Protection and Rule of Law Caseworker

Duty station: Odesa

Key working relationships:
Position Reports to: Protection Case
Manager
Internal collaborations within IRC: Protection and Rule of Law Manager,
Community Mobilizers, Senior Protection and Information Officer,
Protection Information Management Officer, Sr Legal Officer, Legal
Officers
External
collaborations to IRC: Protection
and information services actors, MHPSS organizations and agencies

Job
Overview/Summary:
The Case Worker will be responsible for providing
direct support and care for persons at risk, including case management and
unstructured psychosocial support. The Case Worker
will be supervised by the Protection Case Manager to ensure qualitative and
effective case management and will be based in Odesa with frequent travels to
Mykolaiv oblast.

Specifically,
the case worker will be responsible for:
Program
implementation:
– Case Management
and Psychosocial Support
– Identify and receive referrals regarding individuals and families who require support who are detected during registration, psychosocial, outreach and other activities
– Conduct household visits and center-based interviews to assess the needs of individuals and families.
– Provide information to individuals and families about their rights and entitlements, including what services and are available (including beyond the scope of services provided by IRC).
– Work with identified individuals and families to develop and implement an action plan in accordance with their needs, capacities and goals.
– Offer individuals and families’ choices and options, including seeking out alternatives when the needed services are not available, and actively involve individuals and/or families in decision making that will affect them.
– Assess risk and support individuals and families to understand risks relevant to their situation.
– Link individuals and families with support groups and networks, and other community-based resources, as appropriate.
– Directly provide psychosocial counseling and support the coordination of provision of services by other specialized service providers in accordance with the needs of individuals and families.  
– Ensure appropriate monitoring, review and follow up of the services provided to cases. 
– Facilitate structured group psychosocial assistance tailored to the needs of the community.
– Refer cases that require additional MHPSS interventions through appropriate referral pathways
Data
management and reporting: 
– Manage, file and store data, ensuring the confidentiality of the information collected and the services provided. 
– Prepare and submit weekly and monthly work plans in a timely manner for the Senior Case Management Officer’s validation.
– Support the implementation of monitoring and evaluation tools and report on problems in the implementation of the program.
– Participate in weekly reporting and planning meetings to ensure adherence to standards of care, quality case management and reporting requirements.
Coordination
and representation: 
– Contribute to the maintenance of an up-to-date service mapping of the service providers operating in the area and take proactive steps to remain informed about the available services.
– Receive cases referred from other agencies (following case allocation by the Senior Case Management Officer). Provide feedback of actions taken to other agencies, when necessary and appropriate in light of confidentiality requirements.
– Lobby on behalf of individuals and families to access services and support individuals and families to effectively represent their views, needs and capacities in all meetings affecting them.

Requirements:
Language: Bilingual in Ukrainian and Russian and verbal and writing skills in English desired.
Education: Bachelor/Degree in Social work, Counseling, Psychology
or other related field. 
– Minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in ,
psychosocial support/psychology, in clinical and/or direct practice
settings.
– Knowledgeable in and has used the IASC MHPSS guidelines
and best practices as part of their previous work experience.
– Excellent communication skills
– Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients
– Positive and professional attitude, including ability to
lead and work well in a team setting
– High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize
work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure,
coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail
– Computer literate, including Microsoft Word and Excel

IRC employees are eligible to the following benefits:

– Competitive salary
– Purposeful job and development opportunities
– English classes and unlimited online training courses
– Life Insurance
– Medical insurance for staff and family members
– Free psychological support to employees and their family members
– 30 calendar days of annual vacation with flexibility beyond the legally set minimum requirements
– Up to 10 days of paid medical leave