Child Protection & MHPSS Officer

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Child Protection Coordinator

Staff reporting to this post: None.

Budget Responsibilities: None (technical support to budget design and monitoring for CP/MHPSS components as required).

Role Dimensions: This role is primarily technical and supportive, with a strong focus on partner engagement, capacity building, and quality assurance rather than direct implementation or staff management. The position requires regular coordination with partners, monitoring of field activities, and provision of on-the-job technical guidance.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

1. Partner Support and Program Implementation

• Provide technical support to partners in planning and implementing CP and MHPSS activities in line with agreed standards.
  
• Ensure integration of child protection and psychosocial support approaches across interventions.
  
• Support partners to deliver activities in accordance with work plans, quality standards, and donor requirements.
  
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor implementation and provide technical guidance.
  
  2. Case Management and MHPSS Quality Assurance
  
• Provide technical guidance to partner staff on case management processes, including identification and registration, assessment, Case planning, Case plan Implementation, follow-up, and closure.
  
• Ensure strict adherence to Child Protection Minimum Standards and ethical guidelines, including data protection principles such as confidentiality, informed consent, and secure handling of sensitive case information.
  
• Ensure proper and consistent use of CPIMS+ for case recording, case tracking, and reporting in line with SCI and inter-agency information management protocols.
  
• Support strengthening of referral pathways and coordination with service providers.
  
• Guide partners in identifying and referring high-risk and severe MHPSS cases to specialized services.
  
• Monitor quality of case management and MHPSS interventions to ensure timely and appropriate service delivery.
  
  3. Capacity Building and Technical Support
  
• Identify capacity gaps among partner staff and develop capacity strengthening plans.
  
• Deliver and support training sessions on CP and MHPSS topics.
  
• Provide ongoing mentoring and on-the-job coaching to partner teams.
  
• Support development and adaptation of tools, guidelines, and training materials.
  
  4. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
  
• Support partners in data collection, reporting, and documentation in line with SCI requirements.
  
• Conduct monitoring visits and provide feedback to improve program quality.
  
• Contribute to internal reporting, including situation reports and program updates.
  
• Document best practices, lessons learned, and case studies.
  
• Work with MEAL teams to strengthen accountability mechanisms and feedback systems.
  
  5. Coordination and Representation
  
• Maintain effective coordination with partners, service providers, and stakeholders.
  
• Support strengthening of referral networks and inter-agency collaboration.
  
• Represent Save the Children in coordination meetings when required.
  
  6. Safeguarding
  
• SCI applies a “Do No Harm” approach across all its operations—both directly implemented and those delivered through partners—to ensure the safeguarding of children, adults/beneficiaries, and staff.
  
• Ensure all partner activities comply with Save the Children Child Safeguarding Policy.
  
• Support identification and mitigation of safeguarding risks in programming.
  
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are reported and addressed appropriately.
  
• Promote safe programming practices across all interventions.
  
  BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
  
  Accountability:
  
• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
  
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
  
  Ambition:
  
• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
  
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
  
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
  
  Collaboration:
  
• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
  
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
  
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
  
  Creativity:
  
• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
  
• willing to take disciplined risks.
  
  Integrity:
  
• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
  
  QUALIFICATIONS
  
• University degree in psychology, social work, counselling, or a related field (required)
  
• Additional certifications in MHPSS and Child Protection (desirable)
  
  EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
  
  Essential:
  
• Minimum 2 years of experience in Child Protection and/or MHPSS programming
  
• Strong knowledge of case management and psychosocial support approaches
  
• Experience working with partners, NGOs, or community-based programs
  
• Experience in capacity building and training delivery
  
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and coordination skills
  
• Good command of Arabic and English (written and spoken)
  
• Ability to work in complex and changing environments
  
  Desirable:
  
• Experience with CPIMS+ or similar information management systems
  
• Experience working in humanitarian contexts in Iraq
  
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation processes