Job Vacancy @ SOS Children’s Villages – National Ombudsperson

JOB ADVERTISEMENT 

NATIONAL OMBUDSPERSON

SOS Children’s Villages was established in Sierra Leone in 1974. We work with government and partners in communities to help families care for their children or to provide an alternative family for children who have no one to care for them, or who have lost parental care or are exposed to risks of neglect, abandonment, abuse and exploitation. Located in Freetown, Bo and Makeni, SOS Children’s Villages Sierra Leone has a wide range of programmes, in which the love of a caregiver is essential, to ensure children grow in a loving home and become their strongest selves.

Our Vision: Every child belongs to a family and grows up with love, respect and security.

Our Mission: We build families for children in need, we help them shape their own futures, and we

share in the development of their communities.

Our Values: Courage

Commitment

Trust

Accountability




Programmes include Alternative Care settings, Interim Care Centres, Youth care programmes that support more than 530 children and young people leaving in villages and in communities. In addition to quality care, we advocate for children, young people and women’s right, protection, safeguarding and empowerment. SOS Children’s Villages also provide quality education to over 4,000 students through its Herman Gmeiner International Schools, Kindergartens and Technical Vocational/ Employability and Entrepreneurship Training Centre in support of care-exit strategies and reintegration processes. Other projects include the Youth Innovation challenge & Youth-Can! which support young entrepreneurs with their businesses and young people on their quest to employment. The emergency programmes aid vulnerable families cope with the impact of COVID-19 and the economic downturn to prevent family separation.

SOS Children’s Villages in Sierra Leone is recruiting a National Ombudsperson to provide additional safeguarding support, including checks and balances to the present SOS systems, so that children, young people, care leavers, programme adults and staff have a reporting and response process when they feel that their concerns have not been heard or addressed appropriately.

She/He serves as a designated independent practitioner providing informal and confidential conflict resolution support to children, young people, care leavers, their families, and staff.

The Ombudsperson identifies relevant national trends within SOS programmes, services and staff; recommend improvements to the National Governing Board, the SOS Regional and Global Ombuds while maintaining the confidentiality of the Inquirers to the Ombuds Office.

The incumbent responds to various national cultures and laws as well as regional and international conventions, principles, and standards.

Develops and maintains a confidential database that tracks concerns, with referrals to appropriate SOS departments, local child protection agencies, legal advice, and/or community resources when appropriate.

The Ombudsperson interact regularly with SOS Children, Young People and staff informally, in-person, WhatsApp, email, and phone interactions as and when necessary.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Education qualifications:

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area such as law, social work, psychology, child rights, youth work or psychosocial wellbeing.

Preferred: Masters, Ph.D or other advanced degree in a relevant area such as law, social work, psychology, child rights, youth work and psychosocial wellbeing.

Lead competencies (e.g. Knowledge, skills, understanding, abilities…)

• Honest and transparent with high level of integrity, impartiality, maturity and understanding of children and young people’s developmental stages and needs

• Knowledge of children’s rights, best interests of the child, safeguarding and related issues

• Ability to work using child-centered principles.

• Excellent problem-solving and mediation skills.

• Ability to keep information confidential.

• Calm, peaceful, patient, humble, flexible and non-violent.

• Have the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

WORK CONDITIONS

STARTING DATE: 1st November 2022

DURATION OF CONTRACT: One year with a possibility of an extension based on performance and/or

availability of funding

LOCATION: National (Freetown), with frequent travel to our field locations.

WE OFFER:

• Attractive salary and package.
• A supportive team and compelling working environment.
• Opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of children and young people in a recognised International NGO.

To apply: submit a cover letter, with your Curriculum Vitae, photocopy of certificates, and three (3) professional references with at least one (2) from direct supervisors, by email only to [email protected]  Please indicate in the subject line the position, the location and the subject area desired.

Closing date for the submission of applications is Tuesday 26th September, 2022

Only the successful candidates will be contacted.

In accordance with the organization’s child protection policy, all employment is subject to applicable background checks, including criminal record checks, police clearance.

What We Stand For:

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment, which promotes its core values, and prevents and addresses child abuse and exploitation. We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse and exploitation, be it within or outside of our organisation, and always respond to any case of proven, alleged or attempted abuse within our sphere of influence according to its nature. Efforts ensure that mechanisms are in place to raise awareness, aid prevention, encourage reporting and ease response. They range from human resource development actions such as training and counselling to measures such as suspension, dismissal, and legal action.