Child Protection Case Worker | Anbar & Salah Al-Din| Pending on Donor Approval

Important Notice

This position is pending donor approval. Recruitment and appointments will be subject to confirmation of project funding.

1. Position Information

Organization: Aid Gate Organization (AGO)
Project: Strengthening Child Protection and Well-being, Adolescent Participation, and Leadership Skills Development
Position title: Child Protection Case Worker
Number of positions: Four (4)
Duty stations: Anbar and Salah Al-Din governorates
Contract duration: 12 months
Contract type: Full-time
Reports to: Child Protection and MHPSS Technical Specialist/Project Manager

2. Organizational Background

Aid Gate Organization (AGO) is an independent Iraqi non-governmental organization working with vulnerable and conflict-affected communities. AGO implements humanitarian and development programmes in child protection, mental health and psychosocial support, rehabilitation and reintegration, youth empowerment, social cohesion, livelihoods, and community resilience.

AGO works closely with government institutions, civil society organizations, communities, and specialized service providers to strengthen sustainable, inclusive, and locally led services.

3. Project Background

AGO intends to implement an integrated child-protection and adolescent-development programme in Anbar and Salah Al-Din governorates. The programme will improve access to specialized child-protection case management, MHPSS, legal and civil-documentation assistance, positive-parenting support, GBV prevention and risk mitigation, capacity development, and adolescent-participation activities.

The programme will prioritize returnee, displaced, and conflict-affected children, including unaccompanied and separated children, undocumented children, children with disabilities, and children exposed to violence, neglect, abuse, exploitation, stigma, social exclusion, or other protection risks.

4. Position Purpose

The Child Protection Case Worker will provide safe, confidential, child-centred, and timely case-management services to vulnerable children and adolescents.

The Case Worker will manage the complete case-management cycle, including identification, assessment, individualized case planning, referrals, follow-up, case review, transfer, and closure. All services will follow AGO policies, approved programme procedures, applicable national frameworks, and internationally recognized child-protection standards.

The Case Worker must consistently apply the principles of the best interests of the child, informed consent and assent, confidentiality, non-discrimination, meaningful participation, accountability, and do no harm.

5. Key Duties and Responsibilities

5.1 Identification and assessment

• Conduct safe community outreach and receive referrals through approved programme, community, government, and service-provider channels.
• Identify children and adolescents experiencing or at risk of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, family separation, psychosocial distress, or other protection concerns.
• Apply approved vulnerability, eligibility, and prioritization criteria consistently and without discrimination.
• Provide children and caregivers with clear, age-appropriate information about available services, their rights, confidentiality, data use, referral options, and feedback mechanisms.
• Obtain informed consent from caregivers and informed assent from children, as applicable, before collecting or sharing personal information.
• Conduct comprehensive, age-, gender-, disability-, and culturally sensitive assessments.
• Identify urgent or high-risk cases and immediately notify the supervisor through approved confidential channels.

5.2 Individualized case planning

• Develop individualized case plans in consultation with children, caregivers, and relevant service providers.
• Establish clear case objectives, actions, responsibilities, required services, timelines, and review dates.
• Ensure children and caregivers participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their cases.
• Regularly review and update case plans according to changes in the child’s needs, risks, circumstances, and access to services.
• Maintain an appropriate caseload according to case complexity, risk level, staff capacity, and technical guidance.

5.3 Case-management services

• Provide direct case-management support within the Case Worker’s responsibilities and professional competencies.
• Conduct safe home visits and field follow-up when appropriate and authorized.
• Provide practical information, emotional support, and guidance to children and caregivers.
• Organize case conferences for complex cases when required and approved.
• Work with children, caregivers, and service providers to address obstacles affecting the implementation of case plans.
• Maintain regular contact with children and caregivers according to the required level and frequency of follow-up.
• Avoid creating dependency or making promises regarding services or outcomes that AGO cannot guarantee.

