Description

Vacancy Announcement

Job title:

National Safeguarding Officer

Work Location:

Kailahun, with oversight to other operational sites

Department:

Human Resources Department

Reports to:

National Safeguarding Manager

Requisition No:

Line Management:

No

Application Status:

External Advert

Organisation 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. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, 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.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health center and to referral hospitals.

Position Overview

A safeguarding officer is the designated person within PIH with primary responsibility for managing and reporting concerns about staff, partners and beneficiaries including contractors, community members and for putting into place procedures to safeguard adult, young people and children in the organization.

The Safeguarding Officer will work closely with the safeguarding Manager and HR Team, supporting the effective operation of the safeguarding services on a day to day basis in PIH and will work to create and promote a safe and healthy working environment and culture that prevents and condemns sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, bully and addresses the misuse of power in all its forms within or outside the organization. S/he will report to the National Safeguarding Manager and work closely with the HR Team in Kono.

He/she will be the first point of contact for staff members for all Safeguarding concerns in Kono and other project location. He/she will be supported by and accountable to the National safeguarding manager in leading and managing safeguarding practice within the organization and ensuring the safeguarding and welfare of all staff, partners, beneficiaries including contractors and community members. He/she will coordinate referrals of safe guarding concern to the safe guarding manager and HR Director, attending coordination meetings, developing reports for relevant meetings and keeping careful records of actions.

He/she will work with the Safeguarding manager in developing and delivering training to staff, partners and beneficiaries including contractors and community members and updating relevant policies, procedures and guidance where necessary.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Safeguarding Officer, reporting to the Safeguarding Manager, is responsible for the implementation of safeguarding activities; safeguarding risk management; and promoting safe practice in line with PIH Safeguarding Policy and recommendations. The position liaises with the Safeguarding Manager and relevant partner organizations including beneficiaries and community member to provide them with required resources, capacity building support and training. This position will be based in Kono.

The role and responsibilities of the Safeguarding Officer are detailed below:

Support the Safeguarding Manager in implementation of PIH’s PSEAH policy standards and code conduct:

• Work with the safeguarding Manager, HR and other programme manager in Kono to ensure integration and mainstreaming of safeguarding and PSEAH measures in all programme budgets, activities and procedures.
• Ensure that complaints /reporting measures /standard operating procedures (SOPs) are functional with focal point persons both for staff and community.
• Play a lead role in developing and establishing the organisation’s approach to safeguarding Children,adult and young people.
• Serve as a point of contact for internal and external individuals and agencies
  • Play a lead role in maintaining and reviewing the organisation’s implementation plan for safeguarding and
  • Ensure safeguarding standards are met and maintained across PIH operational areas
  • Work with the National Safeguarding Manager to deliver high quality staff,partners and beneficaries safeguarding related training.
  • To keep informed of current guidance with regards to safeguarding, data protection, confidentiality and cascading the information accordingly.
  • To act as the first point of contact for any safeguarding concerns, providing timely, relevant support and advice in order to safeguard the organisation,staff and beneficaries
  • To maintain up to date, accurate, confidential records.
  • To provide, collate and monitor regular, accurate and timely data on safeguarding and child protection incidents and outcomes.
  • Implementing Safeguarding Reporting Systems.
  • Reporting Relevant Safeguarding Concerns and refer cases of suspected abuse to the National Safe guarding Manager and HR Director as required.

    Training, coordination and management

    • Organise and co-facilitate safeguarding trainings and presentation for staff,partners and benefiaries.
    • Organise and co-facilitate the onboarding process for new staff in Kono
    • Manage and maintain an up to date record of organisational safeguarding training and completion.
      • Represent the organisation at external meetings related to safeguarding and attend internal safeguarding related meetings
      • Coordinate the dissemination of policy, procedures and resources throughout the organisation
      • Manage cases of poor practice and abuse reported to the organisation – including records System
      • Manage referrals of all safeguarding concerns
      • Update training records and produce reports
      • Support on incident management, analysis and lessons learnt

        Project Management

        • Work with the senior communication specialist and National Safeguarding Mananger to Produce quarterly safeguarding newsletters for the organisation, in line with our safeguarding communication plan.
        • Develop and manage visual aids on safeguarding, including posters and brouchurs
        • Lead on work with relevant internal stakeholders to design safeguarding evaluation and monitoring tools
        • Work with the startigic Health information manaement team to develop safe guarding indicators for all ongoing programmes and grants within the organisation.
        • Work to increase beneficiary participation in the design of safeguarding reporting mechanisms (community reponse reporting machanisms)
        • Work with the National Safe guarding Manager to Support and lead on projects outlined in the annual safeguarding plans within the organsiation.

          Risk Management

          • Identify safeguarding risks and work with key internal and external stakeholders to minimise any risks of harm, exploitation,abuse and bully.
          • Conduct risk assessment for all on going programmes and Manage a risk register for all programme within PIH in tracking and mitigating PSEAH risks
          • Attend and support the safeguarding manager and HR team in incident management meetings
          • Work with the National Safe guarding Manager to Support the Human Resources Team to strengthen our safe recruitment practice and minimise safeguarding risks
          • Completing safeguarding related risk assessments, putting in place relevant control measures that leads to informed decisions

            Implement survivor centered support services including strengthening referral networks

            • Support the National Safeguarding Manager to roll-out a safe and survivor centered reporting and feedback mechanisms
            • Identify survivor support services at community and district level and ensure timely linkage to care and follow-up.

              Note: Perform any other duties as assigned from time to time. The need for flexibility is required and the job holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee's skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.

              These duties may be amended from time to time by the line manager in consultation with the post holder.

              Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and 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 Partners 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. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

              Education and Work Experience Requirements

              We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic team member with a minimum 3 years’ experience of working on Safeguarding/Child Protection. Strong demonstrable experience working to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse as well as identifying and mitigating risks.

              • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Social Science / Gender and Development/ Law /Sociology/community Psychology or equivalent degree in other relevant fields with relevant skill and proven expertise in Safeguarding/Child Protection in recent roles in development sector.

              • Good computer and Microsoft skills

              •

              Technical Competencies/Skills and Knowledge

              • The ability to maintain strict confidentiality of highly sensitive information.