Kinship-Foster Family Care Officer

Who we are

 SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. We started our humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of our first Village in Mekelle, Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, we have expanded our programs to different regions where there are significant needs for intervention and where we believe we can work in partnership with all relevant actors to bring sustainable positive outcomes for children’s and young people. 

 Today, we have grown significantly to meet the persistent challenges that confront Ethiopian children who have lost parental care and those that are at risk of losing their parental care. Working in close collaboration with international donors, local government and community-based organizations across eight program locations; we aspire that every child grows up with love, respect and security.

 Want to know more about life at SOS?

 🌟 Explore our Employee Value Proposition Here

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 Our Commitment to Safeguarding  

 At SOS Children's Villages, safeguarding isn't just a policy, it's a foundational value embedded in everything we do. We are unwavering in our commitment to protecting the children, young people, adults, and communities we serve, as well as our workforce and resources.

We cultivate an environment of trust and accountability where every voice is heard and respected. All successful candidates will be expected to champion our holistic safeguarding principles, actively upholding our Child & Youth Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and regulations against sexual misconduct, fraud, and corruption.

 By joining our team, you commit to integrating these vital standards into your work, ensuring the highest levels of safety, ethics, and integrity in every action and partnership.

 Together, we create a world where everyone feels safe, respected, and protected

 Join Our Mission:

 We are looking for Kinship/Foster Care, who will be responsible to work and follow the case management holistic development and empowerment of their families through income generating activities 

Key Responsibilities 

Support Children and Youth program

• 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

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

Additional duties

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

Safeguarding

• Responsible for taking part in awareness-raising sessions and capacity-building training in relation to safeguarding to prevent and protect children, young people, programme participants and co-workers from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence, discrimination and harassment;
• Support children, young people, programme participants and co-workers to make them understand the safeguarding risks and protection mechanisms;
• Support children and young people to make them understand the CS risks and protection mechanisms;
• Responsible for reporting any safeguarding suspicion, concern, allegation or incident immediately, following safeguarding reporting procedures. safeguarding reports should be made to the CS team at the program level and/or to the respective line manager.
• Responsible for showing their behaviour and all relationships are based on the Sexual Misconduct Regulation, and Child Protection Policy and in line with the Code of Conduct and that they adhere to it in every situation
• Conduct themselves per 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.

Our Ideal Candidate?

Let's find out if we're a match. The next step in our process depends on how your background closely aligns with the criteria below. 

Essential Requirements (Must-Have): 

Education: 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work, Child Development, Psychology, Community Development, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years’ experience working with children, youth, and families in development or protection programs.
• Proven experience in case management and developing individual development/case plans.
• Strong knowledge of child development and holistic support approaches (physical, social, emotional, spiritual).
• Experience in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating child and family programs.

Role specific competencies: 

• 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 analysing 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: analyses 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.
• Analyze: Uses data to inform decision-making, measure program effectiveness, and recommend improvements.
• Software: Proficiency in relevant software such as Microsoft Office and other technology ETENCIES

Desired Assets (Nice-to-Have):  

• Education: Master’s degree in social work, Psychology, or Child Development or related fields.
• Experience working with community-based organizations (CBOs) or family strengthening programs.
• Background in economic empowerment, including support for income-generating activities and savings groups (e.g., SaCCo).
• Experience in designing and customizing training materials for children and adults.
• Strong cross-cultural sensitivity and adaptability in diverse communities.

SOS 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: look for solutions and focus on desired results.

Does This Sound Like You?

To apply, please submit your updated resume via SOS Children's Villages Application portal (ICIMS)

We actively champion diversity and inclusion and strongly encourage women to step forward and apply. As part of our unwavering commitment to holistic safeguarding protecting children, youth, adults, and assets our selection process emphasizes value alignment and includes thorough background checks for all potential hires.

SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia is an equal opportunity employer, providing fair consideration to all applicant regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.