Job Purpose:

Working within IMC’s child protection team, Child PSS Counselors will provide services aimed at supporting the protection and wellbeing of children in the targeted locations.

The role will plan and facilitate individual counselling and group activities for child wellbeing in established IMC Child and Family Social Centers (CFSCs). The activities aim to positively impact the well-being of participating children as well as enhance their resilience and reduce their stress. The role will facilitate recreational activities such as structured and free play, arts, and crafts, and sports for children.

Child PSS Counselors with the support of Social Workers will also provide  CP Case Management including identifying  individual cases of vulnerable children who have experienced or are at a high risk of experiencing neglect, exploitation, violence, and/or abuse at home, at school, and/or in their community. In cooperation with community leaders and Child Protection Action Network (CPAN) members they will secure referrals to service providers offering legal, financial, health, cash, and other services.

The Child PSS counselors will also provide training and support to parents and caregivers using the curriculum  ‘Fatherhood for Fathers’ and ‘Motherhood for Mothers in CFCs’ aiming to ensure the holistic support of families in the protection of children in the home and in the community.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Plan and facilitate group activities for child wellbeing.
• Provide individual counselling sessions to children, youth, and families/caregivers, as well as provide guidance and strategies to reduce risk and promote wellbeing.
• Consider the importance of family dynamics on counselling and where possible engage the family in counselling sessions.
• Provide counselling with the aim to improve the social and emotional functioning of children and their families, maximizing overall community well-being.
• Conduct caregiver/parenting skills and support services.
• Link clients with appropriate services to support their holistic wellbeing.
• Work sensitively with a variety of populations including persons experiencing high levels of distress, persons experiencing anger management difficulties.
• Provide high quality Child Protection Case Management services including assessments, case planning, case plan implementation, counselling and other service provision including referrals, ongoing monitoring and review, and case closure
• Monitor ongoing case plan implementation in relation to a child’s counseling needs, with special attention to identifying risk issues and addressing these through counselling and other service provision as needed
• Ensure client documentation in case management  files are up to date
• Ensure safety concerns are adequately documented and appropriately managed.
• Provide regular updates and reports to senior management staff as required.

Organizational Responsibilities:

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.