National Ombuds Sri Lanka

National Ombuds – Sri Lanka

Limited Consultancy Contract

About us:

The Ombuds Office for SOS Children’s Villages is an independent office supporting children and young people in situations that have not been successfully resolved by SOS Children’s Villages safeguarding processes.

An Ombuds is a trustworthy person who can listen, support, and guide children and young people. There are national, regional, and global Ombuds.

Each Ombuds follows the four principles: Confidentiality, Impartiality, Independence and Informality. They work independently of SOS Children’s Villages as a check and balance to safeguarding with the goal of finding a solution to the concern raised.

SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka, a member organisation of SOS-Kinderdorf International, provides total care to children who have lost their parents as well as children who are at risk of losing the care of their biological family. The organisation has well-established Projects in Piliyandala, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Anuradhapura, Monaragala, Jaffna, Gandara, Peraliya, Malpotha, Mallavi & Kayankerny.

About the role:

Sri Lanka - Piliyandala

Consultancy Contract: 12 months

In order to further their mission, SOS Children’s Villages has decided to implement an Ombuds Office.

The National Ombuds – Sri Lanka as designated neutral professionals, will build awareness, promote prevention, nurture child participation, and enable children and young people to be safe in all SOS CV programs and services.

She/He is a person of trust who has the skills and interest to work through their concerns and find a local solution by:

• Adhering to the principles of confidentiality, independence, informality and impartiality;
• Guiding a fair process through listening and supporting;
• Utilizing dispute resolution skills;
• Being a check and balance;
• Identifying trends and making recommendations to Sri Lanka SOS Children’s Villages and General Secretariat (GSC).

The National Ombuds will operate independently from SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka and will report to the Regional Ombuds.

Profile, skills and qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years demonstrated experience in one of the following fields: ombudsperson, mediation, child safeguarding, child protection, or child rights;
• Bachelor’s or higher degree in a relevant area such as child rights or child protection, child and youth studies, mediation, social work, child psychology, safeguarding or psychosocial wellbeing, law, or equivalent;
• Good level of knowledge of children’s rights or child protection/prevention and related issues - child safeguarding, child development and health, law, policies, regulations and International Standards related to children's care;
• Minimum 3 years demonstrated experience in working with children and youths;
• Experience in working in communities;
• Very good listener with good observational skills;
• Strong communication skills;
• Strong facilitation/training skills - Ability to develop and implement engaging trainings and ongoing support workshops for staff and children' representatives;
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with children and young people, to identify marginalized children and young people and connect with them and build trust;
• A problem solver, adviser and mediator capable of resolving young people’s and adults’ concerns effectively and in a timely manner;
• Understanding of the local context, including laws, policies, practices, language and social norms;
• Be gender and diverse sensitive and representative;
• Fluency in English and Sinhala or Tamil.
• Understand the foundations of the Ombuds’ work;
• You have the legal right to live and work in Sri Lanka as a consultant;
• Experience working in an NGO or international organization would be an asset.

We offer:

• A full time Consultancy Contract for one year with a possibility of renewing based on available funds.
• Training and development
• Support from the Regional Ombuds
• Satisfying and stimulating work
• On site working arrangements.
• The opportunity to work for an NGO that is a member of a recognized international network.