Child Protection Consultant – Child Protection System Reform

Vacancy Notice: CPC (CPSR)_01_GR/24_15

Job title: Child Protection Consultant – Developing a model of child protection services at municipality level

Location: Seconded to the Municipality of Athens Social Services

Type of contract: ICMC

Starting date: 1st September 2024

Closing date for applications:  31 July 2024

Contract duration: 16 months

About ICMC

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is an international non-governmental organization, whose mission is to protect and serve children as well as uprooted people, including refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, victims of human trafficking, and migrants - regardless of faith, race, ethnicity, or nationality. 

ICMC started a partnership with UNICEF in Greece in order to deploy a highly qualified affiliated workforce to assist UNICEF Greece Country Office.

Scope of work

UNICEF became operational in Greece in early 2016 as an outposted team from the Regional Office of Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) to respond to the significant influx of refugee and migrant children and their families at that time. Following several years of engagement with national stakeholders, UNICEF and the Government of Greece made a decision in January 2020 to formalize the agency’s presence in the country as a full-fledged Country Office. The office falls under the auspices of the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia located in Geneva, which supports the work of 22 Country Offices within its geographical scope, reporting in turn to global headquarters in New York. These offices carry out UNICEF's mission through a unique set of programmes that focus on practical ways to realize the rights of all children. Within the framework of a mandate for all children in Greece, UNICEF and Greece are now working to address the needs of all vulnerable, marginalized and left-behind children in the country. 

In the context of the Country Programme for Greece (2022-2026) approved by the UNICEF Executive Board in February 2022, UNICEF and the Government of Greece have agreed on national priorities for children, concerning health, education, social protection, child protection, justice and youth employability. 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in everything the organization does — in programme, in advocacy and in operations.

UNICEF is closely collaborating with Municipality of Athens in order to support the recently established Child Protection Team utilizing the expertise of the Organization, recognized by the Convention on the Rights of the Child as the competent international organization for providing technical support to states on child protection issues.  UNICEF will work collaboratively with the Municipality of Athens to formulate and propose a model of child protection services including the establishment of a relevant Child and Family Department.

Under the guidance of the Head of Child Protection Team  and UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, the Child Protection Expert will provide technical support to  strengthen the capacity of the team   of the social workers of the Child Protection Team to further improve skills and be familiarise with new tools, aiming towards the necessary reforms to achieve a robust child protection system at community level, ensuring that the rights of children are protected and promoted.

Responsibilities

The Child Protection Expert’s primary responsibilities will include but are not limited to: 

• Support the Child Protection Team of the Municipality of Athens with technical knowledge relevant to child protection matters.
• Support the case management with the provision of specialized tools developed by UNICEF/ICH.
• Support the Child Protection Team to improve the performance of their tasks through targeted guidance (on the job capacity building).
• Support the team to ensure child-centred case management, including the right of the child to be heard and emergency intervention in families where children have been removed for their safety.
• Work closely with the Head of Child Protection Team and the relevant staff (social workers, psychologists) to improve data collection and analysis of child protection cases.
• Prepare reports, briefing notes and fact sheets regarding child protection matters.
• Support the coordination of the different streams of work related to child protection issues with the Municipal Social Services, other relevant municipality services, and facilitate information flow and effective cooperation with UNICEF office in Greece.

Requirements

1. Education

Degree in Social Work and Postgraduate degree in Social Work, Social Policy or relevant field

2. Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional social work experience in child protection, knowledge of the national child protection system in Greece is required. Excellent analytical and written skills. Experience in working with local authorities will be an advantage.

3. Language Requirements

Fluency in Greek and English is required (written and oral).

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a detailed CV of maximum four pages in English, a motivation letter and two professional references with full and up to date contact details via email, to: Mr. Akis Papakonstantinou, ICMC HR Officer

The closing date for receipt of applications is 31/07/2024.

The Vacancy Notice number CPC (CPSR)_01_GR/24_15 and the applicant’s full name must be quoted in the e-mail subject line.

Applications will be evaluated upon reception and interviews with shortlisted candidates may be conducted before the closing date. Referees may be contacted prior to the interviewing stage.

Data protection

By submitting an application, you agree that ICMC collects and manages the information that you provide. You also agree that your data may be shared with UNICEF. Your personal information will be used for recruitment purposes only. Your application will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Owing to the volume of applications, ICMC regrets that only applicants short-listed for an interview will be notified.

ICMC is committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants. ICMC does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, national origin, religion, physical or mental ability, marital status and age. Applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.

ICMC is committed to a Zero-Tolerance Policy toward sexual exploitation, abuses and all forms of unlawful harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment. Screening of applications includes the vetting for records of prior misconduct and reference checking. By submitting your application, you declare your consent for your former employer to disclose any details concerning criminal convictions or misconduct.  ICMC can take other necessary measures to ensure that people involved in substantiated cases of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment are not recruited.