Alternative Care and Deinstitutionalization Coordinator in Save the Children

Save the Children International— a humanitarian organization with more than 100 years of history. Save the Children was founded in May 1919 in London.  SCI has been working in Ukraine since 2014. It started its work in the territory of Donetsk region. Currently, SCI is expanding its activities to eight cities of Ukraine, and Dnipro is one of them.  We work in the areas of education, child protection, overcoming child poverty, health care, and also conduct advocacy activities related to the protection of children's rights.

POSITION OBJECTIVE:  

< span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400">After nearly two years of war, which continues with little sign of abating, an estimated 3.4 million children are in need of assistance. At the same time, tens of thousands of children in Ukraine live in residential day care facilities or are at risk of being separated from their families, including through evacuation and forced displacement, in difficult conditions exacerbated by the war.  Save the Children (SCI) in Ukraine provides a comprehensive and child-centred response, working directly with local partners and in close coordination with local authorities. SCI focuses on family strengthening, alternative care and deinstitutionalization (DI), and is a member of the government's Better Care Reform initiative style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400">aimed at the development of a family-oriented child welfare system. This initiative is led by the Coordinating Center for the Development of Family Education and Child Care and Child Education and Care

Expert in alternative care and deinstitutionalizationis part of the child protection and child care program, which is part of the Program Operational Group in the East of Ukraine. The person in this position is responsible for launching and coordinating the implementation of SCI activities as the lead organization for the Better Care System Reform initiative in the Dnipropetrovsk region. As a partner in the Better Care Reform initiative, SCI is expected to bring its expertise and resources to the development of expansive models for child care reform that focus on decisions that are based on family forms and community.  The Alternative Care and Deinstitutionalization Specialist will have an end-to-end role in collaborating with the Child Protection and Child Protection sub-sectors as well as other programs to track and support activities within the Alternative Care and Deinstitutionalization Program offered by SCI. This position requires strong organizational and communication skills.

< span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400">The Alternative Care and Deinstitutionalization Expert will work under the direction of the Social Support and Alternative Care Manager (CM & AC Manager) and with close technical support from the specialist PDQ on alternative care and deinstitutionalization in Kyiv. He/she will also coordinate with colleagues from different sectors, departments, local partners, the Coordination Center and relevant regional units.  

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Planning, supervision and implementation of project activities. 

• In close cooperation with specialists in alternative care and DI, Manager of social support and alternative maintenance and key stakeholders, lead the development of a detailed implementation plan, procurement plan and other relevant project management tools to have a real-time view of the status of the project/activities and tasks.  

and partner - in accordance with the relevant principles and requirements, including the program offer of SCI on alternative care and DI. 
, including family strengthening and direct interaction with care facilities and other service providers. 
children 

• Support DI consultants in tracking and managing requests for alternative care and deinstitutionalisation support; to facilitate decision-making and, if necessary, to raise the issue at the internal leveldue to their urgency.  

• Contribute to the achievement of technical results, such as training or capacity building, developing informational content or awareness campaigns, and seeking internal or external expertise. 

• Provide regular information to the Social Support and Alternative Care Manager and Alternative Care Specialist and Information about the implementation of the project, expected solutions, needs for technical support and other problems, as well as to propose possible ways to solve them. 

• Conduct site visits, in coordination with DI consultants, alternative care specialists and DI monitoring and support of project implementation by partners. 

• Contribute to the preparation or review of project materials (for example, partnership agreements, terms of reference (TOR) or job descriptions ), as well as manage the recruitment of personnel if necessary. 

Monitor the budget and grants. 

• Be responsible as a budget manager for the development of spending and procurement plans, assigning DEA codes donors) (i.e. budget items); scrutinize budget progress (estimate), partner budgets and financial statements (if applicable) and other related spending information to ensure accuracy, timeliness of spending. 

, working closely with the supply chain management unit and supporting the internal Q&A tracker. 
financial procedures. 

• Act as a grant contact person if it is necessary, for a specific grant or project: to understand the general goals and results; be able to present the grant during the grant review meeting and track overall progress; to be the main contact person on issues of concluding partnership agreements, unless other powers are delegated; coordinate and resolve issues with relevant colleagues; lead the reporting process, coordinating input from fellow experts and consultants as needed. 

Monitoring and Reporting< /span>

• Together with guidance fromalternative care and CI specialist, to contextualize the appropriate monitoring system, consistent with the Better Care System Reform Strategy, relevant international standards and Ukrainian legislation, as well as the SCI Strategy and program proposal regarding CI and alternative care. 

, as well as continuity and close coordination of needs assessments and data collection. 

• Send monthly activity trackers to MEAL and provide timely updates to support MEAL planning cycles. 

to interested parties when necessary (including local authorities); proactively gather information from the CI consultant and key staff and partners to highlight achievements and strengthen the vision for further funding. 

