Child Specialist

BACKGROUND:  The International Rescue Committee is an international organization specializing in emergency and humanitarian programming.  In response to the influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the IRC is starting a Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) program, with program strategies implemented in various locations in the Northern and Beka’a Governorates.  In response to the Syrian crisis, the IRC initiated programming in Lebanon in September 2012, and is partnering with a Lebanese organisation, ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality to establish Women and Girls Community Centers (WGCC) in the North and Bekaa Valley. To date, two centers have been opened (one in the North-Berqayel and one in the Bekaa-Arsaal) and another two centres will be opened in early 2013.   In 2011, the IRC in partnership with UNICEF developed the Caring for Child Survivors (CCS) Guidelines for humanitarian practitioners who provide health and psychosocial care to child survivor of sexual abuse. The CCS Guidelines serve as a “how to” guide for field staff working with children and families affected by sexual abuse. They contain the core knowledge and attitude competencies all staff working with children should possess; outline how to communicate, engage and interview children who have experienced sexual abuse; provide step-by-step case management for cases of child sexual abuse; and provide psychosocial care interventions for child survivors of sexual abuse.   SCOPE OF WORK:   Brief description of the position’s role within the Project(s):   The IRC require a Child Specialist to strengthen its ability and the ability of partners to respond to the specific needs of child survivors. The Child Specialist will adapt the current CCS Guidelines into a training manual; provide training to IRC ABAAD staff and partners including Social Development Centres (SDC) staff, health providers, and local and international NGOs on the referral pathway.  The Child Specialist will also help develop specific monitoring tools for the program and provide on the job coaching to existing program staff.   Position objectives:   -          Training modules developed and adapted using the Guidelines on Caring for Child Survivors; -          95 individuals receive training on Caring for Child Survivors (IRC ABAAD Staff and partners); -          IRC Case management system meets the Caring for Child Survivors Guidelines “Minimum Standards for Case Management Service Providers” established and functional; -          Child-specific service mapping completed in IRC ABAAD intervention areas and shared with GBV working group, Child Protection working group, and other relevant actors/service providers. -          Report on activities, lessons learnt, challenges and recommendations.     Who this position reports to: WPE Coordinator     RESPONSIBILITIES:            Specifically, the Child Specialist will be responsible for the activities outlined below:   -          Adaptation of the CCS Guidelines into a training manual that is context specific for Lebanon; -          Trainings on the CCS Guidelines for IRC ABAAD staff: These trainings will be provided by the Child Specialist with technical support from the IRC. They will include a series of training sessions for the 15 IRC ABAAD staff. -          Training on the CCS Guidelines for partner organizations’ staff: In partnership with UNICEF, identify partner organizations eligible or relevant for training. These trainings will be provided by the Child Specialist with technical support from IRC and will include 4 trainings for 20 persons per training at various locations in Lebanon. -          Provide technical support to IRC staff to develop a case management system that meets the Caring for Child Survivors Guidelines “Minimum Standards for Case Management Service Providers by incorporating the CCS supervision tools, client feedback forms, and other components into existing case management systems. -          Conduct a service mapping for child survivors and supporting the development of a referral pathway for child survivors with other specialized agencies: To foster an environment in which child survivors are able to access services they require in a safe, confidential, and timely manner, the IRC will collaborate with UNHCR, protection actors, and other sectors on the provision of these additional support activities, and will support the creation of interagency referral processes and training on these processes.   Other Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and  liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs   Professional Standards While working on an IRC project, you are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the country employment policies.