Foster Care Officer – Apply Today

Why we need you?

We are looking for a Foster Care Officer who will engage or responsible to work and follow the case management, holistic development (Physical, social, cognitive, emotional and spiritual) and empowerment of their families through income generating activities The role aims to strengthen family-based alternative care through case management, caregiver capacity building, safeguarding, and close collaboration with community structures and relevant government offices.

What we provide?

An amazing work environment that promotes personal growth through providing professional space to grow and advance your career!

Your role?

As a Youth Empowerment officer, you will be in charge of the following, you will be in charge of the following:

SUPPORT CHILDREN and Youth program

• Implement high-quality case management by applying a child-centred, strengths-based, and participatory approach throughout the assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring, and case closure processes.
• Conducts different assessments on the developmental needs and support mechanisms of children and youth
• Facilitates life skill training and psychosocial support for children and youth
• Supports and follow caregivers to ensure the holistic development (Physical, social, emotional and spiritual) of children and youth.
• Updates children's progress in the program database and files of each child/youth
• Leads the Holistic Individual Development Plan (HIDP) process and ensures that each child has an IDP and that this is used effectively.
• Develops and implements case plans including reviews and evaluations
• Facilitates and participates in case conferencing
• Keeps up dated data of children, youth and families
• Follows-up, evaluates and recommends measures to be taken to improve services to children.
• Participates in any child/youth-caregiver-related training organized by the National Office

Empower caregivers

• Advises and assists caregivers in implementing primary health care principles.
• Capacitates the caregivers through arranging different training such as parenting, positive discipline, reproductive health, educational support of the children, child rights, personal, attachment and environmental hygiene.
• Facilitates and organize learning and development (L and D) training for caregiver
• Facilitates training on business skill development, entrepreneurship and income generating mechanisms for caregivers
• Supports the caregivers in identifying business type they will engage
• Supports the caregivers to develop the habit of saving and becoming members of Sacco

Monitoring & Reporting

• Monitor the well-being of children placed in kinship/foster care and ensure that placements are stable and in the best interest of the child.
• Conduct regular home visits and provide psychosocial support to children and caregivers.
• Ensure proper documentation of each case following standard operating procedures.
• Prepare regular reports (monthly, quarterly, and annual) on the performance and progress of children and families.
• Contribute to the preparation of donor and organizational reports.

Implementing and coordinating Program

• Conducts program and service evaluations with partner groups in consultation with his/her supervisor
• Helps with budget preparation and administration. Accounts for all financial transactions as instructed by his/her manager or the operations department always ensuring responsible financial planning
• Produces good quality regular and ad-hoc reports in line with requirements from his/her manager and/or the national office
• Prepares and submits for approval long- and short-term plans for social services.
• Directs, coordinates, supervises and performs social welfare programs that are being implemented by the project
• Follows up, evaluates and recommends measures to be taken to improve services to children and youth.
• Participates and contributes to case management process
• Develops and recommends child admission criteria based on gatekeeping guideline
• Conducts supportive monitoring and provide need-based support to children, youth and caregivers
• Work closely with government social workers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth collaboration and referrals.
• Represent the organization in local child protection networks and meetings.
• Coordinate with health, education, and legal service providers to ensure children’s holistic development

Additional duties

• Performs other similar duties as assigned by the programme manager.

Your role?

• Responsible for taking part in awareness-raising sessions and capacity building training in relation to Safeguarding to prevent and protecting children, young people, adults and assets from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence and discrimination.
• Support children, young people and adults to make them understand the safeguarding risks and protection mechanisms
• Ensure that safeguarding measures are in place within area of his/her responsibility and that staff, associates and other key stakeholders are aware of safeguarding principles and measures.
• Responsible for reporting any safeguarding suspicion, concern, allegation, or incident immediately, following the safeguarding reporting procedures. Safeguarding reports should be made to the safeguarding team at the program level and/or to the respective line manager; and
• Responsible for ensuring behaviours and all relationships are based on safeguarding and in line with the Code of Conduct and adhering to it in every situation.
• Conduct themselves by the Code of Conduct, Safeguarding and Local/Country Policies and Procedures.
• Be vigilant about any possible form of abuse/harm, neglect, harassment, or exploitation against children, youth and adults in personal and professional lives...
• Report any safeguarding incident or concern within 24 hours to the Incident Management Team, focal person or concerned party through the defined channels for reporting the allegation.

Job Requirements

Must Criteria

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work, Child Development, Psychology, Community Development, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ experience working with children, youth, and families in development or protection programs in NGO.

• Proven experience in case management and developing individual development/case plans, years.
• Strong knowledge of child development and holistic support approaches (physical, social, emotional, spiritual).
• Experience in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating child and family programs.

Competencies – Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Proven track record in employability skills development in projects of similar nature, preferably in international development organizations on the following themes: Training facilitation skills, Entrepreneurship/private sector development; inclusive business/market-based models, multiple stakeholder facilitation, public private partnerships and innovative solutions (digital, circular economy.
• Demonstrated experience in managing capacity building programmes; background in training preferred.
• Proactive and entrepreneurial attitude; exploring and developing innovative approaches that appeal to rural and urban/peri-urban youth and women are considered an advantage.
• Excellent networking skills; ability to engage with the public and private sectors, as well as civil society.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES – KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Understanding the organization and commitment to its vision and mission: able to clearly communicate SOS Children’s Villages Who We Are (Vision, Mission & Values), “Living our Values” policies and strategies in all areas.
• Case Management: strong skill in conducting assessments, developing individual and family cases.
• Capacity Building: able to design engaging need-based training sessions for children, youth and caregivers.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Competent in tracking children and youth development and updating database analyzing progress and recommending program improvement.
• Program implementation: ability to plan, execute and evaluate program and take accountability.
• Community Mobilization and Engagement: ability to connect and engage with family members, care givers and ensure care givers are in participatory planning and development.
• Empathy and Culture Sensitivity: Listens actively, shows compassion, and responds respectfully across different cultural contexts.
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: analyzes complex situations, identifies viable options, and makes well-informed decisions.
• Emotional Intelligence: Maintains self-awareness and demonstrates self-control, especially under pressure or in emotionally sensitive cases.
• Collaboration: driven to work with others, able to build partnerships and teamwork internally and externally.
• Reporting: Demonstrates ability to compile, interpret, and present high-quality reports using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Analyse: Uses data to inform decision-making, measure program effectiveness, and recommend improvements.
• Software: Proficiency in relevant software such as Microsoft Office and other technology

Lead and Core competencies:

Lead competency:

• Role model: Act as a role model for the organization, living our values and inspiring and learning from others.
• Collaboration: Remove barriers to participation, share decision making and build partnerships.
• Empowerment: Promote inclusion and equitable sharing of power.
• Strategic Thinking: Live the values and mission, setting realistic goals and translating them into actionable plans.

Core competency:

• Kindness: Act with empathy towards everyone he/she works with.
• Continuous Learning: Make an effort to learn, understand, and grow as a person, admitting your own mistakes.
• Inclusiveness: In any actions show respect and care for others.
• Initiative: Speak up when things are not right, do not hesitate to act, and adapt to change when necessary.
• Results Orientation: Prioritize safeguarding, look for solutions and focus on desired results.

Skills Required:

• Health / Medical
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development