Turkey: Community Outreach Workers

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The community worker, under the direct supervision of the No Lost Generation Child Protection Officer and the overall guidance of the Education Project Manager, is responsible for linking the school communities supported by the No Lost Generation project with Save the Children’s outreach activities and interventions. The Outreach Worker will identify Syrian children who do not have access to learning opportunities and refer them to formal and non-formal educational institutions, as well as other services that may be available in Hatay. This post also leads awareness sessions and events promoting the active participation of community members in the dissemination of child protection and re-entering schooling related messages, and communication with communities.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programme Implementation

• Community Outreach Workers (COWs) will carry out individual assessments of educational need with children and facilitate educational care in the schools.
• Identify children that are out-of-school or have dropped out and assess for each case the barriers to inclusion in education.
• Conduct information sessions to familiarize families with the different learning opportunities available and pathways to enter or transition into the Turkish education system.
• Conduct awareness sessions for educational opportunities available to Syrian children and families.
• Facilitate the transition and, where appropriate, enrolment of children into schools.
• Make contacts with other service providers for referrals of children
• Involve children in each phase of the process and take their opinion into consideration.
• Conduct regular meetings with teachers and staff at temporary education centers to facilitate the identification of children in need and jointly develop adequate solutions.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all information acquired during time in post.
• Build positive relationships with the community and promote community member participation in taking care of children’s needs, and jointly develop solutions, including the development of child protection key messages.
• Participate in weekly meetings with the Child Protection team and ad hoc meetings as requested by the direct supervisor.
• Assist the direct supervisor in the organization of training for children on risk mapping and child participation.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability and Quality

• Report to the Child Protection Officer and feed into the overall No Lost Generation monitoring system on a regular basis.
• Participate in team meetings and provide feedback as required.
• Keep track of all children supported in reintegration to school and referrals to other services
• Keep track of all awareness sessions and events organised within the project.
• Liaise with the Security Officers/security focal points in field through providing update information on security situations, significant events and community tensions in a community,

General

• Undertake any other duty as requested by the direct supervisor or in support of Save the Children’s education programming in Turkey.
• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Community Development, Education or relevant field. A high school degree and adequate years of experience will be accepted in lieu of a degree.
• Previous experience in child protection programmes, social work, community mobilisation
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, being able to communicate and negotiate complicated issues with non-informed population
• Previous experience in working with children
• Fluency in Arabic (written and spoken)
• Good English skills
• Good technical understanding of child protection and community based approaches
• Excellent understanding of Child Rights
• Excellent team player
• Ability to quickly form relationship within the communities
• Holding a valid residency in Turkey

Desirable

• Fluency in Turkish (spoken)
• Advanced English skills (written and spoken)
• Computer literacy including the use of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Experience in working with NGOs
• Experience in working with refugees/IDPs

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse

Please apply in English by sending your up to date CV with a cover letter as a single document explaining your salary expectations to turkey.recruit@savethechildren.orgby 23rd of November 2015 till 5:30 PM (Turkish local time) and mention the position that you are applying for to the subject section.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.