Child Protection Specialist I at Compassion International

• This entry-level specialist assists with child protection plans, helping to ensure they are clearly understood by the appropriate stakeholders. This incumbent works alongside a more senior child protection specialist to support appropriate response, reporting, and management of child protection cases. In addition, he or she helps support stakeholders regarding effective child protection practices. At this career level, may still be learning and assisting more skilled professionals and generally works under the guidance of her or his supervisor or a more experienced specialist or as a team member on larger projects.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Is a consistent witness for Jesus Christ, maintains a courteous, Christ-like attitude in dealing with people within and outside of Compassion, and faithfully upholds Compassion’s ministry in prayer.
• Acts as an advocate to raise the awareness of the needs of children. Understands Christ’s mandate to protect children. Commits to and prioritizes child protection considerations in all decision-making, tasks and activities across the ministry. Abides by all behavioral expectations in Compassion’s Statement of Commitment to Child Protection and Code of Conduct. Reports any concerns of abuse, neglect or exploitation of children through Compassion’s internal reporting process and appropriately supports responses to incidents if they occur.
• Assists with child protection plans and helps to support stakeholders regarding the implementation of effective child protection practices. Further assists with the implementation of advocacy campaigns, prevention work, and/or case planning for child protection incidents from initial reporting through lessons learned. Generally works under direct coaching and guidance of a more senior specialist and/or manager.
• Proactively learning to apply evidence-based best practices for the prevention of and response to, and healing from child abuse, neglect and exploitation. Informs partners on Compassion's child protection policies, standards, and expectations. Shares knowledge of local resources, social service/child protection systems, investigation protocols and connections with national networks with partners, colleagues, and leaders.
• Applies basic consulting skills to share knowledge and expertise, providing advice that can be applied to specific prevention and response situations, and effectively supports the party for whom they are providing consultation. May generally provides support to partnership facilitators, program support and implementation, other office staff or other stakeholders. Includes direct visits to customer/constituent groups for technical assistance, support, and guidance.
• As directed, assists with investigations into allegations of abuse of beneficiaries. Activities may include making arrangements for the care and treatment of victims, assisting with case coordination and communication with relevant staff members as well as timely case documentation. Compiles documentation and information for identified risks, partner resources to cases, and evaluations of beneficiary safety in programming.
• In partnership with training staff and partnership teams, assists in the delivery of training materials and curriculum on a broad spectrum of child protection topics, ensuring that stakeholders have ongoing, high-quality learning materials in the area of child protection and child safeguarding. Assists with trainer preparation and training materials as requested.
• Implements child protection strategies and plans of action within the assigned office.
• As assigned, conducts regular assessments to identify child safeguarding risks as well as assist partners in conducting assessments at the local program level. Conducts risk mitigation activities and contributes to interventions identified in risk assessment in collaboration with other specialists.
• Compiles documentation related to assessments, incident allegation reporting case management, plans, needs assessments, risk assessment and mitigation efforts in a timely manner. Further organizes documentation to be retained confidentially and/or shared in accordance with Compassion standards.
• Supports church partners in accessing and the effective use of the online reporting system. Reviews cases entered into the system for assigned area or region, follows appropriate notification protocol as necessary according to protocol. Compiles case notes and other supporting documentation as assigned by a more senior specialist. Completes and enters case notes and other documentation into the system of record for cases s/he supports in a timely manner according to Compassion standards.
• Identifies child protection programming areas requiring outside collaboration and partnership, assists with developing and maintaining partnership or relationships, engages in external relationship-building, and may attend inter-agency meetings.
• Understands local, national and organizational policies for child protection. Supports awareness and training to church partners on child protection and child safeguarding policies and best practices. Implements and follows through work assignments.

Culture

• Accountable for supporting, upholding, and engaging in Compassion's core "Cultural Behaviors" in all internal and external communication and relationships.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in social sciences and relate fields.
• 2 years of experience working with vulnerable children or community projects.
• Training in safeguarding and child protection (desired).
• Microsoft office intermediate level.
• Effective communicator and active listener.
• Emotional intelligence and emphaty.
• Ability to facilitate and train stakeholders.
• Excellent collaboration skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Valid driver’s license (desired)
• Availability to travel at least 30% of the time.