5.4 Referrals and follow-up

• Refer children and families to appropriate health, MHPSS, legal, civil-documentation, education, protection, disability, and other specialized services.
• Use approved and regularly updated service mappings and referral pathways.
• Confirm the safety, suitability, accessibility, eligibility criteria, and availability of services before making referrals.
• Obtain informed consent or assent before sharing information or initiating referrals, except where applicable safeguarding procedures require otherwise.
• Share only the minimum information necessary for the receiving service to provide assistance.
• Follow up on referral completion, accessibility, service quality, and outcomes.
• Escalate delayed, unsuccessful, unsafe, or inappropriate referrals to the supervisor.
• Never refer a child to an unverified or unauthorized service provider.

5.5 Case review, transfer, and closure

• Review assigned cases regularly with the Technical Specialist or designated supervisor.
• Assess progress against the case plan and identify changes in risks, needs, and protective factors.
• Prepare cases for transfer or closure only when approved criteria are met.
• Obtain supervisory approval before transferring or closing any case.
• Explain transfer or closure decisions clearly and sensitively to children and caregivers.
• Document final assessments, completed actions, outstanding referrals, closure reasons, and any agreed follow-up arrangements.
• Ensure records are securely archived according to AGO procedures.

5.6 Documentation and information management

• Create and maintain complete, accurate, timely, and confidential case files using approved paper and electronic tools.
• Enter and update case information in AGO-approved secure case-management systems.
• Document assessments, consent and assent, case plans, referrals, follow-up actions, case reviews, incidents, transfers, and closure decisions.
• Store physical and electronic case information securely and follow role-based access and need-to-know principles.
• Never store case information on personal devices, personal email accounts, unapproved applications, or unauthorized storage platforms.
• Participate in case-file reviews, data-quality checks, and corrective actions.
• Immediately report any loss, unauthorized disclosure, or suspected breach of sensitive information.
• Submit accurate weekly and monthly caseload updates and reports within the required deadlines.

5.7 Coordination and teamwork

• Coordinate with AGO’s protection, MHPSS, legal, MEAL, community-engagement, and programme-management personnel.
• Maintain professional coordination with authorized government institutions and specialized service providers.
• Participate in technical meetings, case conferences, capacity-building activities, coaching, and supervision sessions.
• Contribute to updating service mappings, referral directories, and referral procedures.
• Share operational challenges, service gaps, emerging risks, and anonymized programme learning with the supervisor.
• Maintain professional boundaries and respectful working relationships with colleagues, partners, children, caregivers, and community representatives.

5.8 Accountability to affected populations

• Inform children and caregivers about their rights, available services, eligibility criteria, and expected staff conduct.
• Explain that all programme services are free of charge and not conditional upon payment, gifts, favours, political affiliation, or personal relationships.
• Inform participants about AGO’s confidential feedback and complaints mechanisms.
• Support children, caregivers, and persons with disabilities to access appropriate feedback channels.
• Treat feedback and complaints respectfully and protect complainants against retaliation.
• Communicate relevant case updates and explain delays or limitations honestly.
• Use participant feedback to improve the quality, accessibility, safety, and responsiveness of case-management services.

5.9 Safeguarding and PSEA

• Comply with AGO’s Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEA Policy, Code of Conduct, confidentiality requirements, and data-protection procedures.
• Immediately report safeguarding concerns, suspected sexual exploitation and abuse, staff misconduct, or imminent risks through designated reporting channels.
• Receive sensitive disclosures calmly, respectfully, and confidentially without probing or conducting an investigation.
• Never attempt to investigate allegations of GBV, sexual exploitation and abuse, or other serious misconduct independently.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children, caregivers, and community members.
• Never request or accept money, gifts, services, or favours in exchange for assistance.
• Protect children, caregivers, witnesses, and complainants from retaliation, discrimination, stigma, and further harm.
• Complete all mandatory safeguarding, PSEA, data-protection, and code-of-conduct training.

