child protection case management coaches

The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) is seeking the services of “ three child protection case management coaches ” that will be recruited by “Expertise France” (EF)  and selected based on a joint process between EF and MoSA.

Project background

The Qudra Programme is a regional action co-financed by the European Union, through the EU Regional Trust Fund for Syria (Madad Fund), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) seeking to strengthen resilience for Syrian refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities in response to the protracted Syrian and Iraqi crises.

In Lebanon, Qudra is implemented by Expertise France in close partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). One of the objectives of Qudra is to support MoSA’s institutional strengthening and capacity development.

Following the rollout of the Standard Operating Procedures for the protection of children in Lebanon (SOPs), MoSA increased its workforce to conduct Child Protection case management and provide the needed response to children subject to violence, neglect, exploitation, and abuse.

To support this effort, Expertise France and MoSA are seeking to hire three roving Child Protection case management coaches to provide mentoring and on-the-job coaching to Child Protection social workers providing case management in selected Social Development Centres (SDCs) and at MoSA. Each roving coach will support on average approximatively 9 - 11 staff (social workers and MoSA coordinators). The exact number of MoSA / SDC staff per coach to be supported will be confirmed before the start of the assignment. Each coach will cover several SDCs scattered in the following districts:

• Chouf District
• Aley District
• Akkar District
• Bent Jbeil District
• Nabatiyeh District
• Marjyoun District
• Zgharta District
• Dinneyeh District
• Zahleh District
• Baalbek District

 Tasks

1. Work with every Child Protection (CP) social worker (case managers) on an individual development plan including realistic outcomes and develop an action plan to achieve the desired results;
2. Devise an appropriate mentoring or coaching programme with the support of the technical team (MoSA Child Protection Division);
3. Draw up a monthly coaching plan that provides for on-site support and follow-up for approximately two to three days per month with each CP social worker and one day per month for each CP coordinator tailored to suit their time and commitments (putting emphasis on social workers);
4. Accompany CP social workers in doing home visits to families when needed;
5. Support CP social workers in developing care plans for individual child cases;
6. Support CP social workers in drafting and filling the CP case management tools;
7. Challenge and help CP social workers to gain clarity in their thinking, change limited beliefs and develop their skills in order to improve their child protection practices;
8. Help CP coordinators to become a source of support to assist them in bringing out the talent and potential of their social workers’ team;
9. Organize trainings for CP social workers and CP coordinators;
10. Assist MoSA Child Protection case management team with team building, group dynamic and coordination;
11. Support CP social workers and the Child Protection Division to use the Child Protection Information Management System;
12. Support MoSA team to identify and solve problems related to the functioning of the CP case management system including support in: decisions making, implementing changes, overcoming obstacles, and taking advantage of potential new opportunities;
13. Apply flexibility in the learning process.

Estimated level of effort

The estimated level of effort of each expert will be broken down as follows:

• Approximately 16 days of on-the-job coaching per month for approximately 6-8 CP social workers (case managers) and 3 CP coordinators working in his/her area of coverage;
• Approximately 2 days of training per month for approximately 6-8 CP social workers (case managers) and 3 CP coordinators;
• One day for attending a monthly technical orientation session at MoSA head office in Badaro, Beirut. 

The expert will also devote time to planning and organizing the logistics of his/her work as well as to reporting.

The exact number of days dedicated to the above-mentioned tasks will depend on the actual needs and the caseload of the staff to be supported.

Given the roving nature of the assignment, the expert will be expected to move from one location / caza to another to provide the needed coaching / support. The transportation time needed to move around will be factored in the planning of the expert.

The experts will be hired on a full-time basis for an initial duration of 12 months starting from August 2021.

Supervision and reporting

The expert will report to the Director General of MoSA and will work in close coordination with the Child Protection Division in MoSA. The expert will be contractually managed by Expertise France and his/her assignment will be placed under the supervision Qudra 2 Project Manager.

The Head of the Child Protection Division will provide the expert with technical guidance to ensure the quality of service delivery.

The expert is expected to submit a monthly report including:

• Monthly plan;
• Completed activities / achievements;
• Challenges;
• Way-forward;
• Evaluation form for each of the coached staff improved performance;
• Evaluation of the training day;
• Attendance sheet signed by their supervisors.

The monthly plans and reports are to be shared with the Head of the Child Protection Division for technical endorsement and submitted to Expertise France.

In addition, at the end of the assignment the expert is expected to submit a final report including the overall achievement, challenges and recommendations and an overall evaluation of each coached staff’s improved performance and evaluation of all the conducted trainings. The final report will be submitted to MoSA’s Director General and shared with Expertise France.

Minimum requirements

Educational and professional background

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in social work or psychology. A Master’s degree is an asset
• Proven administrative experience in child protection case management
• Proven competence in instructing/facilitating adult learning programmes
• Trained in and practiced the use of the Standard Operating Procedures for Juvenile Protection in Lebanon
• Previous experience in imparting knowledge and skills to others
• Minimum three years of work experience in child protection case management and at least five years of overall work experience in social work.
• Bilingual (English and Arabic)
• Understanding of the Lebanese public administration rules and context is an asset 

Technical knowledge

• Good knowledge of the theoretical framework needed for working with children subject to violence, neglect, exploitation or abuse and their families.
• Familiarity with case management process, tasks, principles and techniques (e.g. child protection conferencing or family group conferencing).
• Good knowledge and understanding of the local context, including child development; relationship dynamics within the context; and cultural practices impacting on child welfare.
• Understanding of child protection issues in Lebanon.
• Good knowledge of indicators for and consequences of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence on children; core theories related to childcare and protection; how to identify factors that increase vulnerability and risk and reduce resilience in different situations and during different stages of development.
• Understanding of child protection programming: The main principles and approaches to child protection programming; linkages with other sectors; the basic roles and responsibilities of agencies involved with safeguarding children.
• Familiarity with the rights-based approach in child protection: Basic knowledge of national and international legal frameworks and conventions relating to childcare and protection including the UNCRC, law 422 and law 293; the challenges associated with addressing children’s rights holistically with limited time / resources.
• Understanding of protection concerns for children: Implement measures to ensure that confidential information and sensitive documents are kept safely; ensure colleagues comply with UN standards on prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and organizational codes of conduct; ensure breaches of confidentiality are addressed with immediate effect.
• Good knowledge of and experience in using the tools and processes as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures for Juvenile Protection in Lebanon and by the Child Protection Working Group and the Case Management Task Force required for service mapping, documenting the case management, information management, data protection, information sharing, and working with others in case management.

Skills and competencies

• Strong communication skills both verbal and non-verbal 
• Good listening skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Warm and confidence-inspiring personality
• Objective and impartial attitude in dealing with people
• Strong leadership abilities
• Good interpersonal skills
• Effective time management skills
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• Organizational skills
• Autonomy
• Teamwork