Alternative Care Specialist

Job posted by: International Rescue Committee (IRC)-USA - Wed, 16 Apr 2014

Job Details:

Organisation: International Rescue Committee (IRC)-USA

Deadline Sun, 15 Jun 2014

Job type: Permanent

Location: Iraq

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The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the largest humanitarian agencies in the world, providing relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of oppression and violent conflict. The IRC has worked for over seven decades and today is involved in over 25 conflict zones in the world.

Syrian refugees have been fleeing to the Kurdish Region of Iraq (KRI) since early 2012. Despite the high level of vulnerability of the estimated 87,190 (40,348 boys and 46,842 girls) children below the age of 17 who have registered with UNHCR, quality and comprehensive child protection responses have been slow to arrive. When the IRC conducted a child protection rapid assessment in Domiz refugee camp in January 2013, the report identified an urgent need to reinforce and improve multi-sectoral responses, the lack of a robust case management system including referral pathways or SOPs and case conferences, and the need to increase the number of responders on the ground with an understanding of CPMS in order to ensure its implementation. Additionally, there are no alternative care avenues for vulnerable Syrian children with institutional services being provided for Iraqis only (with the exception of a few anomalies) and no foster care or group housing alternatives.

SCOPE OF WORK
The IRC is responding to the lack of child protection systems and standards for Syrian children in the KRI by implementing an integrated child protection project capacity building project. One important outcome of this work will be the assessment, design and initiation of interventions to address the interim, medium and long term care needs of children. The alternative care specialist will be responsible for ensuring that quality programmes and capacities are initiated to provide care and protection to children.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This position will be responsible for the assessment, consultation, and drafting of an alternative care SOP including launching and training key stakeholders in support of the planning and the implementation of an alternative care system in the KRI for Syrian children.

Assessment and consultation
* Conduct a mapping of current actors and practices of alternative care arrangements in Syrian and Iraqi community.
* Consult with Government, child protection agencies, and the Syrian and Iraqi community to identify roles and responsibilities towards care of Syrian children that are informed and integrated with other sectors i.e. education, health, nutrition, food security and livelihoods.
* Identify and agree within and between agencies and other stakeholders the roles, responsibilities and accountability for planned action and future decision-making around care issues. Ensure that care interventions are informed by and integrated with other core sectors of education, health, nutrition, food security and livelihoods.

Documentation and Alternative Care Strategy Development
* Deliver a report/strategy documenting local context, including current alternative care approaches and frameworks in the KRI, and including recommendations for alternative care solutions within the context of the Syrian child protection response.
* Draft a proposed SOP including clear identification of roles and responsibilities, assessment, implementation and follow up mechanisms in line with existing/developing child protection and case management SOPs.

Capacity Building and Implementation
* Conduct a validation workshop to inform stakeholders and launch SOP and support planned implementation.
* Initiate and/or carry out capacity-building of key international and national staff in specific care arrangement and child protection competencies including appropriate approaches, where needed

Requirements:
* University degree in Social Work or other appropriate field and at least a minimum of three years in alternative care programming.
* Experience of designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating child protection programmes in emergency contexts
* Ability to identify the main gaps in child protection in the given context to inform a holistic response for children.
* Good knowledge of established inter-agency standards and guidelines in child protection are implemented and followed in all field programmes.
* Experience in capacity building and in strengthening various duty bearers understanding of and response to child protection.
* Demonstrated knowledge and experience of alternative care programming, preferably in emergency contexts.
* Diplomatic skills and ability to handle sensitive situations tactfully.
* Demonstrated ability to write concise, analytical and well-argued reports.
* Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player
* Fluency in English and knowledge of Arabic desirable.
* Experience working in difficult conditions or hardship duty stations desirable.

SPECIFIC SECURITY SITUATION/HOUSING
Housing is shared and the security situation in Iraq remains fluid and unpredictable. Candidates may expect periods of insecurity, periodic suspensions of, or restrictions in, program operation and/or field travel, and high levels of volatility in the operating environment.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=c3RldmVueS4wMjE5OS40ODEwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20



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