Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Officer

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 

Level 3:  the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

To support and manage the IYCF-E Counsellors in the IYCF-E program and assisting the Nutrition Coordinator on a day-to-day basis.

To ensure that the all components of the program are functioning properly, providing quality care to all beneficiaries while respecting guidelines and principles of good practice e.g. the Operational Guidance on IYCF-E, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant resolutions, and SPHERE manual.

Staff reporting to this post: IYCF-E Counsellor 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programme Support:

• Manage Mother Baby Space (MBS) site activities and staff (such as IYCF-E activities BMS programming, nurturing care activities).

• Provide IYCF-E technical support to staff (IYCF-E counsellors).

• Ensure that all staff understand and implement program guidelines when assessing the mother-child pair, and advise the best feeding options and follow-up as appropriate.

• Ensure appropriate and consistent education messaging to mothers and other caregivers (Nutrition cluster messages)

• Facilitate the development and scheduling of outreach activities (e.g. for IYCF-E Counsellors, volunteers)

• Develop monthly work plans for the MBSs with the IYCF-E Counsellors and appropriate staff.

• Compile monthly activity reports and assist with stock consumption/distribution plans for outreach and each MBS as required.

• Facilitate cross-sectoral programming, particularly to promote excellent communication and referral between IYCF-E Health, FSL and CP programming.

• Ensure the monitoring, evaluation and accountability of each of the program's activities in the MBS

Training and Capacity Building:

• Conduct evaluation and appraisal of staff as required.

• Conduct orientations and trainings to build the capacity of staff/volunteers and the community at large.

Advocacy and Communication:

• Documenting relevant success stories and case studies with the respective documents for publication

General:

•  Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

COMPETENCIES FOR THIS ROLE:

1. Delivering Results

Takes personal responsibility and holds others accountable for delivering our ambitious goals for children, continually improving their own performance or that of the team/ organisation.

Level required: Accomplished

1. Problem Solving and Decision Making

Takes effective, considered and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organisation.

Level required: Accomplished

1. Working Effectively with Others

Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives; knows when to lead and when to follow and how to ensure effective cross-boundary working.

Level required: Accomplished

1. Communicating with Impact

Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust.

Level Required: Accomplished/Leading Edge

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Demonstrable commitment to promoting and supporting optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding;
• Demonstrable management experience.
• Experience of implementation programs (ideally nutrition related), including monitoring and evaluation.
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff.
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions.
• Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment.
• Demonstrable ability at report writing and excellent communication skills
• Computer literate.

Desirable

• Qualified doctor, nurse or midwife with primary health care/community health care experience;
• Emergency health or nutrition programming experience
• BMS programming experience
• Familiarity with the Operational Guidance on IYCF-E and SPHERE standards
• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts