Project Officer - Case Management and Reintegration at Catholic Relief

Ref.2018/075

Reports To: Technically, Case Management and Reintegration Advisor and administratively to

Team lead

Country/Location: Kenya/Kisumu

Background:

CRS, with partners Lumos and Maestral International, will work closely with Department of Children Services (DCS) and other care reform actors to implement programming and interventions to support care reform in Kenya. Kenya has been selected as one of three countries, together with the Republic of Moldova and Guatemala, to implement the initial phase of Changing the Way We Care (CTWWC) initiative. CTWWC is an initiative that aims to leverage existing strengths and efforts of key stakeholders as well as address identified gaps to move Kenya away from reliance on residential care facilities and towards stronger family-based care.

Job Summary:

The Case Management and Reintegration Officer will provide technical assistance to strengthen the existing case management systems or help to establish new systems for Children’s Charitable Institutions (CCIs) and statutory institutions based on standardized approaches, operating procedures and tools and paying particular attention to the unique needs of children and families taking part in a reintegration process either back home or through placement into alternative care. You will support DCS and CCIs in the assessment and reintegration processes, support alternative care placements and aftercare services and monitor key component of the care reform process in support of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. You will work closely with the CTWWC staff to ensure that critical information collected within the case management process is used to inform system strengthening efforts and program design and interventions. You will ensure that local implementing partners and other stakeholders have strong case management systems in place and that the actors mandated to use the case management system are well prepared and able to use it towards a successful end while ensuring that children, youth and families are actively and sufficiently engaged in the process. The information generated will contribute to and inform the Government of Kenya’s (GoK) Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), as well as feed into program monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) systems.

Specific Responsibilities:**

• Provide technical support and guidance in the assessment, planning, design and implementation of capacity strengthening activities that enable and support LIPs, CCIs and statutory institutions in their case management work.
• Support CCIs and statutory institutions to achieve close coordination with government departments and structures (e.g. the Area Advisory Councils) and other civil society organizations to ensure that referral mechanisms are established, and service are accessed by the target population.
• Assess the existing case management processes and referral networks utilized by CCIs and LIPs and ensure that all engaged with CTWWC are utilizing standardized case management processes, tools and approaches, including individualized case plans.
• Support and engage in regular meeting, trainings and the development of guidance, Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs), tools or training curricula that support DCS, Alternative Care committees (ACCs), CCIs, and local implementing partners and their partners to improve case management and referrals.
• Ensure that case management processes adequately and actively engage children, young people and families in case management and that their voices are heard in the process of development of any new tools, etc.
• Conduct regular supportive supervision visits to CCIs to provide mentoring technical assistance and training.
• Help to design and roll out training to CCI and local authority social workers on reunification, reintegration, case management, family strengthening and prevention, aligned to training developed in the wider CTWWC program in Kenya.
• Support quality improvement initiatives and learning exchanges related to case management and referral networks between or amongst CCIs, government, local implementing partners and other key actors as a means of promoting good practice.
• Document project results and outcomes in various forms, including media stories, promising practices, lessons learned, peer reviewed journal articles, abstracts, case studies, client satisfaction, and program reports.
• Ensure that learning from the county is fed up to the national level so that other counties learn from the case management development process and that duplication at roll out is avoided.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the following disciplines: social sciences, international development, social work, community development or another related field.
• At least four years’ professional experience in child protection, care reform or in related social work fields
• Understanding of the Kenyan child care and protection policy context and with issues around care reform.
• Experience in case management systems and referral network design, assessment, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience with and desire to work directly with children and families.
• Experience working in both county level as well as community settings preferably in care reform.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to manage complex and sensitive organizational relationships particularly between DCS, CCIs, LIPs and families/ households
• Good understanding of and experience working in child protection and care reform.

Skills and Abilities

• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong writing skills in professional English, level of proficiency should allow the candidate to serve as primary author of high-quality written reports to donors with minimal revision.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Able to engage with a variety of stakeholders and work in a productive and participatory manner.
• Ability to effectively and efficiently explain and transfer skills and knowledge related to case management and reintegration.
• Ability to work in a team
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities with minimal supervision.

Required/Desired Foreign Language: Able to clearly communicate in written and spoken English and Kiswahili.

Travel Required: Travel within Kenya will be determined. Regular trips to Nairobi expected.

Key Working Relationships:**

Supervisory: None

Internal: CTWWC staff, Health, Education and Social Services Unit, CRS Kenya MEAL Unit, Management Quality Unit, CRS Kenya Head of Programs.

External: Local implementing partners, GOK, UNICEF, CCIs, faith-based organizations, Kenya Society of Careleavers, relevant private sector entities, local communities, beneficiaries, donors and other stakeholders.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Accountability & Stewardship
• Builds relationships
• Develops Talent
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Strategic Mindset

MEAL Competencies:

• Track portfolio and project MEAL requirements – both CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures (MPP) and donor requirements.
• Work with MEAL staff and partner staff to implement the MPP and donor MEAL requirements applicable to your projects.
• Complete the annual MEAL procedure self-assessment for your project and develop action plan to advance MEAL practice.
• Input into annual work planning process

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.