Job Purpose

The Case Worker is responsible to conduct the full cycle of case management activities, including identification, assessment, care planning, service provision and referrals as well as home visits and review of case progress, targeting at risk children under the specific projects in Herat. S/he will work directly with children, families and children to strengthen the prevention and response to issues of abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation against children in the current crisis. The Case Worker will ensure data management of the cases using the standard case management forms and tools in line with the National Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the confidentiality principle. The position holder will also coordinate closely with the Food Security and Livelihood and other relevant sectors to prevent and mitigate risks against children as well as to support timely referrals of survivors of violence. S/He will be line managed by the Project Manager but requires to provide field reports and activity updates or challenges to the Child Protection Officer on a regular basis.

Major Responsibilities

80% Implementation of Project Activities

• Carry out Case Management (CM) activities for girls and boys subjected to or at risk of abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation in the target communities.
• Ensure all the Case Forms are recorded, updated and entered into the case management database.
• Develop and implement case plans that respond to the needs of the child identified in the initial and comprehensive assessments and seek support of the Project Manager and CP Officer when necessary.
• Undertake follow up/home visits and monitoring within agreed timeframe to gain insights into the situations of the child & family and the outcomes of the support.
• Work closely with animators and observe the activities at PSS centres in target locations
• Provide emotional support, information, activities with children and caregivers and other direct assistance, as appropriate and needed, during home visits.
• Attend all the case review meetings and case conference with other team members and/or external service providers as relevant.
• Sensitize community leaders and members on CP case identification and safe referrals including life-threatening issues that need to be prioritized for immediate response.
• Establish a good working relation with community shuras and key actors in the project areas to ensure access and regular contact with children and families.
• Facilitate safe and confidential referrals to other service providers.
• Support information dissemination on protection, safeguarding, service access and psychosocial support messages through home visits or at different service points.
• Collaborate and communicate closely with other staff and project teams ensuring smooth coordination, information sharing and referrals.
• Attend internal and external training on CP and related topics to enhance knowledge on case management and other CP programming approaches.
• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and ensure safeguarding concerns are reported and followed up.

15% Data Protection, Monitoring and Reporting

• Continually update case notes (both the paper forms and electronic database) to keep track of the case details and support re-assessments and revisions of case plans as client needs change.
• Support the Project Manager and CP Officer to mapping and regular update of the existing services and referral pathways.
• Support the animators in PSS centres and time to time update us on their achievement and progress.
• Contribute to weekly and monthly reports submitted to the Project Manager and the CP Officer that include information on caseload, achievements and challenges. 
• Ensure the data collection and storage respect data protection and information sharing protocols, particularly in terms of confidentiality and do no harm principles.
• Ensure regular communication with Project Manager and the CP Officer and flag urgent issues when challenges arise.
• Support the documentation of best practice, case studies and learning
• Work with MEAL team and CP Officer to conduct review and evaluation of the case management activities and to collect feedback from clients.

5% Networking & Coordination

• Maintain good working relationships with the partner agencies and service providers that enhance case referral and transfer. 
• Work with the protection/project teams to ensure close links between case management, other sectoral activities and the work with community-based child protection mechanism.
• Participate in internal meetings and coordinate with other programme/sector teams.

Other

• Adhere to WV Child and Adult Safeguarding policy and standards.
• Adhere to WV accountability standards.
• To be aware and prepared to implement WV Afghanistan Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs plan under the context of fragile interventions.