Social Worker Needed

HIAS is an international non-profit organization that stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety, and opportunity. HIAS’ operation in Kenya was established in 2002 with the mission to serve the most vulnerable refugees through community-based protection including psychosocial support, resilience building and the provision of durable solutions.

Organizationally, HIAS is guided by its Refugee Rights Framework. This rights-based approach, based on international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law and practice, provides a programming framework for HIAS’ focus on refugee protection. This framework prioritizes programming impact that ensures forcibly displaced people realize their potential and become contributors to society, with this impact being achieved through the realization of legal and civil rights and social and economic rights including through 1) the right to protection from harm, violence and discrimination, 2) the right to recovery from the shock of displacement, and 3) the right to economic self-sufficiency and inclusion.

Community Based Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (CB-MHPSS) programming at HIAS includes a focus on individuals, families, and communities. The overall goal of HIAS Community- Based Mental Health Psychosocial Support programming is for forcibly displaced people and vulnerable migrants to have improved mental health and psychosocial well-being helping them to access their rights. This goal may be achieved through three key outcome areas: (1) Family, community, and social structures promote the psychosocial well-being and resilience of women, men, girls and boys;(2) Individuals and communities develop healthy coping mechanisms; and (3) People with mental health and psychosocial problems use appropriate focused care, including referral to specialized care when needed.

HIAS Kenya seeks to recruit a Social worker who will be expected to contribute towards meeting the project’s overall goal, which is to assist in promoting and enhancing the rights of refugees through efficient case management. He or she will be involved in the provision of social interventions and assistance to the most at risk and vulnerable refugees. The Social Worker will be required to conduct through assessments and case management including follow up to ensure clients are receiving appropriate services. The Social Worker will be expected to track the impact of the assistance provided to refugee clients.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Identification of vulnerable refugees in need of social support such as financial assistance, medical assistance, legal protection and economic inclusion support.
• Carry out social assessments and keep track of socio-environmental risks faced by refugee to ensure mitigation of risks.
• Identify refugees who require psychosocial support and link them with the counsellors for timely support.
• Make regular home visits to assess the needs and progress of the refugees.
• Participate in outreach and community dialogue activities on issues related to abuse and other with special needs.
• Conduct referrals of vulnerable refugees to partner agencies and follow up with clients to facilitate access to external services.
• Prepare summaries for presentation in psychosocial panel, effect subsequent panel decisions and enter data into data base, give feedback to refugees.
• Monitor to ensure social assistance is reaching out to vulnerable refugees and families.
• Open files for all clients (soft and hard) and ensure that case management is in line with HIAS SOPs and other sector standards.
• Assess, identify and analyze community sensitive intervention geared towards building resilience and self-reliance.
• Conduct support groups, committee meetings and participate in community forums
• Establish and maintain networks with existing community structures and other partners for referral and networking purposes.
• Conduct mapping exercise for all sector agencies and link with them for collaboration and support in provision of required services.
• Update client’s information into the data entry sheet and provide a periodic analysis of the data.
• Prepare periodic reports on client’s progress and prepare a final report of all the activities;
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualification Required

• A University Degree in Social Work, Community Development, Gender and Development Studies
• At least 1- 2 years working experience in the field of Social Work. Experience in working with NGOs or LGBTIQ refugees will be an added advantage.

Skills & Competencies

• Knowledge in UN Convention on the Refugee Act, Prevention and Responses to Sexual Abuse
• Experience in capacity building including facilitation of diversity and inclusion, community based training and awareness raising
• Good knowledge of Nairobi and its environs
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Knowledge of Computer Applications
• Ability to work in a demanding and high pressured environment
• Knowledge of accountability to affected populations