Community and Family Strengthening Officer Family Legacy

 Community and Family Strengthening Officer

Location: Lusaka

Job Summary

The overall responsibility of the Community and Family Strengthening officer (CFSO) is to engage and ensure the participation of families and communities in children’s general wellbeing. He/she will implement spiritual and socio-economic empowerment activities for households and the community.

The position holder will also participate in the identification and development of project concept notes. He/she is responsible for the recruitment of vulnerable children for possible enrolment in the sponsorship program and recommends child placement in relevant programs.

Dimensions of the Role:

• Ensure parents/guardian engagement
• Support child protection functions
• Conduct pre-rostering and children recruitment into sponsorship program.
• Prepare households for children reintegration.
• Implement socio-economic activities for household empowerment
• Support Social-Emotional Learning functions
• Identify and recommend children for Tree of Life admission
• Support implementation of WASH initiatives and Child Protection

Parents/Guardian Engagement

• Conduct parents/guardian meetings to collectively address issues that affect learners.
• Facilitate character formation, with assigned children, in alignment with a Christian perspective
• Promote holistic growth and development among assigned children and their families
• Provide family counseling and support by encouraging the participation of the families to develop solutions to their problems.
• Liaise with interested groups and individuals to set up new services for the children.
• Develop and implement strategies.
• Cultivate relationships within the community to provide new opportunities for parents and guardians.

Child Protection and special projects

• Work with Child Protection Coordinators on conducting initial investigations of child abuse allegations.
• Train parents/guardians on girls’ Menstrual Hygiene Management.
• Ensure on-going implementation of the Child Protection Policy.
• Enhance child safety by identifying risks and mitigating them through implementing child protection strategies.
• Support WASH initiative through community-based activities

Pre-rostering and Recruitment of Vulnerable Children

• Participate in reviewing the recruitment criteria;
• Identify and conduct vulnerability assessments on potential Camp Life Children according to the set criteria.
• Collect copies of birth records for pre-rostered children.
• Conduct home visits on all pre-rostered children to ascertain availability.
• Facilitate camp life-related activities
• Conduct sponsorship notification meetings for parents/guardians/kids.
• Ensure parents/guardian consent to child sponsorship by signing enrolment forms.
• Ensure sponsor letters for newly sponsored children are administered in accordance with the set criteria and due dates.

Program Support

• Support SEL in program implementation.
• Make follow-ups on Tree of Life runaway/missing children to ascertain the basis for escape and safety status.
• Work with Tree of Life on children’s holiday return and follow-up on the non-return.
• Identify and recommend children for possible admission at the Tree of Life Child Care facility.
• Respond to queries raised by parents/guardians regarding the care facility.

Reintegration

• Cultivate partnerships with private, Non-governmental organizations, and government sectors to support reintegration.
• Raise awareness on reintegration to parents and guardians.
• Conduct post reintegration home visits, to ascertain children’s adaptability to the new environment.
• Conduct socio-economic assessments to ascertain household preparedness.

Socio-economic empowerment for households.

• Build relationships with households by providing spiritual guidance and encouragement through home visits.
• Raise awareness on issues relevant to the community.
• Provide household counseling to establish functional homes for the children.
• Train parents and guardians on entrepreneurship and financial management basics.
• Form saving schemes for parents and guardians.
• Identify and develop existing programs that support household socio-economic empowerment.

Records Management

• Maintain ongoing, up to date, and accurate records of the pre-rostered children
• Keep documented records of assessments and information of identified children throughout the rostering process.
• Document meetings held with parents/guardians or groups within the community.
• Keep birth records for all pre-rostered children.
• Keep records of saving schemes for parents and guardians.
• Track attendance of parents/guardians during termly meetings.
• Keep accurate, detailed and timely records and progress reports of all Tree of Life families

Skills Specific to the Post

• Demonstrate commitment to FL’s mission, vision, and values.
• Must have no previous convictions of harm to a child.
• Must have undergone training in Child Protection.
• Share knowledge and experience.
• Actively work towards continuing personal learning and development and apply newly acquired skills.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and positive constructive attitude.
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Responds positively to critical feedback and offering points of view.
• Solicits feedback from co-workers about the impact of his/her behavior.
• Ability to network and be relational.
• Ability to work as a team and be accountable for any decisions made.
• Adhere to all deadlines.

Educational Qualification and Experience

• Full Grade 12 certificate
• Diploma/or degree in Development Studies/ Social work or related field.
• Vast experience in community development or related skills.
• Competency in computer skills (MS Word, Excel, etc.)