Community and Family Strengthening Officer Family Legacy

Employment Opportunity

Family Legacy Missions Zambia (FLMZ) is a Faith based organization that upholds Christian values and morals in the education of the orphaned and vulnerable children it serves. The organization seeks to recruit suitably qualified, experienced and competent individuals who will demonstrate commitment to FL mission, vision, and values for the following position:

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.)