WPE Social Workers

Requisition ID: req12265

Job Title: WPE Social Workers

Sector: Women Protection & Empowerment

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Bidibidi, Uganda

Job Description

BACKGROUND

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (www.rescue.org) is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict development services for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. The IRC is currently working in over 40 countries around the world, addressing both the immediate and lifesaving needs of conflict affected people in emergencies and the reconstruction needs of post-conflict societies.

The IRC began programming in northern Uganda in 1998 in response to mass displacement and devastation wrought by rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army. In 2002, the IRC expanded to the remote, conflict-affected region of Karamoja and in 2011, began working with refugees in Kampala and Kiryandongo settlement. Monitoring the influx of South Sudanese refugees at the end of 2015, the IRC began scaling up its response to refugees arriving in the West Nile region. By promoting durable solutions that deliver on the interdependent aims of saving lives, strengthening institutions, and supporting social cohesion, the IRC in Uganda is laying the building blocks for long-term stability and development –bringing people from harm to home. The IRC works in 12 districts in Uganda, including Kitgum, Lamwo, Kotido, Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Kaabong, Amudat, Kiryandongo, Adjumani, Yumbe, and Kampala.

The IRC’s Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) program has been operational in Yumbe district since August 2016. The WPE program in Yumbe district provides life-saving services to conflict-affected and displaced women and girls, including gender based violence (GBV) suvivors, through a Women’s and Girls’ Centers located in all five zones of the BidiBidi settlement. Refugee and host community women and girls are provided with a safe space to access case management and psychosocial support and to attend skills-building and socio-economic empowerment activities.

SCOPE OF WORK

The WPE Social Worker (SW) will be providing case management and psychosocial support to refugee and host community women and girls in Yumbe District, specifically in BidiBidi settlement. He/She will provide women and girls access to information, services, and build informal support networks with other women at the Women Center and via mobile services. The SW will provide case management services to survivors of GBV, as well as psychosocial support and counseling to clients and support with non-GBV cases. The SW will employ a survivor-centered approach to ensure that the client’s wishes are respected, and her safety and confidentiality are preserved at all times through the case management process.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Work with WPE Response Officer to develop and oversee activities for women and girls in refugee and host- communities.

•  Identify and implement timely, survivor-centered and age-appropriate case management services and psychosocial support to all clients reached by the WPE team and in the Women Center ensuring strict adherence to the GBV guiding principles (Safety and Security, Confidentiality, Respect and No Discrimination
•  Identify available services and coordinate referrals based on the wishes and consent of the survivor.
•  Advocate with partner organizations supporting GBV survivors to provide additional confidential services to clients, in accordance with their wishes and GBV guiding principles.
•  Utilize GBV data management tools (GBVIMS) and systems to record information about clients accessing services, in line with the principle of confidentiality, and utilize aggregate information to improve service delivery.
•  Support the development and utilization of an zone-specific referral pathway for GBV cases.
•  Create and maintain a welcoming and safe environment through the IRC mobile teams and at the Women Centers.
•  Support capacity building and coordination activities in zone settings, including by delivering training sessions to local partner organizations on case management principles, GBV core concepts, GBV guiding principles, etc.
•  Maintain a positive relationship with Women Committee(s), WPE volunteers and other community-based groups to ensure they are involved in the activities of the WPE mobile team and they play an active role in the referral pathway.
•  Maintain a collaborative relationship with all organizations working in the context to facilitate referrals and joint activities, while upholding IRC’s standard in GBV programming.
•  Conduct regular follow-ups, compile daily & weekly reports, and attend weekly case review meetings.
•  Develop and maintain work plans to achieve target indicators.
• Collect data through GBV and non-GBV management tools and systems.
• Attend WPE and IRC meetings and trainings as needed and as requested by senior staff.

KEY WORKING REALTIONSHIPS

Position reports to: WPE Response Officer

Position directly supervises: WPE Women Committees and Community Based Volunteers

Indirect reporting: WPE Manager

Other internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Close coordination with IRC Protection, M&E, Finance, HR, and Operations 

External: Close collaboration with donors, local actors (local NGOs, UN agencies, government) and service providers’ part of the urban survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) referral system

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation

Deadline for receiving applications is February 23rd,2021

Qualifications

• University degree in Social Sciences (i.e. social work, counseling, sociology, psychology, gender studies, human rights, etc.).
•  At least 2 years of experience in working in the social sector, particularly with refugees.
• Experience supervising psychosocial programs, providing psychosocial support or case management, and/or working on gender based violence (GBV) and women’s empowerment.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills and ability to present ideas effectively, in both oral and written form.
• Ability to communicate sensitively and without judgment; good diplomatic and persuasion skills.
• Ability to use good judgment when making decisions and to take accountability for decisions made.
• Emotional maturity and stability to resolve conflicts in non-violent way and maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Good interpersonal skills including ability to gain trust and build relationships.
•  Ability to handle multiple tasks; proven self-initiative and problem solving abilities.
•   High standard of spoken and written English.
•  Good computer skills including Microsoft Excel, Access, Word, Outlook, and Power Point.
•  Be able to work in a stressful setting and adapt quickly to changing environments.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

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