Case Manager, Europe

About KIND

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied and separated children who are forcibly displaced from their countries of origin. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety.

Building on its extensive programming and successful model in the United States, KIND is expanding in the Americas and Europe to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children. Our work focuses on addressing the legal and mental health needs of this population; building strong partnerships and engaging in training and capacity strengthening with governments, NGOs, and the private sector; and advocating for systemic and pragmatic reforms to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children.

Position Summary

KIND is seeking a full time Case Manager, Europe who will be based in Poland to work with a growing team on a project within the region called Suzir’ya. The Case Manager, Europe will provide case management support to children and youth displaced from Ukraine who may be at risk and/or may be victims or victims of abuse, exploitation, trafficking and other violations of children’s rights lined to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Case Manager, Europe will be based within the offices of KIND’s local civil society partner the Rule of Law Institute Foundation in Lublin, Poland. The incumbent will report to the Senior Director, Psychosocial Services in a matrix management setting working closely with the KIND attorney in Poland and KIND’s Legal department and coordinating with the regional and Suzir’ya project team in Europe.

KIND’s approach leverages our expertise in child migration and culturally responsive legal and social services to protect children displaced by the conflict in Ukraine from trafficking, abuse and other serious harm whilst assisting them to access improved justice as well as access their rights.

Under this project, the case manager will provide child centered and trauma informed case management in the alongside a KIND Attorney who will provide legal assistance, leveraging KIND expertise in holistic trauma-informed case management in providing legal, social and psychological services to protect children while pursuing accountability efforts, access to justice and safeguarding. The case manager will also liaise with civil society organizations, as well as government actors, to protect a child’s best interests, strengthen the protections available to them and support access to justice and comprehensive solutions. They will do so by providing direct, trauma-informed, child-friendly legal assistance and support in a range of matters impacting displaced children. When children are supported to participate fully in their cases, they are better able to access justice and more likely to obtain comprehensive, secure and sustainable solutions that protect them.

The incumbent will also support the KIND Child Protection Specialist, Europe in developing and delivering multi-disciplinary interagency trainings for staff of the local civil society partner organization, and national stakeholders (law enforcement, child protection, legal, social, prosecutorial, interpreters and medical) on protection of children and on child friendly multi-agency modalities.

The incumbent will also contribute to broader systems strengthening activities that the team in Poland will undertake to further the objectives of the project, including adapting information and resources produced at a regional level for the Polish context.

This position will be based from KIND’s office space in Lublin, Poland where we are hosted by our local civil society partner, the Rule of Law Institute Foundation, with frequent national travel.

The candidate must possess legal authorization to work in the country of residence.

This role is full-time, but we will consider candidates who are available part-time.

Travel required within Europe and specifically Slovakia, Czechia, and Romania.

Essential Functions

• Under the overall supervision of the Senior Director, Psychosocial Services, and working side by side with the KIND attorney, in coordination with KIND’s Legal department, and Suzir’ya project team:
• Screen, identify and connect with cases of children and youth from Ukraine through outreach and referrals.
• Follows the guidance developed under the project and conducts risk assessments and assesses initial legal, social and medical needs, responds to these needs by referring to appropriate services regarding psychological/medical, accommodation and other needs if/when appropriate and with the necessary consents.
• Conducts initial intake interviews with children and youth, their caregivers, relatives or legal guardians, and with case managers of other organizations (in case of incoming referrals), lawyers, interpreters and psychologists as appropriate.
• Leads the management of a case responding to the legal and social needs of children and youth to ensure they are accessing child friendly information, assistance and wider rights and protection with a view to also enable children and youth from Ukraine to be better prepared to participate in their legal case. Accompanies and assists children, their caregivers, and relatives as applicable in all contacts with institutions such as immigration police, child protection, school, job, medical, psychological and humanitarian assistance.
• Follows the initial intake, engaging interpreters, psychologists, law enforcement and the prosecutorial authority to support children through all logistical aspects linked to hearing/evidentiary interviews of child witnesses by investigating authorities to take place in child friendly manner, including taking all practical arrangements related to supporting child-friendly engagement in the process.
• Records all relevant case information for safeguarding, and case management, in line with the case management needs, while using the KIND Legal Case Management Database and any other tools provided by KIND.
• Writes case summaries, records, and inputs all data for analysis using all applicable technological tools, provides follow up and reports on case management regularly to the Senior Director, Psychosocial Services and the Project team
• Together with the KIND Attorney, provides regular follow-up on cases to Senior Director, Psychosocial Services and the Project team.
• When applicable, conducts case-review with partner organizations
• Liaises with partner organizations and partner lawyers on data collection, sharing, data protection and/or monitoring of cases
• Documentation, Analysis and Reporting: maintaining accurate and up-to-date documentation, identification, referral, analysis, reports such as case files, progress reports, and statistical data, in addition to, reporting to stakeholders and/or funders/donors.
• Training and Professional Development: Attends training, professional development, and staying abreast of developments in the field of child protection.
• Cultural Competency and Sensitivity: Include expectations for cultural competency, sensitivity, and awareness of the diverse backgrounds and experiences of children and families, especially considering the context of working with displaced populations.
• Supports the Project team to carry out capacity building and systems strengthening activities within Poland linked to the aims of the project.
• Maps services for areas where new partnerships need to be established.
• Any other relevant tasks.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, forensic interviewing, sociology or anthropology, or any other inter-disciplinary field of behavioral science, a master’s degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 3 years case management or similar experience preferably working with children and/or families in a trauma-informed context. Experience working with migrant children is a strong asset.
• Spoken and written fluency in Polish and English. Ukrainian and Russian are strong assets.
• Strong analytical thinking. Proficiency with the use of technologies and online tools is a strong asset.
• A strong record of cultural competence, cross-cultural communication skills, and cross-sectoral relationship development. Passion for KIND’s mission of supporting unaccompanied and separated migrant and refugee children, and an ability to communicate this to others.
• Soft skills in establishing trust and connecting with clients on a human level are essential.
• Proven knowledge of application of trauma-informed principles in working with children who are witnesses and victims of crime and severe human rights violations is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze information, think out of the box and learn new technologies is essential.
• Strong communication skills, open mindedness, discreteness, and cultural sensitivity
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively within and across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage time and cases effectively.
• Competency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), ability to quickly learn new databases and new technologies.
• Experience working in the region, and familiarity with service providers, procedures and processes is an asset.
• Ability to travel nationally and within the region.
• Ability to work collaboratively and multi-task in our KIND environment, managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment; ability to prioritize tasks and delegate as appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication styles.
• Commitment to prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as well as embracing transparency and authenticity in daily work life.
• Be disciplined and nimble to ensure delivery on our core mission of access to justice and protection of children’s wellbeing and rights.
• Ability to multitask and work with a sense of urgency in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
• Experience working and communicating in a remote environment.

Salary Range: €39,200 – €49,000 a year