Child Protection Officer - Al Qusayr - Syria

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Oversight and Implementation

• Lead implementation of child protection components integrated into the education project.
• Ensure education activities and learning spaces are safe, inclusive, and protective for children.
• Provide technical guidance to Field Officers, Facilitators, and teachers on CP mainstreaming.
• Support and supervise delivery of structured and non-structured PSS activities within schools and communities.
• Ensure all activities comply with Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS) and donor requirements.

2. Case Identification, Referral, and Follow-up

• Oversee safe identification of children at risk through schools and community outreach.
• Ensure appropriate use of child protection and GBV referral pathways.
• Actively follow up on referred cases to ensure services were accessed and barriers are addressed (without duplicating case management where not in scope).
• Maintain strict confidentiality and apply best interest and do-no-harm principles.
• Coordinate closely with specialized case management and GBV actors.

3. PSS and GBV Awareness Support

• Supervise and support the provision of psychosocial support (PSS) sessions for children and caregivers.
• Ensure quality delivery of GBV awareness sessions within the education project scope.
• Provide technical coaching to facilitators delivering PSS and GBV activities.
• Monitor session quality to ensure survivor-centered and child-friendly approaches.
• Support integration of positive parenting and protection messaging when relevant.

4. Capacity Building and Support

• Train and mentor project staff and school personnel on:
  • Child safeguarding
  • Positive discipline
  • Safe identification and referral
  • Basic PSS principles
  • Safe GBV disclosures and referrals
• Strengthen caregivers’ awareness through protection and parenting sessions when required.
• Build capacity of community stakeholders on risks affecting children’s education and well-being.

5. Monitoring, Reporting, and Quality Assurance

• Develop and track CP indicators within the education project framework.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to schools and activity sites.
• Ensure timely, accurate CP and PSS reporting (weekly, monthly, donor).
• Analyze protection and attendance trends and recommend mitigation measures.
• Support MEAL activities including assessments, PDMs, and protection risk analysis.

6. Coordination and Representation

• Coordinate closely with Education, Protection, and GBV teams for integrated programming.
• Liaise with schools, community leaders, and service providers.
• Represent HAND in CP and Education coordination meetings when requested.
• Strengthen linkages between schools and community-based protection mechanisms.

7. Safeguarding and Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with HAND Child Protection Policy, PSEA, and Code of Conduct.
• Promote accountability to affected populations and child-friendly feedback mechanisms.
• Immediately report safeguarding concerns or serious incidents.
• Perform any other related duties assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Education, Social Sciences, or related field.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience in child protection programming.
• Proven experience in PSS activities and GBV risk mitigation/awareness.
• Experience integrating CP within education programs strongly preferred.
• NGO experience required; cluster experience is an asset.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of CPMS and safe referral pathways.
• Good understanding of survivor-centered approach and PSS principles.
• Strong training and supervision skills.
• Excellent analytical and reporting capacity.
• Ability to handle sensitive cases confidentially.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Languages

• Arabic: Fluent
• English: Good