Education Social Scientist at Danish Refugee Council

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 8,000 employees and also 8,000 volunteers, while managing a turnover of over 400 million Euro. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization. The Danish Refugee Council is Denmark’s largest humanitarian NGO and has been ranked the 3rd best NGO in the world in 2018 (for the six consecutive years, the organization is among the top five of the NGO Advisor Annual List).

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background

The Danish Refugee Council initiated its activities in the island of Lesvos in November 2015 due to the unprecedented influx of asylum seekers. Following new political developments and displacement dynamics in early 2016, DRC expanded its activities to the mainland to support the people living in several sites across the country. With offices in Athens, Larissa and Thessaloniki, it currently implements a wide range of activities, including Site Management Support, legal assistance, identification of individual needs and protection of highly vulnerable persons, access to services within and outside the hosting sites through cultural mediation, and non-formal education. DRC works closely with the refugee communities, the Greek authorities and other humanitarian actors to ensure a protective environment for refugees and asylum seekers in Greece.

Purpose

DRC Greece is looking to recruit a qualified, flexible,and enthusiastic professional to work for its non-formal education programme in Attica, Central & Northern Greece as an Education Social Scientist. Under the supervision of the respective Line Manager and with the technical guidance from the Education Coordinator and the Protection Manager, the Education Social Scientist will support the daily operations of activities in the Homework and Creative Activities Centers (HCAC) in open accommodation sites and in the Urban Homework and Creative Activities Center (HCAC) in Attica, Central & Northern Greece, where DRC implements non-formal Education activities. They will support children’s access to formal education, promote parents’ engagement, monitor child protection cases within the non-formal education activities and support children and their families, ensuring the application of child safeguarding, gender and protection mainstreaming.

Responsibilities:

• Organize and facilitate frequent parent meetings to promote parent’s engagement in children’s education and identify challenges regarding children’s access to education.

• In coordination with the members of the NFE team, conduct one to one meetings with parents/guardians to provide psychosocial support to families and resolve educational problems arising during formal and non-formal education activities.

• Monitor access to formal education for school-age children (4 to 15) and youth (16-18) that participate in DRC NFE activities in Attica, Central & Northern Greece.

• Support the identification of out of school children (OOSCs) and liaise with public schools and local authorities to ensure children’s enrolment and attendance to formal education.

• Organize targeted educational activities within the NFE team, to promote psychosocial wellbeing and support children and families at risk to access quality services through referrals to DRC program activities and other actors.

• Support the facilitation of intercultural education activities and workshops for refugee children and youth provided by DRC NFE teams.

• Support the development of educational material, ensuring quality and consistency to protection values (protection mainstreaming).

• Support child protection cases among NFE students and follow-up, when necessary, in coordination with the Child Protection agency and in line with the referral pathways.

• Ensure children at risk receive individual support through safe and dignified referrals to specialized DRC and external services and follow-up to confirm access to services.

• Develop and maintain updated educational service mapping for services available to children and youth on site and in the urban context.

• Ensure preparation of required project and work plans, in coordination with the respective Line Manager and the Urban and/or Education Integration Manager.

• In collaboration with DRC Protection team, support the facilitation of group activities: provision of information sessions, recreational and other community activities in Children Safe spaces

• Adhere to DRC’s Code of Conduct and help to create and maintain an environment that prevents child safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of DRC’s child Safeguarding Policy

Reporting and Education Information Management:

• Ensure that relevant project data and Means of Verification (e.g., participant lists, Parental Group Discussion minutes) are accurately collected and comply with internal reporting systems

• Contribute to education needs assessments and support results-based planning

• Contribute to the preparation of timely and high-quality progress reports

Programme Development:

• Attend and participate in assigned meetings, activities, and trainings.

• Attend NFE meetings and support the development of the NFE programming from a psychosocial perspective.

• Contribute to continual improvements in DRC programming and ways of working, through identification and communication of challenges, gaps, recommendations for improvements and lessons learnt.

• In collaboration with the Education Team Leader/Urban Manager/Senior Teacher and the Education Coordinator, contribute to the development and design of DRC’s education program and activities.

Accountability:

• In day-to-day tasks ensure relevant accountability to internal DRC and Donor policies

• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Education Team Leader and/or Urban Manager / Education Integration Manager relevant to the achievement of NFE objectives.

• Any other tasks assigned by the line manager in line with overall response in the area of deployment.

Qualifications:

• University degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Psychology, Refugee and Migration studies.

• Training or courses in child protection/safeguarding and NFE will be considered an asset

• English (advanced verbal and written skills) (required)

• Greek (advanced verbal and written skills) (required)

Experience and technical competencies:

• Academic qualification in Social Sciences, Social Work, Psychology or other related field.

• At least 2 years working experience as a Social Scientist for vulnerable individuals residing in formal and informal settings (including open accommodation sites).

• Work experience in education settings will be considered an asset.

• Work experience with vulnerable children or youth will be considered an asset.

• Experience of community-based or community mobilization work in a humanitarian context is highly regarded.

• Strong computer skills.

• High professional ethics.

• Working knowledge of Greek and English is required.

Required Skills and Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
• Striving for excellence
• Collaboration
• Taking the lead
• Communication
• Demonstrating Integrity
• Strong team spirit and ability to work both on own initiative and as a part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team
• Flexible, enthusiastic, and willing to learn from others
• Multi-tasking and organizational skills are must, and a good sense of humor

Terms & Conditions

• The contract will be under the Greek Labor Law (this is a national position)
• All allowances will be provided to the employees (Christmas, Easter, Vacation bonus)
• DRC provides training opportunities to develop and strengthen the quality of its services as well as its staff members’ professional and personal development.
• The positions will be based in Attica, Central and Northern (Greece) and national terms and conditions apply