Social Worker agents at HVP Gatagara: (Deadline  20 December, 2023 )

Social Worker agents at HVP Gatagara: (Deadline  20 December, 2023 )

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT 

Location: HVP Gatagara, Kicukiro District, Gikondo Sector 

HVP GATAGARA BACKGROUND

Home de la Vierge des Pauvres “HVP Gatagara” is an institution working in favor of Persons with disabilities. Founded by Father Joseph Adrien Julien Fraipont Ndagijimana. It started its operations in 1960 in Gatagara, the “hill of hope.” It was the first and only one center for medical care, education, and reintegration of Persons with Disabilities in Rwanda.

HVP GATAGARA, through its branch based in the Kicukiro district, Gikondo sector intervened in the area of special education1:00 pm 2015. It offers services including a special school for learners with intellectual challenges, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, clinical psychology, social services, and other support rehabilitation services.

HVP Gatagara has received funding from the European Union (EU) and Christian Blind Mission (CBM) Germany to implement a 3-year project 2024-2026 “Enhancing access to inclusive quality education, and community well-being for children with intellectual disabilities and their families in Kicukiro, City of Kigali” and this project will be implemented in Kicukiro District.

Therefore, HVP Gatagara is recruiting dedicated and competent staff two (2) Social Workers Agents who will be responsible for the implementation of the project activities. 

Job Profile for the Social Worker Position

Reporting line: The position holder (s) will report to the Project Manager

Job description (responsibilities)

The position holder will:

• Coordinate and facilitate the community work of CBR agents in Kicukiro district by playing the role of linking the project beneficiaries to the social services available at both the local government and partner levels.
• Draft and get timely approval of the social unit plans (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual plans) in line with the project objectives;
• Under the supervision of the Project Manager, lead the preparation of ToRs for project activity and actively participate in training and workshops, meetings aimed at the empowerment of project beneficiaries;
• Conduct social sessions including community sensitization, mobilization on disability rights and inclusion;
• Work closely with the OPDs and HROs platform to promote human rights, the rights of persons with disabilities and strengthen advocacy for
• children with intellectual disabilities at district and sector levels;
• Watch for signs of child abuse and provide crisis intervention in the HVP Gatagara school setting;
• Collaborate with the HVP Gatagara multidisciplinary team in conducting community outreach for disability assessment and other community-based rehabilitation services;
• Collaborate with the HVP Gatagara Special School in setting and evaluating the Individual Education Plan (IEP) for each learner with intellectual impairment and report the progress;
• Assist the project beneficiaries in handling everyday life problems, especially those (with disabilities) who have issues caused by neglect, abuse, isolation, domestic violence, depression, mental health, and parental substance abuse;
• Receive and assist project beneficiaries with information and orientation to disability-friendly services;
• In partnership with local leaders, faith-based organizations, OPDs, special teachers, and Community Health workers, the social worker will follow up and assist the project beneficiaries (including children with intellectual disabilities and their parents or caregivers) in the community, at home, at school and when the beneficiary is referred somewhere else for further services by contacting and making possible arrangement of referrals to other agencies;
• Assist the Project Manager, with project-related public relations including ensuring the appropriate donor visibility and media engagement.
• File consent forms from the project beneficiaries and propose their updates when necessary;
• Timely and accurate report (to the Project Manager) the progress of project activity from the Social Unit with focus on results and impact making;
• Assist the project management in documenting the project lessons learnt and success stories on quarterly basis.
• Assist the School Accountant and Project Manager in maintaining accurate project financial records, asset register and field activity progress reports.
• Implement other project tasks as assigned by his/her supervisor.

Requirements

Qualification: Relevant university degree (A0) in Social Sciences, Clinical Psychology and special needs education and other related fields.

Skills and experience:

• Significant experience in the area of social work, working with vulnerable groups, disability (specifically in inclusive & special education), and rehabilitation facilities;
• English proficiency
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Interpersonal skills allowing the candidate to give full attention to what social service the project beneficiaries (clients) are saying, and understand the points being; made, ask questions and not interrupt inappropriately;
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (especially Word, Excel & PowerPoint) and Internet;
• Experience working for donor-funded projects (at one year) including EU and/or other institutional donors is mandatory;
• Skills in budget planning and execution;
• Demonstrated skills in visibility promotion through social media, and photography is an added advantage.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates with the required experience and profile are invited to submit hard copies of their applications in English including a Curriculum Vitae (two pages maximum)  with three professional references and a meaningful cover letter outlining, in particular, their relevant experience in disability movement, what motivates them for the job and why they are suitable for the position, as well as relevant supporting documents such as diplomas and professional certificates to  HVP Gatagara Gikondo not later than December 20, 2023 at 1:00pm.

Persons with disabilities, and those with experience of working with persons with intellectual disabilities and those having experience to working with international donors are encouraged to apply for this position.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Done at HVP GATAGARA on December o7, 2023 

Director of HVP Gatagara Gikondo

Nteziryayo Jean Pierre