Social Worker

Job Posting Organization:
The organization is the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which is dedicated to helping people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. Established in 1933, the IRC operates in over 40 countries and has a workforce of more than 14,000 employees. The IRC focuses on various areas including health, education, and economic wellbeing, and is committed to providing support to vulnerable populations, particularly in conflict and disaster-affected regions.

Job Overview:
The Social Worker position is a community-based role under the supervision of the Senior Integrated Protection Officer. The primary function of this role is to provide integrated protection services to individuals and communities affected by the Ebola outbreak in the Ituri Province. This includes responding to gender-based violence (GBV), managing child protection cases, providing general protection, and offering light psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">psychosocial support. The Social Worker will work closely with mobile teams and community structures to ensure a survivor-centered and community-driven response. The role requires conducting outreach activities, identifying cases, managing referrals, and ensuring that all actions adhere to emergency social work principles and protection protocols. The Social Worker will also be responsible for maintaining confidentiality and following the 'do no harm' principles in all interactions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct systematic community awareness and mapping activities to identify individuals and households at increased protection risks, including GBV survivors, unaccompanied children, and families without safety nets. Maintain an updated directory of available services and conduct regular community risk analyses focusing on women, girls, and children.
• Provide integrated protection responses to individuals and families affected by the Ebola outbreak, including conducting rapid assessments, providing psychological first aid, and referring individuals with complex needs to appropriate services.
• Ensure safe identification and first-line response to GBV survivors, including active listening and timely referrals to health, psychosocial, legal, and shelter services.
• Identify and assess children at risk or who have experienced abuse, neglect, or violence, and provide emergency child protection case management.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case records using IRC-approved data management tools and ensure compliance with data protection protocols.
• Coordinate closely with community leaders and local authorities to ensure a cohesive response and participate in relevant community coordination meetings.
• Adhere to all IRC protection policies and protocols, ensuring the safety, dignity, and autonomy of beneficiaries are prioritized in all activities.

Required Qualifications:
A Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, education, human rights, social sciences, or a related field is required. Candidates must have a minimum of 2-3 years of experience in protection programming, particularly in GBV response and child protection case management within humanitarian or development settings. Demonstrated experience in case management, including assessment, safety planning, referral, and follow-up for GBV survivors and/or at-risk children is essential. Knowledge of protection principles, survivor-centered approaches, and child protection minimum standards is required. Previous experience in emergency response, particularly in Ebola or other epidemic contexts, is an advantage.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, education, human rights, social sciences, or a related field. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of social work in emergency settings and the principles of protection and support for vulnerable populations.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience in protection programming, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked in GBV response, child protection case management, or integrated protection in humanitarian or development contexts. Experience in case management, particularly for survivors of GBV and children at risk, is essential. Familiarity with emergency response protocols and practices is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required, as it is the primary language of communication in the region. Proficiency in relevant local languages of Ituri, such as Swahili or Lingala, is also required to effectively communicate with the community. Knowledge of English is considered an asset, as it may facilitate communication with international teams and documentation.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote, allowing for flexibility in work location. The role is full-time and may involve working in challenging and rapidly changing environments due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The IRC is committed to recruiting both nationally and internationally, ensuring that the best candidates are selected to support their mission. Compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process, and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as the deadline for applications is not specified.