The position

The Safeguarding and Wellbeing Coordinator will be the point of reference on safeguarding and wellbeing for all Aga Khan schools and settings. S/he will build capacity in others and be a source of expertise as our schools and settings provide a safe, secure environment for learning. S/he will monitor, evaluate and report on safeguarding across all Aga Khan schools. S/he will be responsible for ensuring that the different aspects of safeguarding children are coordinated and systematically embedded into AKS organizational systems and processes.

Safeguarding

• Establish a common understanding of safeguarding, wellbeing and child protection (physical and digital) provision across AKS
• Support the implementation of the safeguarding and child protection policy and operating guidelines across all AK schools (and annual reviews of policies).
• Give technical advice and expertise on safeguarding and wellbeing and how to build capacity in the field (support also for safeguarding workshops with all country safeguarding leads)
• Design, conduct and/or source training on safeguarding as well as on-going refresher training for country safeguarding leads and other stakeholders as required.
• Ensure AK schools have an agreed set of mandatory school policies to enable safeguarding practices
• Coordinate with related AKDN agencies to ensure synergy and the best possible use of AKDN resources to support health and wellbeing
• Ensure a regular safeguarding evaluation is carried out by each country to identify, mitigate and monitor significant risks and develop a related safeguarding action plan.
• Analyze annual country safeguarding reports from each country to identify trends, potential issues, risks and provide recommendations.
• Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for country safeguarding leads, school safeguarding focal points and other school leaders and stakeholders.
• Coordinate with country safeguarding leads to ensure child protection files are kept up to date and all information is kept confidential and stored securely.
• Support country safeguarding leads to develop strategies for establishing or strengthening the means of disclosure to support early intervention.
• Update and maintain relevant digital documentation for all countries to access.
• Represent AKS in global safeguarding fora and AKDN-wide meetings as required.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

• Work with school counsellors to create, implement and sustain a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing
• Liaise with sister AKDN agencies, school counsellors and staff to develop a professional learning community across AKS designed to share best practice
• Create and maintain a comprehensive range of evidence-based resources to help children, students, staff and parents manage their own mental health.
• Work with school counsellors to develop, lead and oversee an effective early intervention and prevention strategy that identifies pupils exhibiting early signs of poor mental health or wellbeing, and provides them with access to timely support
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of interventions provided to individuals or groups of pupils or staff, to understand what is working and adapt the approach as needed, focusing on outcomes
• Encourage a culture of listening to children and students and taking account of their wishes and feelings, among all staff, and in any measures the school or setting may put in place to protect them
• Lead and facilitate any school improvement priorities related to mental health and wellbeing
• Monitor the implementation of mental health and wellbeing processes, including the referral process and adapt them as needed
• Analyse and report on mental health and wellbeing data and work with related school staff to draw up action plans where needed

The requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Business Administration, Psychology, Sociology or any other related field. Professional qualifications in the field of health care or counselling are valued but not essential
• Knowledge and practical experience of safeguarding and child protection.
• High level of drive and personal motivation, coupled with the presence required to interact effectively with senior personnel in country and across the AKS system and the wider AKDN.
• Excellent oral and written language proficiency in English
• Programme and project management
• Conducting research, synthesizing, and applying complex information effectively
• Data analysis and using schools’ performance data to inform decision-making
• High degree of professionalism, commitment and integrity.
• Cultural awareness, understanding and sensitivity.