Senior Protection Office

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 Ukraine crisis and 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).

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 Senior Protection Officer will provide direction, leadership, and overall technical and management support to the protection program in Ukraine. Specifically, the responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

· Ensure all protection programming is needs-based, context-appropriate, collaborative, and inclusive.

· Work to mainstream protection across all HelpAge Ukraine’s programming including home-based care, distribution of hygiene kits, assistive devices, access to health/medicine, cash assistance, winterisation, etc.

· Represent HelpAge International in protection, MHPSS, and/or GBV cluster meetings at oblast levels to ensure that vulnerable older people and those with disabilities’ situation and needs are raised and properly addressed.

· Give support to ADTWG Coordinator for ADTWG related tasks.

· Oversee referral mapping and mechanism, ensuring referrals are timely, confidential, and followed through on.

· Coordinate closely with Programme Lead and MHPSS & Protection Advisor on implementation and protection concerns/issues related to vulnerable older people and persons with disabilities.

· Facilitate capacity building training to colleagues on protection, inclusion, MHPSS, case management, and/or referrals.

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

· Line manage and develop other protection staff as assigned.

· Oversee home-based care programming, and ensure group supervision / case reviews are regularly occurring with team to ensure quality support, safeguarding, and accountability; and provide support on difficult/urgent cases as needed.

· Provide psychological first aid training and assistance as needed and support the wellbeing of your direct report(s).

· Oversee protection risk analysis and protection assessments.

· Coordinate cash for protection programming, including relevant training for colleagues.

· Develop and manage protection work plan with guidance and input from Programme Lead and ensure the effective implementation of protection support for older people in line with HelpAge guidelines and policies.

· Undertake any other duties assigned by line manager.

Your experience:

Essential

· Experience working in emergency settings and with vulnerable populations

· Ability to develop and manage complex, fast-paced projects

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

· Knowledge of conducting needs assessments and coordinating needs-based programming

· Knowledge and understanding of protection needs in emergency contexts, especially related to older people with and without disabilities

· Proven ability to learn quickly and open to feedback

· Experience of community mobilization

· 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

· Experience managing people and protection programming

· Experience in training and capacity building

· Solid understanding of referral processes within Ukraine

Desirable

· University degree in social sciences, mental health related field, human rights, law, political science or development studies; master's degree preferred

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

· Experience working in case management

· Experience of working with local partners

· Experience of working with humanitarian INGOs/NGOs and 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