Social worker

La Chaîne de l'Espoir (LCDE) is a French non-for-profit association founded by Professor Alain Deloche in 1994 and currently chaired by Doctor Eric Cheysson. This international aid association is independent and impartial. It works in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. La Chaîne de l'Espoir was formed by a network of medical and surgical expertise. As a key player in the health sector, it is committed to providing medical treatment and education to children who need it most. It also supports the health systems in the countries in which it intervenes, by building and equipping structures adapted to the local context.

Since late 2016, La Chaîne De L’Espoir has implemented a comprehensive paediatric orthopaedic surgery program with local partners in Lebanon targeting vulnerable children living with orthopedic congenital anomalies, covering local and refugee populations, by providing medico-surgical care to more than 420 children including post-operative follow-up and rehabilitation.

1. TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

GENERALITIES

• Welcoming the beneficiaries for their first visit and presenting the project.
• Conducting comprehensive social and economic assessment for identified beneficiaries as being in need of surgical intervention.
• Identifying availability of services for external referrals of cases in need, referring patients to the adequate organizations, facilitating and following up such referrals.
• Receiving referrals of potential beneficiaries from other organizations, individuals or stakeholders.
• Following up with the patients and the doctors to set appointments for consultations, and potential hospital admissions.
• Documenting cases and following up on their hospital admissions. Ensuring all relevant documents are available and beneficiaries’ files are complete.  
• Facilitating the admissions of beneficiaries to the hospital and coordinating with the hospital admission department and management when needed. Ensuring that the procedures of the admission are properly followed.
• Maintaining good working relationships with various partners and stakeholders to increase access to quality services provided by the hospital.
• Fulfilling other duties of similar level as requested by the line manager.

REPORTING

• Reporting complex problems arising to the line manager
• Ensuring data entry and cleaning of beneficiaries’ database
• Preparing regular written reports

1. SKILLS REQUIRED

• Active Listening — Giving full attention to beneficiaries’ concerns, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of social and economic situation of vulnerable people.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Patience
• Ability to cope with traumatic situations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good level of planning and organizing
• Teamwork
• Polyvalence, flexibility and adaptability
• Adherence to humanitarian principles and LCDE’s Code of Ethics and respect of LCDE policies and procedures

LANGUAGE AND INFORMATION SYSTEM

• Good command of spoken and written Arabic, French and English languages
• Excellent command of Microsoft Office software tools (especially Outlook, EXCEL, Word)

1. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate degree in social science, nursing, health care management or related education.

• At least 2 years relevant work experience with an NGO in medical and/or social support projects.
• Experience in providing social support to children and vulnerable populations
• Ability in filling out forms and questionnaires
• Ability in compiling reports

1. CONDITIONS

Working hours: 8 hours per day, from Monday to Friday

The contract is for one year, to be extended pending funding availability, and depending on work performance.

Salary will be based on internal grid.

The social worker will work under the supervision of the Program Manager. (S)He will be acquainted with confidential and personal information that require discretion, and will be directly responsible for the financial management of the cash advances (s)he is managing.

This job description may be subject to modifications in the future, depending on the evolution of the activities. These modifications will then be defined and discussed between the employee and the CDE.

S/he might be asked to fulfill other duties of similar level as requested by the line manager.