Safeguarding Officer 147 views

Description

Position:                                   Safeguarding Officer
Reports to:                               Safeguarding Manager
Location:                                  Maryland

PIH Liberia Job Summary:

The Safeguarding Officer is a key member of the safeguarding team working closely with the Safeguarding Manager and HR team to support hands-on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment, (PSEAH), activities at field level.

Responsibilities and Duties:

The position will primarily work to promote a safe and healthy working environment and culture that prevents and condemns sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in all its forms within or outside the organization. S/he must demonstrate excellent listening skills and the ability to deal with sensitive situations with integrity. The safeguarding officer will report to the Safeguarding manager and support the following key deliverables:-

Key Deliverables:

• Support Safeguarding manager (SG) in conducting annual PSEAH self-assessment exercise

• Disseminate PIH’s PSEAH policy standards and code conduct to all PIH staff and Associates
• Assist SG manager and HR in conducting background checks and staff inductions on PSEAH policy.
• Work with SG Manager and HR review and mainstream PSEAH in all PIH programme budgets, activities, procedures and organizational policies

• Work closely with IT department and M&E to include data Protection Protocols ensuring safety and confidentiality of all data gathered in programs

• Support programs in conducting risk assessments and manage a risk register for tracking and mitigating PSEAH risks
• Support SG manager in reviewing of PIH proposals with a PSEAH lens to ensure safe programming standards are upheld 

Implement survivor centered support services including strengthening referral networks

• Record and report to SG Manager any complaints or allegations while ensuring timely linkage to survivor care and referral follow-up.
• Make timely referrals as needed, to support victims/survivors of safeguarding/PSHEA incidences.
• Meticulously maintain accurate, confidential, chronological and up to date documentation on all SEAH cases.
• Maintain at all times, effective survivor centered approaches
• Work with PSEAH team and management to ensure availability of resources for responding to survivors of SEAH
• Design and help in running a safe and survivor-centered reporting and feedback channels for both staff and beneficiaries.
• Where relevant participate in supporting investigations relating to PSEAH while maintaining high levels of case confidentiality
• Manage a toll-free line for easy case reported by both staff , beneficiaries and community members
• Conduct service referral mapping for all relevant survivor support services in the community and county level and

Build capacity and awareness of staff and partners in safeguarding and PSEAH

• Work with SG manager and focal point to develop capacity building plans for  all PIH staff and partners.
• Participate in trainings for existing staff members and orientation for new recruits , volunteers, interns and community health volunteers
• Support SG manager in conducting trainings for associates including vendors and visitors on PSEAH policy.
• Participate in developing PSEAH Information materials to sustain awareness of PIH’s commitments.

Strengthen PSEAH programing across PIH’s networks

• Participate in relevant county level stakeholder meetings including protection and SGBV actors’ networks.
• Monitor programme work plan and budget utilization and financial reporting processes. 
• Support SG in quarterly and annual planning.

Monitoring compliance  to PSEAH and  learning from practice.

• Working closely with SG Manager support identification and documentation of PSEAH best practices, safeguarding champions and stories of change in PIH.
• Develop and/or provide input to periodic reports on the implementation of PSHEA program
• Conduct orientation sessions with stakeholders on complaints mechanisms and ensure frequent monitoring of all complaints /reporting channels for staff and community.
• Disseminate referral pathways to relevant community stakeholders and catchment locations .
• Support SG Manager in compiling statistical information to update SEAH cases received during the quarter and year and a narrative on key actions undertaken.

Perform any other duties as assigned from time to time

 Qualifications and Requirements:

A dynamic and enthusiastic team member with a minimum 3 years’ experience of working on Safeguarding/PSEAH.

• A Bachelor’s degree in Social Science / Gender and Development/ Law /Sociology/Community Psychology or equivalent degree in other relevant fields
• At least 3 years of relevant in Safeguarding work experience in development sector.
• Experience in child or adult protection programming.
• Strong demonstrable experience working to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse as well as identifying and mitigating risks.

 Technical Competencies

• Ability to maintain accurate, confidential, chronological and up to date documentation on SEAH cases.
• Ability to conduct trainings for varied audiences – adults, children, youth; Government representatives, CSO representatives, etc.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage and prioritize workload.
• Strong communication and active listening skills, strong facilitation and presentation skills Experience resolving safeguarding issues
• Computer literate including Microsoft Office Suite

Behavioral Competencies

• Demonstrable interest and commitment in working to prevent SEAH and in working with survivors of safeguarding incidents
• Empathy for the challenges survivors face in reporting and the pressures an investigation places on all stakeholders, including the alleged perpetrator and management.
• The ability to maintain strict confidentiality of highly sensitive information.
• The ability to demonstrate integrity throughout the decision making process.
• The ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships and to work in an inclusive and collaborative manner with internal and external stakeholders.
• Exemplary interpersonal relationship skills; ability to collaborate with a staff of diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Strong interest for social justice
• Willingness to live in a rural area and or travel within the county regularly

Languages required

• Demonstrable proficiency in both written and spoken English

Our values in practice:

Commitment: We are tenacious and resolute in our drive to attain social justice.

Pragmatic Solidarity: We make common cause with those in need.

Humility: We listen to and learn from others.

Integrity: We operate with honesty and fairness.

Commitment to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Sexual Harassment:

At Partners in Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partner in Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner in Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

Organizational Profile 

Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. 

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world. 

 Partners In Health (PIH) is committed to the fundamental principle of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every prospective and current employee. It is the policy of PIH not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. PIH works in and with a number of governments in and outside the U.S., and to the extent applicable, this statement is intended to incorporate the prohibition of any unlawful discrimination covered by applicable laws in such countries, states and municipalities.