• Identify and expand opportunities to ensure accountability and participation of children in project implementation. 

Representation and coordination< /p>

• Coordination with the Manager of social support and alternative care regarding representation and results for internal meetings. 

for example, at special events, alternative care and DI coordination meetings, and informal meetings as needed. 

• Liaise with PDQ Alternative Care and DI technical leads and relevant departments and planning partners , preparation and promotion of events and publications, including opportunities to highlight project achievements. 

• Ensure all necessary visibility and approval of public events and publications. 

• Encourage and ensure greater participation of local partners and relevant local/regional authorities in technical discussions and coordination

• If necessary, participate in the development of concept notes for further financing, which is based on the achievements and goals of the project. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE< /p>

• SBachelor's degree in social work, sociology, psychology, law, or other relevant field. 
• At least 2 years of experience in managing projects and/or developing development programs in emergency situations, preferably in Ukraine; previous experience in supervision is an advantage.  
• Demonstrative knowledge and understanding of the Ukrainian context related to child protection and deinstitutionalization; relationships with relevant partners and stakeholders is an asset.  
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, ability to organize a complex workload consisting of diverse and complex tasks and responsibilities
• Experience in representation and public speaking
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to quickly build relationships with a wide range of people
• Initiative and proactive identification of problems and solutions
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Ukrainian; a strong level of spoken and written English is a strong advantage.  
• High level of computer literacy (Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer, financial systems)
• Attention to cultural and political features, tolerance, tactfulness  
• Patience, ability to adaptation, the ability to improvise, communicate clearly and effectively in difficult situations.

We offer:

• Official employment
< li style="font-weight: 400">International working conditions
• Working day from 9 am to 5 pm
• Location of the office in the center of Dnipro  

Children's protection policy:

We must ensure the safety of children, so our selection process involves rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to protecting children from abuse.

Health and Safety:

All employees are expected to comply with our global anti-harassment policy.

Rdiversity, equity and inclusion:

SCI seeks to createa truly inclusive, effective and representative organizational culture, promoting equity and diversity among its employees and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

Willing to hire an employee with a disability.< /p>

If You are interested in the vacancy, we are waiting for your feedback. A resume in English will be an advantage for consideration. Also, we will be grateful if you indicate the expected salary level and the level of English language proficiency.

Save the Children International is the humanitarian organization with more than 100 years of history. Save the Children was founded in May 1919 in London. SCI has been working in Ukraine since 2014. The Organization started its work in the territory of the Donetsk region. Currently, SCI is expanding its activities to eight cities of Ukraine, and Dnipro is one of them. We work in the directions of education, child protection, overcoming child poverty, health care, and also, we have advocacy activities related to the protection of children's rights.< /em>

ROLE PURPOSE: 

Following nearly 2 years of war that shows little to no signs of abatement, there are an estimated 3.4 million children in need. At the same time, tens of thousands of children in Ukraine are living in full-time residential care or at risk of family separation—including due to evacuation and forced displacement—under difficult conditions exacerbated by war. Save the Children (SCI) in Ukraine provides an integrated and child-focused response, working directly and with local partners, as well as in close coordination with the local authorities. SCI is invested in family strengthening, alternative care (AC) and de-institutionalization (DI) and engaged with the government-led Better Care Reform initiative that is focused on developing a family-centered child welfare system. This initiative is led by the Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development.

The Alternative Care (AC) and Deinstitutionalization (DI) Coordinator is part of the Child Protection& MHPSS program which is within the Program Operations team in eastern Ukraine. She/he irresponsible for launching and coordinating the implementation of SCI’s activities as the ‘lead agency’ for the Better Care Reform initiative in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. As a partner in Better Care Reform initiative, SCI is expected to bring its expertise and resources to develop scalable models for child welfare reform that emphasizes family and community-based care solutions. The AC & DI Coordinator will have a cross-cutting role with CP & MHPSS sub-sectors as well as other programs to track and support activities within the scope of SCI’s Alternative Care and Deinstitutionalization Program Offer. This position will require strong organizational and communication skills.

The Alternative Care (AC) and Deinstitutionalization (DI) Coordinator will work under the management of the Case Management and Alternative Care Manager (CM & AC Manager) and with close technical support from the PDQ Alternative Care & DI Specialist in Kyiv. She/he will also coordinate with colleagues across multiple sectors, departments, local partners, the Coordination Centre and the relevant regional entities. 

 KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Planning, supervision and implementation of project activities

• In close collaboration with the AC & DI Specialist, CM & AC Manager and key stakeholders, lead the development of a detailed implementation plan, procurement plan, and other relevant project management tools to have a real-time picture of the project activities and task status.
•  With guidance and support from the DI & AC Specialist, manage the implementation of project activities - both direct and partner-led - in alignment with relevant frameworks and regulations, including SCI Program Offer on Alternative Care and DI.
• Supervise and support the DI Officer(s) to define responsibilities, plan and implement activities within their scope of work, including family strengthening and direct engagement with institutional care facilities and other service providers.
•  Act as SCI focal point vis-a-vis Oblast/regional authorities for day-to-day implementation of the regional childcare reform plans.
•  Support DI Officers to track and manage the range of requests for support within the scope of alternative care and de-institutionalization; facilitate decision-making and escalate internally as needed. 
• Contribute to technical deliverables, such as leading training or capacity strengthening, development of awareness raising content or campaigns, or identification of internal or external expertise.
• Provide regular updates to the CM & AC Manager and AC & DI Specialist on project progress, pending decisions, technical support needs or other challenges and propose possible solutions.
•  Conduct field visits, in coordination with DI Officer(s), AC & DI Specialist, to monitor and support direct and partner-led project implementation.
•  Contribute to drafting or reviewing project materials (i.e. partnership agreements, Terms of References (TORs) or Job Descriptions) and lead recruitment as needed.

Budget and award tracking and follow-up

• Take responsibility as budget holder for developing spending and procurement plans, allocating DEAs (i.e., budget lines), closely reviewing spending progress (BvA) and partners’ budgets and financial reports (as applicable), and other related information on spending to ensure accuracy and timely spending.?
•  Together with DI Officer, prepare and sign (within authorized threshold) all necessary purchase requests (PRs), following closely with supply chain and maintaining the internal PR tracker? 
• Raise concerns and propose solutions to utilize resources strategically, identify funding needs/gaps and ensure compliance with donor requirements and finance procedures.
• Take on role of Award Focal Point (FP), if needed, for a specific award or project: understand overall objectives and outcomes; be able to represent Award during ‘Awards Review Meeting’ and track overall progress; primary focal point for partnership agreement unless otherwise delegated; coordinate with and resolve issues with relevant colleagues; take lead in reporting by coordinating inputs from fellow Coordinators and Officers as required.

Monitoring and reporting

• With guidance from AC & DI Specialist, contextualize monitoring framework aligned with the Strategy for Better Care Reform, relevant international standards and Ukrainian legislation, as well as SCI DI & Alternative Care Strategy and Program Offer.
• Work closely with Specialist and MEAL focal point to ensure relevant tools are in place, aligned with log frame and that needs assessments and data collection is ongoing and closely coordinated.
• Submit activity trackers on a monthly basis to MEAL and ensure that timely communication takes place to support MEAL planning cycles.
•  Lead preparation of timely narrative reporting related to project implementation, including formal donor reports as well as ad hoc communication to relevant stakeholders (including local authorities); proactively gather information from DI Officer and other key staff and partners to highlight achievements and strengthen vision for continued funding.
•  Identify and increase opportunities for accountability and child participation in project implementation

Representation and coordination

• ?Coordinate with CM & AC Manager representation and inputs for internal meetings (i.e. DI TF).
• With guidance from AC & DI Specialist, represent project at Oblast/regional level, such as special events, DI/AC coordination meetings, and informal networking as appropriate.
•  Liaise with PDQ AC & DI technical leads, relevant departments and partners to plan, prepare and promote events and publications, including opportunities to highlight project achievements.
• Ensure all necessary visibility and approvals for public events and publications. Encourage and enable increased participation of local partners and relevant local/regional authorities in technical discussions and coordination
•  Contribute as needed to concept notes for further funding that builds on project achievements and objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, sociology, psychology, law or other relevant field.
•  At least 2 years' experience in project management and/or development programming in emergency context, preferably in Ukraine; prior supervision experiences an asset. 
•  Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of Ukrainian context related to child protection and deinstitutionalization; relationships with relevant counterparts and stakeholders is an asset. 
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organize a demanding workload comprised of diverse and challenging tasks and responsibilities.
•  Experience of representation and public speaking.
•  Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships quickly with a wide variety of people.
• Strong self-starter who takes initiative and proactively identifies challenges and solutions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Ukrainian; strong oral and written English is a strong advantage.
•  Highly computer literate (i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer, financial systems). 
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy. Patient, adaptable, able to improvise, and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure
  
  

We offer:

• Official employment
• International working conditions
• Working day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
• Location of the office in the center of Dnipro

Child Safeguarding: 

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. 

Health and Safety:

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: 

SCI is committed to create a truly inclusive, effective and representative organizational culture, encouraging equity and diversity among its employees and eliminating unlawful discrimination. 

Ready to hire an employee with disability.

If you are interested in the vacancy, we are looking forward for your response. A СV in English will be an advantage. Also, we will be grateful if you indicate the expected salary level and the level of English language proficiency.