Child Safeguarding Incident Officer

Mission of the position:

The mission of the CS Officer is to coordinate and support the implementation of the Child Safeguarding Policy and other related policies and principles in SOS Children’s villages Lebanon, in order to mitigate existing child safeguarding risks for children who are directly and indirectly cared for and supported through SOS Children’s villages Lebanon.

In coordination and under the supervision from the National Child Safeguarding Advisor, the CS Officer will contribute to greater integration of the Child Safeguarding Policy of the SOS, by working on reporting, and responding to child safeguarding incidents and implementing preventive measures by localizing child safeguarding rules at the village level, among children, coworkers, and whoever has direct or indirect interactions with the children.

Main clients:

• National Child Safeguarding Advisor.

• National Child Safeguarding Committee.
• Local Child Safeguarding Committees

Key performance areas and main responsibilities:

• Raising awareness of the SOS Child Safeguarding Policy and principles:
• Conduct trainings and awareness-raising sessions on SOS’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct, for the children, village staff, visitors, and whoever interacts with the SOS children, directly or indirectly.
• Advocate for Child Rights, the Child’s Best Interest Principle, Child Safeguarding Policy and the SOS Care Promises. 
• Ensure a child abuse-free environment for the SOS children inside and outside the village.
• In coordination with other staff in the programs, the SCO is responsible to prevent and protect children from all forms of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, and negligent).

•  Preventing and mitigating possible CS risks for children
• Contribute to annual self-assessment in coordination with the National Child Safeguarding advisor.
• Contribute to conducting annual program risk assessment and defining and following up on mitigation actions.
• Provide support in defining priorities in the area of Child Safeguarding and developing an action plan.  
• Coordinate with program staff and the National Child Safeguarding advisor to assess CS risks for new activities conducted in the program.
• Support the National Child Safeguarding Advisor in conducting Child Safeguarding audits and other relevant activities with the children and staff.

C) Reporting  child safeguarding concerns and child safeguarding incidents in SOS Children's Villages and youth house (Lebanon)

• Responsible to report all Child Safeguarding concerns, and complaints immediately following Child Safeguarding reporting procedures , within 24 hours.
• Treat all kinds of complaints with high seriousness even if the child safeguarding incident/complaints were built on mere suspicions.
• Ensure that all complaints received at the program level are registered promptly.
• Disclose any conflict of interest related to the reported child safeguarding incident.
• Ensure the availability and accessibility of children and adults to proper reporting channels.
• Prepare monthly written reports on Child Safeguarding to the National Child Safeguarding Advisor.

D) Responding to all the reported CS concerns and incidents in the program

• Report all allegations received immediately to the National Child Safeguarding Advisor and develope an incident management plan.
• Commit to confidentiality and the information-sharing protocol.
• Ensure that to start theresponding measures within 48 hours of receiving the complaint. 
• Conduct initial and evidence-based full incident assessments, using the suitable data-collection method(s), e.g, interviews, focused groups…etc.
• Coordinate with the local Care Team to develop individual support plans for the survivors/victims based on the outcomes of the assessment, ensure that the victim's needs are met in a timely manner, and follow up on the implementation of the individual support plans. 
• Ensure management and maintenance of all the documents related to the incident.
• Ensure proper closing of the casespromptly.
• Document lesson learned as per the incident management findings.
• Review all allegations that are received through SOS International Whistleblowing Channels, based on the Organizational and International Child Safeguarding Standards.
• In consultation with the IOR CS focal person, decide which level of organization will investigate each allegation.
• Follow up on the progress of support plans for all victims/survivors.
• Follow up with National Managers, to ensure that necessary actions are taken with respect of perpetrators, in accordance with national law.

Child Safeguarding (CS)

• Responsible, in coordination with the National CS advisor, to raise awareness of the SOS Child Protection Policy principles and to prevent and protect children from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence and discrimination.
• Responsible to report any CS suspicion, concern, allegation or incident immediately, following Child Safeguarding reporting procedures. CS reports should be made to the National Child Safeguarding advisor and/or to the respective line manager.