Case Worker - Beirut / Mount Lebanon

Position Overview:

UPEL Case Workers are expected to be dedicated and motivated to conduct all steps of the judicial case management process for high/medium risk cases of children vulnerable to violence, neglect,  abuse (physical, sexual and emotional) and exploitation, and children in conflict with the law. Case workers are responsible for upholding high professional standards with children, families and external agencies. Case workers are directly accountable for the timely management and response to urgent cases. As part of their work caseworkers will be expected to comply with crucial data protection protocols, maintain a high standard of confidentiality, and maintain well-documented  and securely stored case files for all children on their caseload. The caseworker will spend a significant amount of time in the field to follow up with children on his / her caseload, in addition to court visits and office work.

Main Responsibilites:

Technical:

• Ensure children experiencing harm or at risk of being harmed are identified and receive individual case management support based on their needs by conducting thorough assessments, developing action plans with the participation of the child, direct service provision including home visits, referrals and and regular follow-up.
• Support children in need of foster or alternative care as per the juvenile judges recommendation and in line with the best interest of the child.
• Coordinate closely with other child protection actors, such as MoSA, shelters, and national and international NGO’s, to ensure children in contact with the law receive the services they need.
• Ensure individual case management services for children are in line with the National Standard Operating Procedures for Juvenile Protection (NSoP), and related tools and forms for documentation are used.
• Assume immediate responsibility for protection files and/or cases of children in conflict with the law.
• Assume full responsibility of hotline response, responding to phone calls to the UPEL hotline on an emergency schedule outlined by the Case Management Manager; maintain a phone log of emergency hotline calls and actions taken.
• Follow up on juvenile court decisions related to child protection and advocate for the best interest of the child to be the main consideration in these decisions.
• Adhere to internal UPEL systems with regards to case management processes for children in need of judicial protection and/or in conflict with the law.
• Attend primary investigations in police stations and other locations as and when requested and advocate for child-friendly procedures and the child’s best interest in these investigations.
• Ensure child survivors of sexual abuse receive all necessary services, including medical services such as CMR, as quickly as possible and in a child friendly way; advocate for children not to have to undergo testing, including forensic tests, more than once.
• Submit daily reports on actions taken that day to the Case Management Manager.
• Coordinate closely with MoSA social workers and refer to external services.
• Actively participate in weekly case management team meetings with Case Management Managers and the Program coordinator.
• Request case conferences for high risk cases with the Case Management Manager and Project Coordinator upon need
• Establish contact with the Internal Security forces (ISF) in the relevant locations and maintain updated contact information for the ISF.
• Participate in capacity building activities as instructed by the Case Management Manager and Project Coordinator.
• Ensure that monthly reports for the Ministry of Justice are submitted to the Case Management Manager for coding in a timely way as per UPELs protocols.
• Maintain night shifts when and as required.

    Other:

• Proactively inform the Case Management Manager about any changes or challenges in the work or operating environment.
• Respect professional boundaries and ethics of case management at all times.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop UPEL services.

      Key Working Relationships:

      Position Reports to:  Case Management Manager

Position directly supervises: NA

Technical reports to: Case Management Manager

Personnel / Capacity building and development: UPEL HR Manager

Attendance / Leaves /Procedures and regulations: UPEL HR Manager

Indirect Reporting: UPELs Office Administration

      Qualifications:

• University Degree in Social Work
• 2-3 years of experience in child protection programming, preferably social work or case management, in humanitarian or development settings
• Demonstrated understanding of working with children and particularly vulnerable children
• Strong advocate for children
• Excellent communication skills, including child-friendly communication skills
• Experience in a cross cultural environment preferable
• Ability to handle pressure and work in a challenging environment
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Strong sense of personal integrity and commitment to confidentiality.  

       Language Skills:

• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English