SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya
Job Opening: Alternative Care Coordinator
Mombasa, Kenya
SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya is a member of the SOS Children’s Villages International (CVI) Federation.
SOS Children’s Villages is a child-focused Non-Governmental Organization established in 1973 to provide care and support to children who have lost or are at risk of losing the care of their biological family.
The organization’s vision is “No child should grow up alone” and its programmes are driven by the mission of “building families for children in need, helping them shape their own futures and sharing in the development of their communities”.
In this regard, the organization works to reduce poverty; increase access to quality education and decent work; reduce inequalities and build strong institutions as laid out in SDGs 1, 4,8,10 and 16.
This is done through programmes that are geared towards addressing the political, economic, health and social root causes that lead to high levels of child vulnerability and put families at risk of breaking down.
The programmes focus on Alternative Care, Family Strengthening, Youth Empowerment, Education, Health Care and Advocacy.
SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya implements programmes in five (5) of Kenya’s 47 Counties namely Nairobi, Mombasa, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu and Meru. We seek to recruit suitably qualified person to fill the position of:
Alternative Care Coordinator
Location: Mombasa, Kenya
1 Position
Male Candidate
Reporting to the Location Program Director, the Alternative Care Coordinator is to be ‘father’ to each SOS
child and family.
As ‘father’ figure, he takes an active part in the growth and development of each child, ensuring their physical, emotional, social and spiritual welfare.
The Alternative Care Coordinator must live within the Village and be available for the children any time of the day or night.
In addition, he supports the SOS Parents and other co-workers in working towards the best interests of the child.
Key performance areas and main responsibilities:
1. Leader of the SOS Children’s Village
- Maintains the SOS CV philosophy and ensures that all co-workers are familiar with the history,
philosophy, principles and policy of SOS CV. - Ensures that the SOS Children’s Village operates in accordance with the policies and procedures
of the National Association and the SOS-Kinderdorf International. - Holds regular meetings with all staff to discuss current activities, problems, concerns and new ideas, in order to ensure open communication and co-operation.
- Is the overall administrative head of the Children’s Village responsible for all its activities including
finances, sponsorship, child admissions, personnel administration and facility maintenance.
2. Acts as ‘Father’ to the SOS Children.
- Ensures the health, welfare and development of the children, serving as a role model and playing
an active part in their lives. - Promotes and supports family relationships by spending quality time with individual children and
their families. - Provides compassionate discipline and counsel to children whenever necessary. Provides advice,
guidance and support to children on personal and social issues.
3. Provides support and guidance to the SOS Parents
- Creates a secure, positive and motivating environment for SOS Parents in order to encourage their
long-term commitment to the children. - Holds regular meetings with SOS Parents to discuss new ideas, problems and concerns, and to
promote open communication. - Spends reasonable quality time with individual mothers, acting as their friend, supporter, counsellor and confidant. Supports mothers with day-to-day challenges such as child discipline.
- Encourages recreational and sporting activities for mothers to promote their health, confidence and motivation.
4. Guides the educational development of the children
- Ensures that the educational needs and abilities of each child are addressed through continues monitoring and reviewing of each child’s progress.
- Works in co-operation with pedagogical staff to plan educational programmes geared to the individual needs of each child. Conducts regular reviews of such programmes.
- Creates a stimulating learning environment in which academic progress is encouraged through the provision of guided homework sessions, remedial classes, etc.
- Prepares holiday programmes ensuring that sufficient educational and recreational activities are
offered to the children to prevent boredom and monotony. - Arranges cultural activities to educate the children in the local culture and custom
5. Builds a committed and effective staff team
- Oversees the selection, training, appraisal and development of staff, to ensure that only the best staffs are employed, and that they are developed to reach their full potential.
- Provides advice, guidance, support and leadership to all Village staff, motivating them to work as a ‘family’ in pursuit of the best interests of the children.
- Upholds the rights and responsibilities of each staff member,
ensuring that a positive degree of discipline is maintained, and that a
healthy relationship exists at all times between SOS CV staff
and children.
6. Develops good relations with sponsors and the community
- Assists in public relations activities from time to time, as directed by the National Director, to further the ideals and reputation of SOS CV.
- Provides a link with schools, Community groups, churches, civic associations, service groups and other community-based bodies and organisations.
- Maintains good relationships with local and international sponsors through ensuring prompt correspondence and providing regular updates on child progress.
7. Data Protection and Records Management
- Check completed work for accuracy; maintain logbooks or records of activities and tasks undertaken on/in the databases.
- Respond to requests for information and access relevant files while ensuring compliance with data integrity and security policies
- Ensure that data on all program participants is accurate and up to date as per the set
standards/frequency of updating and review (every 3 Months) - Coordinate regular/periodic and any requested data entry activities by the designated data entry
personnel. - At all times ensures that personal data of donors, sponsors, SOS CV beneficiaries and their families as well as SOS co-workers is handled confidentially and in accordance with prevailing SOS-Kinderdorf International data protection laws.
Formal qualifications & Experience Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant social sciences
- At least 5 years progressive experience working with vulnerable populations [children, youth,
women] and community groups. - Previous experience in child -focused organizations working with children on care, protection and
advocacy will be an added advantage. - High standards of conduct and ethics as well as integrity, appropriate judgment, independence and confidentiality.
- Excellent communications and presentation skills.
- Personal organization and planning skills; ability to organize and prioritize
- Capable of a rigorous analytical approach and result oriented.
- Ability to place details in a wider context;
- Flexible, resilient and able to manage stress at the work place
- Any other Duties
Perform any other reasonable task as assigned by the immediate supervisor from time to time.
The Alternative Care Coordinator is always guided by the SOS Children’s Village Manual in defining his
activities and performing his duties.
Child Protection Policy
At all times, avoid actions or behaviour that could be construed as poor or potentially abusive practice. Whatever decisions and actions taken should be with the best interest of the child in mind.
Data Protection Policy
At all times ensure that personal data of donors, sponsors, SOS Children’s Villages Kenya beneficiaries and their families as well as co-workers is handled confidentially and in accordance with prevailing SOS-Kinderdorf International data protection laws.
How to Apply
If you believe your experience, competencies and qualifications match the job and role specifications
described; send your application & updated CV (with details of at least 3 traceable referees one of
which must be immediate former employer) to recruitment@soskenya.org addressed to the Human
Resources Manager to reach us on or before 12th April 2023.
SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya holds strict child safeguarding principles and a zero-tolerance policy
for conducts of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse in the workplace, code of conduct and other
places where the organization’s activities are rendered.
Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring decisions will give due emphasize to assessing candidates value congruence and thorough background checks, police clearance reference check processes.
SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya is an equal opportunity employer and its Recruitment Policy addresses itself to the core values of best practice, diversity and equality.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.