Protection Officer

HelpAge and Strategy 2030 – delivering real impact for older people

HelpAge International works with partners and a diverse global network of more than 150 organizations across 85 countries, supporting millions of older people to live safe, dignified and healthy lives. Through our partnership and collaborations, we work to ensure the inclusion of older people across society and strive to deliver a just and fair world for everyone, whatever their age. Our work is driven by our desire to deliver real impact for older people, to be inclusive, to work in partnership and to learn from our shared experience. 

HelpAge International (HAI) has been working in Ukraine since 2014 with a total workforce of 700+ people. As one of the few INGOs with an operational presence in Ukraine, we were able to respond quickly to the current crisis scaled up our support in the Central and Western Regions of Ukraine. Our support includes cash assistance to the most at risk older people, food distribution, distribution of non-food items (I.e., health and dignity kits), protection, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programming. 

HelpAge, in line with the humanitarian system, places protection at the core of its work. By doing this, we acknowledge that older people, including those with disabilities, are endowed with rights, which, if fulfilled, can prevent health, MHPSS, shelter, WASH or livelihood issues from occurring. The rights-based approach advocates for service providers to understand the strengths and capabilities of older people, including those with disabilities. We are guided by protection mainstreaming throughout HelpAge’s humanitarian programming, including:  

• Prioritising safety and dignity and avoid causing harm  

• Meaningful Access – in proportion to need and without any barriers  

• Accountability to the people we work with  

• Participation and Empowerment of older people with and without disabilities  

The Protection Officer will support implementation of HAI protection activities and support for conflict-affected older people in Ukraine, including providing home-based care for bed/home-bound older people, setting up community safe spaces and supporting activities for and with older people, supporting cash for protection program, referrals to other service providers, etc. Specifically, the responsibilities include (but are not limited to): 

• Represent HelpAge International in protection, MHPSS, and/or GBV cluster meetings at oblast levels and other relevant working groups to ensure that vulnerable older people’s needs are raised and properly addressed and activities are planned that increase their participation, protection, and wellbeing 

• Under the supervision of Senior Protection Officer and in coordination with the Programme Lead, carry out the implementation plan and report on protection concerns related to vulnerable older people 

• Work closely with HelpAge colleagues (e.g., Social Care Workers and Project Coordinators/Project Officers) to ensure that protection needs of older people with and without disabilities are addressed and support internal & external referrals 

• Ensure that HelpAge’s referral process is followed and work to strengthen referral pathways and efficiencies, including updating service mapping periodically, to ensure older people receive timely, dignified, and safe support that meets their needs  

• Establish and maintain relationships with identified service providers and local partners/authorities  

• Report any protection issues/risks to the Programme Lead, and/or M&E Officer for inclusion in monitoring reports and collaborate with MHPSS & Protection Advisor on how to address these issues/risks  

• Ensure quality of protection programming including home-based care by participating in group supervision / case reviews with team to ensure quality support, safeguarding, and accountability 

• Receive training from HelpAge in psychological first aid and basic psychosocial support skills to be able to train colleagues and utilize these skills to better support older people as needed 

• Facilitate training and capacity building around protection & MHPSS related topics for colleagues 

• Support Senior Protection Officer to conduct protection risk analysis and assessments  

• Work closely with Monitoring & Evaluation team to provide support with implementing complaints, feedback & response mechanism (CFRM) and ensure that activities are fully documented, including regular and systematic collection of data for use in M&E activities  

• Monitor and report regularly on the situation or trends concerning the protection of the most at risk older people (respecting data protection guidelines and confidentiality) 

• Engage with older people to understand their protection risks, specific needs and capacities and ensure their participation in planning and decision making  

• Conduct protection assessments with support from MHPSS & Protection Advisor  

• Filling out 5W for Protection Cluster on projects implemented in the region on a regular basis with support from M&E team  

• Demonstrate and promote the values of HAI 

• Undertake any other duties assigned by line manager  

Critical interfaces: 

• Protection Officers in other oblasts 

• Project Coordinators/Officers 

• Social Care Workers  

• MHPSS & Protection Advisor  

• MEAL team  

Your experience: 

Essential 

• Experience working in emergency settings and with vulnerable populations 

• Ability to support complex, fast-paced projects  

• Resourceful and able to work independently and as part of a team  

• Knowledge and understanding of protection issues in emergency contexts, and the willingness and ability to develop a deeper understanding of these issues 

• Proven ability to learn quickly and open to feedback 

• Computer skills, word processing, data management, including internet and various office applications 

• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish effective working relationships both within and outside the organization 

• Readiness to travel and work in remote field sites 

• Strong empathy, communication, and listening skills  

Desirable 

• University degree in social sciences, mental health related field, human rights, law, development studies or related field 

• Experience or knowledge of ageing, disability and the issues facing older people and other vulnerable groups 

• Experience of working with local partners 

• Experience in training and capacity building  

• Experience of working with humanitarian INGOs/NGOs and/or UN agencies 

• Knowledge and understanding of the humanitarian coordination system, humanitarian principles, the Sphere Standards and humanitarian accountability frameworks 

• Experience in community-based protection and/or MHPSS  

• Fluency in Ukrainian and English  

At HelpAge International, we believe in the importance of empowering our people to be change makers and leaders at all levels. We expect our people to embrace and live our values, challenging themselves every day to identify issues that are most important to older persons and their communities, and to make an impact that matters. 

In addition, as an HelpAge employee you are expected to: 

• Work collaboratively, building mutual trust and respect, with external organizations and partners to achieve our strategic aims and objectives; being accountable for the work you do together 

• Adapt to new directions or opportunities arising within the organization and in your work area; being flexible in your role, constantly using the feedback to learn more and evolve further. 

• Lead behavioral and cultural change through embracing a supportive, collaborative and highly inclusive environment where everybody feels supported, respected and engaged 

• Extend HelpAge’s reach and impact, by creating and identifying new business development opportunities and building relationships with new partners. 

• Lead and promote a culture of including the voices of older people across our support, convening and thought leadership roles, in a way that is transformative, empowering and highly inclusive of those marginalized by gender, economic status, disability and other factors of discrimination. 

Safeguarding 

HelpAge International is committed to safeguarding the communities with which we work, our partners, staff and any others who we come into contact with. 

Therefore, you will also be responsible for: 

• Preventing harm and abuse from our people, operations and programmes, to anyone that encounters our work; 

• Reporting all safeguarding incidents you see, hear, hear about or suspect, using our internal reporting mechanism; 

• Complying with all safeguarding framework policies and practices 

• Completing mandatory training courses relating to our safeguarding policy framework and complying with HR vetting procedures