اونروا |Social Worker

UNRWA Do you have the dedication, skills, knowledge and experience to help us improve the life of Palestine refugees? The United Nations Relief and Works Agency offers challenging opportunities for professionals interested working in a results-driven and diverse environment. If you are then we would like to hear from you. UNRWA is the United Nations agency responsible for the protection, care and human development of a population of some 4.6 million Palestine refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Syrian Arab Republic. The Agency is committed to assisting Palestine refugees in maintaining a decent standard of living, acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills, enjoying the fullest possible extent of human rights, and leading a long and healthy life. UNRWA is by far the largest UN operation in the Middle East with over 29,000 staff. Most of the staff members are refugees themselves, working directly to benefit their communities – as teachers, doctors, nurses or social workers.
Location: Gaza Field
Type of Appointment :Limited Duration / Fixed-term Contracts
Deadline for Application :5 January 2012
Vacancy Announcement Number :06-12-2011
Grade: LDC Band D – Fixed-term grade 10
Department/Division: Relief & Social Services



MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
In accordance with Agency policy and procedures, the ideal candidate:
-Prepares comprehensive case studies, needs assessments of refugees applying for special hardship assistance and makes appropriate recommendations in accordance with Relief Services Instructions (RSI); follows up on active cases and conducts periodic site re-investigations. Specifically:
-Provides ongoing case management requirements, including receiving clients at office, documentation, data entry/modifications, referrals, completing social study reports including rejected, approved, and closed cases;
-Conducts individual/family interviews to recommend interventions based on a designed specific intervention plan and to address the needs of Special Hardship Case (SHC) families using the generalist approach of social work; and closely monitors progress of targeted SHC families;
-Arranges for logistical support to SHC families in need of financial, medical, housing or transportation assistance, health education, social or other advocacy services essential to SHC families;
-Provides direct individual and short term emergency assistance to families in crises after conducting initial site assessment, making recommendations for proper interventions, and processing all related paperwork;
-Ensures timely delivery of approved cash and/or in-kind assistance to eligible families and follows up on the proper utilization of the assistance for its intended purpose;
-Identifies, evaluates and makes recommendations concerning families requesting shelter rehabilitation, based on set criteria for SHC families, and in exceptional circumstances, non-SHC families;
-Supervises and follows up on SHC ration distribution and ration cards; conducts home visits to those who failed to pick up their rations;
-Provides advice and consultation to SHC families and other refugees related to specific social and economic concerns and advises the appropriate specialized services in UNRWA or other agencies in coordination with the Community Development Social Workers, and follows up regularly on progress;
-Identifies persons with potential to establish micro enterprises or benefit from apprenticeship training and facilitate their involvement in such programmes in coordination with the Community Credit Assistants (CCAs); with the objective to alleviate poverty and enhance self-reliance of impoverished SHC families;
-Establishes and maintains working relationship, in his/her area/camp, with allied resources, public assistance agencies, employment and training institutes and social agencies, at the operational level, making use of their services for improving the SHC family/s socio-economic status;
-Participates, as requested, in workshops, meetings intended to improve professional knowledge and skills relevant to his/her field of work and transmits such acquired knowledge to other social workers; mentor newly recruited social worker;
-Implements, as directed, surveys and studies in the refugees community on SHC service level and quality;
-Performs such other duties as may be assigned.

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
-University degree in social work, sociology, psychology, guidance and counseling, social anthropology or any other related degree in social development or emergency and / or humanitarian relief aid.
-At least two years experience in a developmental social welfare programme applying the knowledge acquired in the foregoing disciplines in a governmental or non-governmental organizations.
-Command of spoken and written English and Arabic.
-Ability to work under pressure and challenging conditions;
-Ability to take initiative and maintain cordial relationship with all concerned;
-Ability to work effectively within a team as well as work independently without close supervision;
-Ability to conduct and coordinate training and participatory assessment.
-The incumbent of this post is required to travel in the field in the course of performing his/her duties. Must be willing and qualified to drive an Agency vehicle;
-The incumbent may be required to undertake professional in-service training as directed, with the field of assignment.
-It is desirable to posses an understanding of the refugee community and knowledge of the customs, habits, religions and traditions of various refugee groups; ability to mobilize community resources and potentials; and basic computer literacy.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE- FIXED TERM POST
-Basic Salary: Monthly basic salary $806.50; plus a currency adjustment factor (present rate 15%) and monthly dependency allowance up to $123.25.
-Contract Duration: Three years including 1 year probation period.
-Leave: 30 days annual leave
-Pension: Provident Fund contribution
-Other conditions of service and benefits may apply.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE- LDC POST
-Basic Salary: Monthly basic salary $806.50; plus a currency adjustment factor (present rate 15%).
-Contract Duration: One year.
-Other conditions of service and benefits may apply.
-A regular staff member can apply to the LDC post but will not be allowed to assume such post through secondment as he/she needs to leave his/her current post to accept LDC appointment.

EQUIVALENCY Candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant academic qualifications, professional training and progressive work experience may also be considered.
EQUIVALENCY Candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant academic qualifications, professional training and progressive work experience may also be considered. ASSESSMENT METHOD
Qualified candidates will be required to undergo tests and a competency based interview. To learn more about positive and negative indicators of professional behaviours within the UN competencies, you may review the UN Competency Development – A Practical Guide
GENERAL INFORMATION
UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for human rights, for diversity, and for non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs.

 
Where there are two or more equally qualified candidates, selection preference will normally be given to internal candidates, Palestine Refugees and candidates of the under-represented gender. An internal candidate with a temporary-indefinite or fixed-term appointment selected for this post will retain his/her current contractual status and entitlements in accordance with current letter of appointment and applicable Area Staff Rules. With their prior agreement, candidates who are approved as suitable for appointment but are not the selected candidate for this vacancy, will be placed on the Agency’s roster of pre-approved candidates for a period of up to one year, and may be considered for future vacancies in the same position.
The Agency maintains the discretion to fill future vacancies for this position from the roster without readvertising the vacancy.


HOW TO APPLY

If you have got the skills and experience required above, and want to make an active and lasting contribution to improving the lives of Palestine refugees, then register on http://jobs.unrwa.ps by creating a personal profile and completing the UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through this website will be considered. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Candidates may also be invited to take a technical exam in order further evaluate their qualifications for the post. Due to a high volume of applications received, only short-listed applicants will be contacted. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information on bank accounts