure weekly case management review meetings are being conducted in all 6 regions.

Call for case conferences with other CP partners when needed, or support case managers to do so.

Coordination and Representation:

Represent UPEL in interagency child protection meetings, coordination meetings and other relevant meetings at national level, as well as at local level as needed.

Coordinate with Child Protection Working Groups in all the regions to ensure that UPEL is aware of updated referral pathways and services mappings, which are to be shared with staff.

Coordinate regularly with other child protection agencies, and attend case conferences and BID panel meetings if and when needed.

Ensure all teams have access to emergency shelters and that regular coordination is maintained with key interim shelters for children.

Ensure that regular coordination meetings are held between ISF, General Prosecutors, Juvenile Judges to highlight high risk cases in need of immediate intervention, highlight challenges in the management/coordination of cases with the GP and/or JJ, receive feedback on the performance of UPEL case managers and caseworkers and advocate for the Best Interests of the Child.

Coordinate with the Operations Manager on an ongoing basis regarding the materials needed in all offices, ensure procurement plans are up to date and materials are delivered to the case management teams in the 6 regions in a timely manner with all necessary documentation.

Collaborate & coordinate closely with the HR & Finance Officer, as well as the Operations Manager, regarding issues relating to UPEL case management staff. Provide input from the technical child protection perspective into policies and structures that are being developed.

Continuously strive to further develop own technical skills & knowledge through trainings and other capacity building activities, and support team in accessing regular capacity building activities as well.

Monitoring & Reporting:

Ensure the documentation of all requested court appointments is shared in a timely manner with the relevant teams.

Draft and submit analytical reports of high quality with the input of the Case Management Managers.

Oversee the case management database in all 6 offices and ensure data is entered correctly on an ongoing basis.

Follow up weekly on the data collected in the 6 offices (collect Sitreps, updated data form...).

Review data collected to analyze cases of child protection and children in conflict with the law to identify trends across Lebanon and areas where advocacy is needed.

Staff Management:

Ensure emergency cover schedules are in place in each office and regularly reviewed, and night shifts are maintained as and when required on a regular basis.

Coach, train, and mentor 5 Case Management Managers with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance;

Supervise and mentor the case managers, including communicating clear expectations and providing regular and timely performance feedback;

Promote and monitor staff care, staff motivation and well-being; organize staff activities to promote staff wellbeing and motivation if and when appropriate; ensure leave requests are managed in a way so as to ensure adequate coverage.

Ensure all case managers and caseworkers comply with the organizations’ Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding Policy, and take steps to implement disciplinary measures to adress misconduct in coordination with the Operations Manager and the UPEL President.

Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide feedback to staff on areas for improvement and areas of good practice.
 

Other:

Proactively identify and communicate challenges in program implementation, national systems and /or complex cases to the Operations Manager and UPEL President to strive for better systems in the best interest of the child.

Respect professional boundaries and ethics of case management at all times.

Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop UPEL services.

Follow up on urgent issues after working hours might be required from time to time.

Required Qualifications:

A university degree in Social Work

5 years professional technical experience in Child Protection Case Management

Strong managerial skills and experience

Strong project planning, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills

Experience in supervising and providing case management services and support

Good technical writing skills

Experience in facilitating child protection trainings and capacity building activities is required

Previous experience managing programs financed through UNHCR, UNICEF is preferable

Ability to handle pressure and work in a challenging environment

Competent in Windows, MS office programs, email and database experience

Staunch advocate for Child Rights

Commitment to Child Protection Guiding Principles

Strong sense of personal integrity and commitment to confidentiality
 
 
Language Skills:

Strong written skills in Arabic and English are mandatory.