Job Title: Sr. Co-worker / Co-worker - Family Strengthening
Department: Family Strengthening
Reporting to: Location Incharge
Location: PAN India (Location – Hojai, Begusarai, Bangalore, Nagapattinam, Chennai)
About the Organisation:
SOS Children’s Villages of India are an independent, non-governmental and non-profit organization working for the holistic development of parentless children as well as women and children from vulnerable families. For over 60 years, we have reached over 65000 children through our 32 SOS Children’s Villages and 28 community projects in India positively impacting over 83000 lives. We continue to provide children without parental care or at the risk of losing it, a value chain of quality care services that goes beyond childcare alone, to ensure comprehensive child development as well as ways to strengthen communities and families as a preventive measure in the fight against abandonment and social neglect.
We are committed for safeguarding and protecting children in all our programmes by having zero tolerance policy in this regard. At our organization, we uphold a values based culture built on the pillars of courage, commitment, trust, and accountability, guiding our actions and decisions to achieve excellence and integrity in all endeavors. We are further committed to provide a safe environment for staff and children, young people and adults with whom we work, where human rights are respected and upheld, and healthy relations fostered by building organisational systems, capacity, and awareness on PSHEA (prevention and protection against sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse) and Anti-Corruption guidelines. All our coworkers are obliged to follow SOS regulation on Child and Youth Safeguarding, PSHEA, Anti-Corruption Regulation and Code of Conduct. We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Position Summary:
The Co-Worker implements the Family Strengthening Program on field in assigned
cluster/s. Her/ his role is to ensure program deliverables, increase the scope and scale to impact vulnerable families and communities with efficiency while adhering to program guidelines.
This role is field based. Office work will be a maximum of 20% only.
Key Responsibilities:
I) Program and team management:
• Preparation of Family Development Plan, its implementation and review
• Ensure project objectives and targets are delivered as per timelines
• Identification of geography, families and stakeholders
• Ensure implementation as per standards in quality, compliance and cost.
• Manage performance of direct reports and provide inputs for their growth
• Engage regularly with children and consult with their families for any concerns
• Well versed in field methodologies such as participatory rural appraisal
II) Livelihood development and enhancement:
• Regularly visit local markets to understand demand supply products & services
• Support supervisor in finding potential IGA and skills sets for caregivers
• Obtain market access for products / services produced by caregivers
• Develop backward and forward market linkages with value chain players Identify skill gaps of team and caregivers
• Provide multi themed training and handholding to caregivers
III) Community mobilization :
• Mobilize and strengthen SHGs to undertake program deliverables
• Strengthen functioning of Bal Panchayats at cluster level
• Develop and strengthen Child Protection Committee
IV) Innovation :
• Implement innovative market linked initiatives on field
• Implement scaled up livelihood projects
V) Essential services and capacity building :
• Implement Education, Health, Nutrition aspects of children and caregivers
• Build capacity of care givers – in parenting skill
• Implement youth skilling and scholarship for children and youths
VI) Monitoring, Evaluation and Documentation :
• Ensure timely uploading of MIS data and update the PDB
• Develop and share field travel plan with supervisor
• Understand and support frameworks such as Log Frame Analysis
• Share best practices / success stories and feed into proposals as required
• Increase visibility for SOS India’s activities on field
• Ensure compliances across the work portfolio as per standards
VII) Partnerships :
• Continuous engagement with local stakeholders- government, private, NGOs
• Represent the project and achievements at block/ district level networks
• Undertake any other activity/ work as directed by Supervisor
Child and Youth Safeguarding Commitment:
The incumbent must commit to the organization's Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy and ensure its implementation in all aspects and activities.
• Ensure implementation of child and youth safeguarding policies and protocols.
• Organize regular sensitization workshops on topics such as cyber safety, substance abuse, and healthy relationships.
• Monitor compliance of youth homes and staff with safeguarding standards.
• Promote an open and supportive environment for reporting concerns or violations.
• Ensure periodic training for youth and staff on safeguarding practices and legal rights.
Educational Qualifications and skills:
Essential:
• A Post graduate in social work, rural development, entrepreneurship or equivalent
• A minimum of 2–3 years of relevant experience in working with children, families, or communities—preferably in the development or child protection sector.
• Excellent communication skills in local language of that particular place (Marathi for Alibaug & Pune applicants, Telegu for Tirupati applicants and Kannada for Bengaluru applicants).
• Demonstrable skills in MS Office, Excel, PowerPoint and internet
• Able to independently travel on field on two wheelers. Have a valid driving license
• Understand that future growth will depend on willingness to upgrade skillsets
Desirable:
• Community and stakeholder management experience:
• Understanding in managing community livelihood or social enterprise projects
• Working in close coordination with government departments, local Panchayats
• Experience of working with Self Help Groups
• Experience of leading or supporting entrepreneurship efforts
• Ability to work independently with less supervision on field .