Protection Officer - Protection Case Management

About the role

The Protection Officer delivers protection case management countrywide for individuals experiencing or at heightened risk of violence, coercion or deliberate deprivation. The role coordinates referrals and individual protection assistance to reduce identified risks, while supporting safe practice among assigned community mobilizers and information disseminators. It complements, but does not replace, specialised GBV or child-protection case management, clinical care or legal representation.

Key responsibilities

• Individual case management: identify and assess eligible individuals, explain services and confidentiality, obtain informed consent, and develop an agreed case and safety plan.
• Provide counselling, practical assistance, referrals and follow-up, regularly review case progress, keep confidential records and escalate urgent or complex cases to the supervisor.
• Risk monitoring and referrals: maintain service mapping and referral contacts, check accessibility and consent, and document how individual protection assistance (including cash where approved) addresses the risk.
• Prepare assistance requests against approved criteria and budgets, coordinate safe delivery, track receipt discreetly and close cases against agreed criteria.
• Quality and accountability: coach community mobilizers and assistants, review case quality, raise workload and safety concerns with the Team Leader, keep case files separate from monitoring data, report anonymised trends and follow safeguarding procedures.
• Professional standards: do not investigate allegations, promise assistance before approval or approve your own requests; keep assessment, approval and payment separate under DRC procedures, and follow safeguarding, PSEA, confidentiality and Code of Conduct requirements.

Required profile

• Degree in social work, psychology, social sciences or a related field; a relevant diploma with substantial directly relevant experience may be considered subject to HR approval.
• At least two years of relevant humanitarian protection experience, including individual case management or supervised casework.
• Experience supporting people with diverse ages, genders and disabilities in displacement or conflict-affected settings.
• Ability to coach assistants, maintain clear records, coordinate services and recognise situations needing specialist support.
• Willingness to travel to remote locations under approved security arrangements.

Required skills

• Practical knowledge of informed consent, risk assessment, action planning, confidentiality, safe referrals and case closure.
• Competence in Microsoft Word, Excel and email.
• Advantageous: experience supporting people with diverse ages, genders and disabilities, and experience with individual protection assistance or cash-for-protection.