Social Worker at Pact

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.

Department

Program Delivery (PDEL) – Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The Program Delivery Team, contributes to realizing this purpose by: Forging smart partnerships and treating all people with dignity and respect; Applying organizational policies and regulatory compliance appropriately and consistently; Facilitating team spirit among colleagues and promoting the organization through communications; Influencing decision makers through focused, relevant communications; Continually striving to learn and share knowledge and find small ways to make the workplace more enjoyable for all; Cultivating and harvesting innovation; Contributing to the organization’s ability to think and act strategically at all times; Inspiring and spreading our desired organizational culture across the global enterprise.

Position Overview

Position Summary: The Social Worker will support and strengthen services provided to orphaned and vulnerable children and youth (OVCY) within the HIV and Aids as well as Child Protection Sector. Key focus areas in line with DSD priorities and the GCBS programme include activities:

• To strengthen and oversee the functioning, management and capacity of the existing referral system- as a means of increasing access to child protection and health services for vulnerable children and youth with a view to reducing incidence of HIV and Aids
• To enhance quality of services provided to vulnerable children and improve the efficiency of the case management system
• To ensure that all children known their HIV status, identifying CLHIV and linking these children and their families to support services.

Key Responsibilities

Core Competencies:

1. At all times upholds the South African Council for Social Service Professions Code of Ethics;
2. Demonstrates integrity by modeling the Pact’s values and ethical standards;
3. Contributes effectively to team-based activities, working collaboratively and sharing information openly; works effectively with colleagues inside Pact as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals;
4. Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
5. Remains calm, composed and patient when facing conflict, manages conflict productively, focusing on mutually acceptable solutions;
6. Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to initiate action;
7. Actively produces and disseminates new knowledge; creates/contributes to mechanisms to collect and share knowledge;
8. Actively seeks learning opportunities; demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development;
9. Proposes innovative ideas and new solutions to work.

Functional Competencies:

1. Oversee interventions at a district level aimed at supporting programme targets reach, namely:

· Quarterly interventions for children reached through both NPOs and Service Points

· 20% of all children on the GCBS caseload are to be HIV positive

· 90% of all children on the GCBS caseload are to know their HIV status

· Increase reach to adolescent girls

1. Under guidance the assigned social workers will support the roll out of activities in line with GCBS programme priorities through DSD or elected NPOs at district level, with a specific focus on:

· Improving access for OVCAY to Child Protection and HIV services

· Improving Case Management processes; and

1. Through the coordination and supervision of DSD and the GCBS team, Social Workers will support the provision of these services through the following assigned responsibilities:

· Support and oversee implementation of standardised case management approach for OVCY including:

· Working directly with assigned DSD funded NPOs to identify and intervene with vulnerable children, by applying case management tools and processes

1. Working directly with assigned DSD Service points to identify and intervene with children at greatest risk to HIV and Aids (foster care caseload risk assessment)

· Maintaining accurate record keeping of all case work utilizing DSD and GCBS relevant forms and tools.

· Provision of administrative support for other social workers in the office; including establishment of case work data base and tracking of children referred to social workers for intervention and the services provided. Educational tracking – following for school performance – tracking referrals – ward base stakeholder management

· Compile monthly statistical report utilising the GCBS data collection tool- work alongside DSO to access and review files

· Capacity building assessment for NPO

1. Implement assigned activities that will improve access for children to health and welfare services including HIV Counselling, Testing and Support. This may include but is not limited to:

· Lead in ensuring that all OVCAY reached through DSD service points and/or assigned NPOs status is self-reported and recorded on case files

· Lead in ensuring that all OVCY are assessed for HIV risk and are linked to testing, treatment and support services

· Track and record all referrals of OVCY ensuring that children adequately accessed necessary services

· Facilitation of community stakeholder engagement, with local clinics and PEPFAR district support partners in providing HIV and AIDS testing, treatment and adherence services as well as child protection services developing work agreements. Ensure effective implementation of working agreements ensuring that all children and youth found to be at highest risk of HIV, access testing, their status is known and where applicable enabled access to relevant integrated services is facilitated.

· Participate in and/or coordinate the necessary forums to strengthen referrals and linkages to child protection and health service for children and youth.

1. Support the roll out of social behaviour change programmes as needed
2. Ensure monitoring and scheduled progress reporting back to the GCBS team

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Social work;
• Registered with the SA Council for Social Service Professionals
• Drivers license preferable
• Perform functions with a view to the best interest of the child.
• Perform functions with a view to safeguarding the best interest of DSD and Pact SA
• Ensure that regular backups of data are completed
• Perform any other reasonable duties as assigned

Pact provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Closing date: 6 June 2019

Apply here!