Save the Children Best Interest Determination (BID) Coordinator Job in Dadaab Kenya

Best Interest Determination (BID) Coordinator – Dadaab
 

Team / Programme: Programmes

Location: Dadaab DMO
 

Grade: 3

Post Type: National 
 

Child Safeguarding: Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

Role Purpose:
 

The BID Coordinator coordinates and technically supports the BID process in four Dadaab camps, ensuring strong links with the overall child protection work that SCI is undertaking in the refugee camps. 

The BID Coordinator will support BID assessments, lead the presentation of cases in BID panel meetings, support monitoring and evaluation of activities, and provide leadership and guidance to four BID Officers and BID refugee staff. 

The BID Coordinator plays a critical role in the BID Panel, supporting the chairmanship of the District Children’s Officer. 

The BID Coordinator will ensure that the best interests of the child are always at the forefront of any determination about the child’s future care arrangements.

Scope of Role:

Reports to: Child Protection Manager

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. 

Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. 

Save the Children has an operational presence in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Meru and Wajir – with plans to expand into Bungoma and Turkana in 2014. 

We work through partners in many other parts of the country. 

Currently, we have a staff complement of approximately 240 staff and an operating budget of approximately US$21 million this year.

Staff directly reporting to this post: No direct line management, but technical support to 4 BID Officers and large team of BID refugee workers

Key Areas of Accountability:

General Management

• As a member of the Dadaab extended SMT, demonstrate the behaviours that are consistent with Save the Children’s Mission, Vision and Values and ensure their broader application by staff across the Dadaab programme;
• Support a conducive and productive work environment;
• Contribute to the wider country programme agenda.
• Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects Save the Children’s commitment to safeguarding children, in accordance with our Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding Policy.

Programme Management

• Continually assess the quality of temporary/alternative care facilities in the camps;
• Work closely with the Child Protection and BID Officers in order to identify complex cases determine which of these cases will be put through the formal BID process;
• Support interviews pertaining to the BID caseload;
• Support the preparation of BID cases;
• Submit BID cases with findings and recommendations on a monthly basis to a multi-agency BID Panel;
• Facilitate trainings or access to the same for BID Officers, refugee staff, panelists, community groups and other stakeholders at camp level in relevant UNHCR and Kenyan legal frameworks;
• Develop effective systems for supervision and mentoring of staff and the network of children and adult community structures;
• Provide inputs for the development of strategic and operational plans made in close collaboration with the Child Protection Manager and partner agencies;
• Document programme learning, ensuring it contributes to organisational advocacy;
• Participate in the development of emergency strategies for the wider child protection programme in Kenya;

Awards Management

• Support the Child Protection Manager in the oversight of UNHCR grant;
• Draft UNHCR progress reports collating reports received from the field sites;
• Contribute to programme and proposal development, particularly for UNHCR;
• Contribute to the technical evolution of the Dadaab CP programme;

Coordination

• Support and foster inter-agency coordination on child protection at the camp level
• Coordinate closely with other aid agencies and the District Children’s Officer, ensuring compliance with the Children’s Act of Kenya, and other legal and institutional frameworks, and promote the sustainability of initiatives undertaken;
• Support the District Children’s Officer in his/her chairmanship of the BID Panel;
• Support to CP Manager in co-chairing the Child Protection Working Group
• Represent SCI at external meetings as required by the Child Protection Manager;
• Be a strong advocate for children’s best interest in all care arragements and wider discussions affected children’s welfare.

Staff Management

• Contribute to the performance management of BID Officer and Refugee Staff;
• Coach, mentor, and support opportunities for continual staff development;
• Support adherence to child safeguarding policy.

Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
 

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• First Degree or Master’s Degree in social work;
• Previous practical experience in the BID process; minimum of 3 years relevant work experience in child protection programmes
• Demonstrable experience of working on child rights & protection issues in the Kenyan context including knowledge of international and national legislation and policies; 
• Solid knowledge of UNHCR BID Guidelines and Field Handbook for the Implementation of UNHCR BID Guidelines.
• Solid knowledge of Alternative Care in Emergencies toolkit and the Kenya’s National Guidelines on Alternative Care. 
• Experience in designing and conducting trainings for a variety of actors
• Strong self-starter with demonstrable ability to adapt to changing programme priorities and emergency priorities that may arise
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills
• Fluent in written and spoken English; Somali language skills a major advantage;
• Experience in personnel management and supervision
• Positive attitude towards community work with emphasis on the ability to learn from communities and support participatory, innovative approaches to problem solving
• Excellent communication skills and a ability to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathise with all children and their carers
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions
• Prepared to live and work in a remote field location in a somewhat uncertain security environment
• Empathy with Save the Children’s values and objectives;
• Commitment to upholding Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy, and other Global Policies.

Desirable

• Experience of working in an insecure environment
• Experience working in northeast Kenya
• Staff development experience/skills
• Experience working with CAAFAG, child survivors of GBV, UASC

How to Apply

The application process is now open and will close on 16th December 2013 at 5.00 p.m. 

To apply for this position, please send a short cover letter and CV to Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org indicating the position title on the subject line.