Welfare Officer I- Dept. of Children (DoC) (Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation)

The primary purpose of the position is to deal with and implement child protection at district/divisional level through the practice of professional social work. Conduct field work assessment, case work and case management approaches with the general objective of identifying and working with the disadvantaged families and communities and facilitating moves towards sustainability and self-sufficiency. To allocate tasks and cases, monitor frontline services to ensure frontline client needs are attended to effectively and efficiently in a timely manner.

Key Responsibilities

The position will achieve its purpose through the following:

1. Compile monthly progress on program performance according to district/divisional targets. 

2. Provide supervision for front line welfare officers in provision of customer service and case management for child welfare cases. 

3. Attend and report assessments on cases referred to the department, attend to Court duties, Court reports on Child Welfare, Adoption, presenting pre-sentence reports to Court and supervision of offenders placed on Community Based Corrections Order and other court reports. 

4. Act as a field officer to interact with communities and stakeholders in ensuring that department outputs are met. 

5. Timely preparation of relevant documents and applying for care orders for children who have been identified as children at risk and for their care and protection immediate placement into the Director’s care is crucial to the child’s safety. 

6. Championing child protection in the workplace, in liaising with the stakeholders and in the execution of duties , and travel to other districts/ divisions to carry out duties as and when required and also conduct awareness at divisional and also assist district officers with awareness programs. 

7. Accompany senior staffs on official visits within the districts in an advisory capacity, attend Court for Juvenile cases and compile Court reports that are assigned by the Senior Welfare Officer. 

8. Actively participate in Ministerial and Government programs. 

Knowledge & Experience

1. Demonstrated broad understanding of social work and community development, theoretical and skills framework with at least 3 years field experience in this particular field in any other organization.
2. Demonstrated broad understanding of poverty.
3. Demonstrated understanding of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Convention on the Rights of Child, and The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
4. Must demonstrate intellectual capacity, planning skills, drive, determination and flair in the existing grade.

Skills & Abilities

1. Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and precisely (English and Vernacular) with good customer service skills
2. Demonstrated ability to identify for exit programs with good networking skills with relevant stakeholders.
3. Innovative, team player and ability to adapt to service environment.
4. Demonstrate ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
5. Good organizational and leadership skills.
6. Demonstrated capacity to Computer programs to support this role.

Additional Information

Applicants for employment must be Fijian Citizens, under Age 60, in sound health, with a clear police record.

The Ministry is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Applications are encouraged from all eligible, qualified applicants. All applicants must address the specific knowledge, experience, skills and abilities required for the job, as this criteria will be considered in assessing the relative suitability of applicants

Contact Information

For more details, please contact HR Unit on 3315585, (Ext.391160) or email to mwcpa.hrunit@govnet.gov.fj or mwcpahrunit@gmail.com