Project/ CP Program Background

Through a PRM funded program, International Medical Corps (IMC) is going to provide health, resilience, well-being, and inclusion of refugee returnees and host communities in conflict- and drought-affected areas of Afghanistan by providing quality and integrated WASH, CP, GBV prevention and response, and MHPSS services (Nangarhar, Kunar, and Laghman).

IMC proposes a structured, three-year child protection (CP) program in Kunar, Laghman, and Nangarhar provinces, designed to empower communities with a holistic community-based CP system through community capacities and integrated services, ensuring accessibility for host communities and returnees and integrating local cultural practices into provided services while fostering community collaboration. This approach adheres to the guidelines of the Global CP cluster, IASC, and Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS) and reflects the commitment towards international best practices while considering the need for adaptations to respect unique cultural, social, and environmental contexts of the targeted provinces.

Job Purpose

(Provide a summary description of the role)

Social Workers will conduct community outreach activities focusing on child rights, parenting skills, and awareness programs related to child protection (CP) and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). They will organize awareness-raising workshops at the community level and for Child Protection Action Network (CPAN) members. Social Workers will provide CP case management services at the MHPSS Family Center (MHPSSFC) and refer children there for further support as needed. They will also build capacity in MHPSS and CP, facilitate Community Wellbeing Groups (CWG), WASH community networks, and Community-based Child Protection Committees (CBCPCs). Additionally, Social Workers will offer individual psychosocial support, case identification, referrals, psychological first aid (PFA), and brief counseling within the community. They will link community members with integrated mental health services available at the nearest Health Sub-center established by IMC. Furthermore, Social Workers will deliver parenting skills activities at the MHPSSFC.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Conduct awareness activities and engage with the wider community on promoting emotional wellbeing and positive mental health.
• Coordination with Community leaders and CPAN members and establish Community Wellbeing Groups (CWGs) and Community-based Child Protection Committees (CBCPCs).
• Organize workshops for the Community Wellbeing Groups, Community-based Child Protection Committees (CBCPCs), and Child Protection Action Network (CPAN) members.
• Organizing Child protection events and campaigns in the center and community.
• Build the capacity for WASH community networks, and Community-based Child Protection Committees (CBCPCs) on child protection.
• Conduct regular meetings with WASH community networks, and Community-based Child Protection Committees (CBCPCs) to improve CP efforts, including prevention, mitigation, and response.
• Facilitate Community Wellbeing Groups (CWG), and Community-based Child Protection Committees (CBCPCs) in the community.
• Identification of cases, referral, providing PFA, and brief counseling in the community, and link the community with integrated mental health services at the nearest available Health Sub-center established by IMC.
• Conduct regular follow-up of children receiving child protection case management services and refer children to the MHPSS family center for further support.
• Providing CP case management service at MHPSS Family center.
• Offer information and support clients and their families.
• Support the CP caseworker in providing creational activities and parenting skills sessions in the MHPSS family center Centers.
• Link the community with services provided in the Children and Family Support Centers.
• Ensure close coordination with provincial Department of Social Affairs and Child Protection, and CPAN members for the CP case management and follow up.
• Maintaining accurate records and preparing reports.

Organizational Responsibilities

International Medical Corps is committed to child safeguarding and expects all employees to strictly adhere to the values and principles of the International Medical Corps Child Safeguarding Policy.

Policy Adherence

• Adhere to the Code of Conduct, maintain humanitarian principles and respect international humanitarian law.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within International Medical Corps and amongst beneficiaries served by International Medical Corps.

Compliance & Ethics:

• Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the International Medical Corps. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of International Medical Corps and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards.  Conducts work with the highest level of integrity.

Safeguarding

It is all staff’s shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children and adults at risk; and any form of trafficking in persons.