Youth Care Co-Worker at SOS Children’s Villages

• Company: SOS Children’s Villages
• Location: Uganda
• State: UG
• Job type: Full-Time
• Job category: Education Jobs in Uganda

About US:

SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, locally registered, child-focused, social development nongovernmental organization with a strong reputation for providing quality care and protection, education and health needs for vulnerable children. Since its inception in 1991, SOS CV Uganda has reached over 60,000 children, youths and adults directly and indirectly to become empowered and self-reliant to contribute significantly to the needs of their families and communities. Works in partnership with a number of donors, (institutional and corporate agencies) including; Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Austrian Development Agency (ADA), Grieg Foundation, ERIKS Development Partner, USAID/Bantwana World Education, AVIS Foundation, Brand Charity, USAID/Uganda Private Health Support Program (UPHSP), Terre des Hommes (TDH), Stanbic Bank Uganda, DHL – Go Teach, Madhvani Group of Companies.

Job Summary: The Youth Care Co-Worker (YCCW) is responsible for guiding SOS Youth according to SOS CV policies and procedures towards independence, so that when they leave the care of SOS CV they are self-sufficient and contributing members of society. In achieving this, the YCCW should be seen as a role model, providing advice, guidance, support and a positive example to the youth in their development from adolescence to adulthood.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Acts as a Role Model for the Youth

• Behaves in an exemplary manner to the youth under his / her care.
• Lives close to or in the Youth facility / Village and is present during weekday evenings, weekends and holidays in order to develop close and meaningful relationships with the youths.
• Follows the rules and regulations of the youth facility and at all times acts in accordance with the SOS CV policies and procedures to ensure that the youth enjoy the best possible care.
• Participates with the youths and guides them as they perform their day-to-day chores and

Management and Administrative Duties

• Properly manages the paperwork and administration of the youth facility in collaboration with the Family-Like Care Manager
• Supports in budget preparation and administration.
• Ensures proper financial planning and accounts for all financial transactions of the implemented
• Acts professionally to maintain confidentiality of information in accordance with the SOS policies and procedures.
• Gathers and shares good practices and learning lessons in youth care.
• Ensures that recommendations based on the evaluation of the youth care programme are
• Plans and budgets for youth homes.
• Prepares budgets at the start of each year to support planned holiday activities.
• A Member of the Village Management Committee

Guide the Personal Development of the Youth

• Leads the Individual Development Plan (IDP) process for each individual youth and monitors their implementation.
• Monitors each youth individually to observe social, physical and other changes and takes the necessary steps to guide and advise them appropriately.
• Leads the transition process from the family house to the youth facility and to community resettlement.
• Creates a safe environment for the youths to live in and involve themselves in the day-to-day running of the home.
• Encourages youths living together to develop home rules to guide them to live harmoniously with
• Enables the youths to take responsibility for their own development and supports them to learn personal and practical skills necessary to live an independent life.
• Keeps informed of social issues which influence youths and shares such information with the youth on a regular basis to enable them grow and mature responsibly.
• Develops and implements weekend and holiday activity programmes for the youth including recreational and educational activities.

Educational and Career Guidance for Youths

• Motivates youths to play an active part both academically and socially in their respective schools /tertiary institutions.
• Develops a clear understanding of each youth’s skills, abilities, future prospects and aspirations and encourages them to identify use their strengths and weaknesses for personal development.
• Maintains close contact and links with the schools / tertiary institutions to follow up their progress.
• Seeks opportunities for apprenticeship or job placement amongst prospective employers.
• Provides Youth and village children with ongoing career guidance, job application, interview and
• Keeps up- to-date with available vocational training, educational and job opportunities, and promotes interest among the youth to take up such career / job prospects.

Promote Community Service and Integration

• Encourages youths to develop and maintain good relationships with the wider families and
• Works closely with SOS Mothers to encourage youths to gain understanding of their social, religious and cultural backgrounds.
• Encourages youths to have regular and on-going contact with their families of origin; facilitating specific opportunities for family visits.
• Identifies and promotes community service opportunities among the youth, handling the
• Administers the placement of youth in short or long-term programmes; maintaining close contact with them during such programmes.
• Encourages youth to take advantage of opportunities which integrate them with the surrounding community and exposes them to life outside SOS such as clubs
• Initiate programmes to support the holistic development of all youth especially during long holidays/ vacations.

Support to SOS Mothers and SOS Children’s Villages

• Ensures youth living in the Youth Home maintain close contact with their SOS mothers and families.
• Consults SOS mothers on major decisions affecting the youth’s future.
• Develops a close interaction between youth within the Village and those living in the youth home.
• Assists the Family-like Care Manager and SOS Mothers to identify teenagers for admission into the youth homes, ensuring that such youth have adequate preparations to move.
• Performs other reasonable duties as assigned by the Village Director. As needs and tasks may change, the Youth Care Co-worker shall need to remain flexible in outlook.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal applicant must hold a University degree – Social Sciences, Education, Child / Youth care, Psychology, social /community work.
• At least 3 – 5 years’ experience in child / youth quality care
• Work experience in education, social work or community development is desired.
• Work experience with adolescents is desired.
• Good knowledge of child, youth, family and community development
• Good knowledge of national child care legislation and child’s rights
• Strong and highly effective interpersonal, listening and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Demonstrates a high level of empathy/emotional intelligence particularly working with young people and adolescents
• Understanding and knowledge of subjects relating specifically to the care of adolescents (e.g. sexual health, HIV/Aids, relationships)
• Ability to work under pressure
• High level of personal responsibility and integrity
• Good knowledge and understanding of the local and national culture and background
• ICT skills including working knowledge of Microsoft tools
• Ability to present professionally and effectively both at individual and to large groups.

How to Apply