Internal/External Vacancy Announcement

The Center for Victims of Torture works toward a future in which torture ceases to exist and its victims have hope for a new life. We are an international nonprofit dedicated to heal survivors of torture and war trauma. We provide direct care for those who have been tortured, train partners around the world who can prevent and treat torture and war trauma, research and advocate for human rights and end the practice of torture. We are headquartered in Minnesota, USA with offices in Africa and the Middle East.

Objective: The Social Worker provides social work services to clients from diverse geographic, cultural and social backgrounds, serving as an advocate and cultural broker. Services will be targeted for Tigrayan IDPs, host community members and Eritrean refugees who have survived torture or severe war trauma. The Social Worker actively participates as a member of an interdisciplinary healing team. Pursue opportunities beyond direct client care in areas such as service-linkage and resource-building related to client social service needs. The Social Worker is obliged to respect the confidentiality of information about clients, colleagues and the programme.

Key Responsibilities:

Needs assessment for clients as individuals or as a family (25%)

Conduct in-clinic or home visit assessments which include the following areas of need:

• Medical
•  Financial and housing
• Education and training
• Legal aspects, protection, resettlement process
• Recreational activities (for children)
• Other as necessary

Case management (50%)

• Evaluate the case management needs of the client and design an action plan with the client.
• Accurately refer based beneficiary’s needs and challenges to specific and appropriate service providers.
• Follow up the outcomes for the client and provide feedback to the source of referral.
• Effectively manage and refer complex or high-risk cases, including accurately assessing risk, coordinating intervention and follow-up plans in close collaboration with interdisciplinary team members and under supervision of the Psychotherapist/Trainer.
• Work consistently as an interdisciplinary team member, including regularly discussing cases with colleagues from other disciplines and engaging in case consultation.
• Work collaboratively in joint sessions, share information between departments, update colleagues on outcomes of referrals.
• Client targets:
• CVT clients and/or beneficiaries (clients engaged in counseling and close relatives of the clients)
• Potential clients of CVT after referral following screening.
• Highly vulnerable cases which are not CVT clients but for whom CVT intervenes for case management only: these cases will be in limited number, the decision to intervene will be done on case-by-case basis and in close collaboration with the clinical team.

Networking and mapping of the existing external resources (15%)

• Represent CVT professionally and accurately to external contacts, beneficiaries, and visitors.
• Regularly update the existing CVT guide of services and share information with CVT program staff when needed.
• Cultivate and maintain active and mutually beneficial relationships with current and potential CVT partners (local, national and international organizations) through regular remote and face-to-face meetings, workshop and event attendance, and visiting other organizations for outreach
• Call the attention of the clinical team to any important new actor in the MHPSS, Protection or Health field serving our client population
• nform the clinical team on general new trends or major difficulties faced by the client population.
• Work in close collaboration with the CVT clinical team and outreach workers to design a comprehensive strategy towards accessing potential clients and vulnerable persons in the target population.

Reporting (5%)

• Responsible for writing up weekly and monthly reports on activities conducted and working with M&E to develop statistical reports of referrals made.

Other duties (10%)

• Assist in administrative tasks and reporting as required.
• Provide coverage in attendance of coordination meetings, bilateral meetings or similar, as required.
• Support the program’s sustainability goals.
• Attend regular supervision, staff support and/or relevant coordination meetings to ensure information and skill sharing.
• Attend relevant trainings provided by CVT and other agencies as directed by the Trainers.
• Set and follow through on a personal self-care schedule to avoid burnout and vicarious traumatization.
• Recognize and seek support when needed from Trainers and/or external resources to address concerns of secondary trauma in an expedient manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Clinic Manager or Trainers in the implementation of CVT Tigray’s activities.

General conditions

• Maintain neutrality regarding any sensitive issues such as religion, ethnicity, disability, minority or political affiliation
• Strong commitment to serve beneficiaries of CVT’s project regardless their religion, gender, minority affiliation or ethnic/political background
• Is strictly committed to respect CVT’s confidentiality policy and refrain from using any information that s/he will know about a client outside of CVT
• Will not approach (potential) beneficiaries for their involvement in non CVT activities without prior approval of CVT supervisor.
• Keep absolute confidentiality on all information managed. Obligated to report any information to the supervisor when the security of CVT staff and/or of CVT beneficiary might become an issue.
• This job profile can be adapted and changed according to the evolution of CVT activities.

Report to: Clinic Manager

Supervisees: Incentive staff as appropriate

Location: CVT Healing Center in Shire, Tigray, Ethiopia. Travel to additional CVT field centers as necessary.

Terms of Employment: the contract is effective from February 2022 through January 2023 depending on funding availability.

Number of Individuals Recruited: Two (2)

Job Requirements

Required education, experience, certificates, licenses or registrations

• BA degree in social work, sociology and psychology
• At least 2 years relevant work experience in social work, outreach work or counseling

Preferred education, experience, certificates, licenses or registrations

• Graduate degree in social work
• 4 years relevant work experience in social work, outreach or counseling
• Licensed or credentialed as a social worker
• Experience working in a mental health and/or physiotherapy clinic, familiarity with mental health care concepts and settings

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• Fluent in Tigrinya. Fluency and English (spoken and written) preferred.
• Skilled in using Microsoft Office
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Good team player and able to work independently
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Good communication and problem-solving skills
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality

How to Apply

Qualified applicants are invite to submit their applicants in person at The Center for Victims of Torture Mekelle ZOA Office, located on the road from Amdna Hotel to Adi-Hawsi Saint Marry Church, two corners then left or in Shire, Aksum and Mai-Tsebri or Mai-Tsebri Branch Offices or in Sheraro/Shire at Action for Needy in Ethiopia (ANE) Office, located in Sheraro town, next to ELPA Office or via Email: CVTETHR@CVT.ORG (E-mails with attachments should not exceed a total of 1MB.)

NB: Submit applications with the subject title “Social Worker Application [Your Name]”. Please write an English letter of application stating clearly, what motivates you to apply for the above position and how your qualifications and experience are relevant to the post. Include a copy of your CV, application letter, and the names and contact information of three references. Do not bring original documents, as these will not be returned to you. Submitting false information will result in your application being disqualified. Exam date: written and interview exams will be administered the weeks of January 17 and 24 respectively. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a written exam and/or interview. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: January 10, 2022 before 5:00pm