6. Expected Deliverables

• Assigned children receive timely assessments and appropriate case-management services.
• Individualized case plans are prepared, regularly reviewed, updated, and properly documented.
• Urgent and high-risk cases are identified and escalated immediately.
• Referrals are safe, consent-based, appropriate, and followed through to completion.
• Case files are accurate, complete, confidential, and updated within required timelines.
• Case reviews, transfers, and closures follow approved procedures and receive appropriate authorization.
• Weekly and monthly caseload updates and required reports are submitted on time.
• Children and caregivers understand available services and participate meaningfully in case decisions.
• Children and caregivers know how to provide feedback or submit confidential complaints.
• Safeguarding, PSEA, confidentiality, and data-protection requirements are consistently followed.

7. Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, education, law, public health, or another relevant social-science or protection-related field.
• A relevant diploma combined with substantial child-protection case-management experience may be considered.
• Relevant child-protection, case-management, safeguarding, PSEA, or psychosocial-support training is an advantage.

8. Required Experience

• At least two years of relevant professional experience in child protection, case management, social work, psychosocial support, or protection services.
• Experience working with displaced, returnee, conflict-affected, or highly vulnerable children is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of the child-protection case-management cycle.
• Knowledge of the Best Interests Procedure, informed consent and assent, confidentiality, safe referrals, child safeguarding, and do-no-harm principles.
• Experience coordinating with government institutions and health, education, legal, MHPSS, or specialized protection service providers is desirable.
• Experience using structured case-management forms or secure digital case-management systems is an advantage.
• Experience managing sensitive information and maintaining confidential documentation is required.

9. Language and Computer Skills

• Fluency in Arabic is required.
• Working knowledge of English is an advantage.
• Knowledge of relevant local languages is desirable.
• Good computer skills, including email, word processing, spreadsheets, and secure digital data entry.
• Ability to use tablets, mobile data-collection tools, and secure case-management platforms is an advantage.

10. Core Competencies

• Child-centred and survivor-centred practice
• Empathy and active listening
• Integrity, discretion, and confidentiality
• Sound judgement and problem-solving
• Case planning and prioritization
• Accurate documentation and reporting
• Effective communication and teamwork
• Gender and disability inclusion
• Respect for diversity and non-discrimination
• Ability to work under pressure and manage sensitive situations
• Commitment to safeguarding, PSEA, accountability, and do-no-harm principles

11. Working Conditions

• The position is based in Anbar or Salah Al-Din, according to programme needs.
• Regular travel to targeted communities, government offices, and service-provider locations will be required.
• The Case Worker may be required to respond to urgent protection concerns within established working and emergency-response arrangements.
• The postholder must comply with AGO’s safety and security procedures during all movements and field activities.

12. Performance Evaluation

Performance will be assessed based on:

• Quality and timeliness of case-management services
• Accuracy and completeness of case files
• Appropriate management of assigned caseloads
• Quality, suitability, and completion of referrals
• Compliance with safeguarding and confidentiality requirements
• Timeliness and accuracy of reporting
• Participation in technical supervision and capacity development
• Respectful treatment and meaningful participation of children and caregivers
• Responsiveness to supervisory, monitoring, and participant feedback
• Professional conduct, teamwork, and adherence to AGO policies

13. Recruitment Conditions

This position involves direct contact with children and access to sensitive personal information. Appointment will be subject to satisfactory identity, qualification, employment-history, and reference checks, as well as other safeguarding checks permitted by applicable law.

The selected candidate must sign and comply with AGO’s Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEA Policy, confidentiality and data-protection commitments, anti-fraud requirements, and conflict-of-interest declaration.

Any employment offer will remain conditional upon donor approval, confirmation of project funding, and successful completion of AGO’s recruitment and safeguarding procedures.

14. Equal Opportunity

AGO is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace. Qualified women, persons with disabilities, and candidates from the programme locations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Recruitment decisions will be based on merit, suitability, safeguarding considerations, and programme requirements without discrimination. Reasonable accommodation will be considered throughout the recruitment process and employment.

Interested applicants must apply via the link below

Child Protection Case Worker | AGO

Note:

• Applications not meeting the specified minimum requirements may not be considered.
• The CVs received after the closing date may not be considered.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview that may include a written test of communication and writing skills.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Candidates are encouraged to apply early, as applications may be screened prior to the vacancy deadline.