About the Role

Changing Stars Malawi is seeking a passionate, committed, and compassionate individual to join its team as a Community Welfare Officer. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting vulnerable children, families, and communities through sponsorship, education, welfare, safeguarding, and community development programmes.

Working Hours

40 hours per week, with flexibility required based on community and programme needs.

Contract Type

3 months’ probation, followed by a renewable 12-month contract based on performance and funding availability.

Required Qualifications and Skills (Essential)

• Degree in Social Work, Community Development, Education, Psychology, or a related field.
• Competent computer skills, including:
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Google Drive
• Fluency in both Chichewa and English.

Preferred Experience (Not Essential)

• Experience in educational or teaching roles for any age group.
• Experience in project initiation, management, and impact reporting.
• First Aid training.
• Valid driving licence.

Duties and Responsibilities

Sponsorship Programme Responsibilities

• Monitor the wellbeing, attendance, and progress of CSM-sponsored students.
• Assess sponsorship applications and conduct home visits to identify vulnerable children and families.
• Provide basic emotional support and refer complex cases appropriately.
• Support reintegration and transition of students within the education system.

Community Hub Responsibilities

• Support activities and operations at the Community Hub where required.
• Use the Hub environment to identify and support children who may require additional welfare support.
• Report significant concerns, safeguarding issues, and programme successes to the CSM Senior Leadership Team.

School and Education Support

• Work with school staff to monitor attendance, behaviour, wellbeing, and safeguarding concerns.
• Investigate repeated absenteeism and support children at risk of dropping out.
• Liaise with teachers and families to identify children requiring additional support.
• Monitor attendance and academic reports of sponsored university students.

Family and Community Support

• Deliver parenting and wellbeing workshops within the community.
• Support vulnerable families and mediate issues affecting children’s welfare or education.
• Identify families requiring emergency or specialist support and refer concerns appropriately.
• Build referral links with local support services where needed.

Monitoring, Reporting and Impact

• Maintain accurate case records and monthly welfare reports.
• Support safeguarding monitoring, data collection, and impact tracking.
• Collect case studies and impact stories with appropriate consent.
• Assist in developing vulnerability assessment and sponsorship monitoring systems.

Volunteer and Staff Support

• Support safeguarding and cultural orientation for volunteers and visitors.
• Act as a safeguarding focal person within programmes where required.
• Assist with staff wellbeing and conflict resolution when necessary.

Safeguarding

Changing Stars Malawi is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Successful candidates will be subject to reference and safeguarding checks.

The successful candidate must demonstrate high levels of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to child safeguarding.

• Monitor the wellbeing, attendance, and progress of CSM-sponsored students.
• Assess sponsorship applications and conduct home visits to identify vulnerable children and families.
• Provide basic emotional support and refer complex cases appropriately.
• Support reintegration and transition of students within the education system.
• Support activities and operations at the Community Hub where required.
• Use the Hub environment to identify and support children who may require additional welfare support.
• Report significant concerns, safeguarding issues, and programme successes to the CSM Senior Leadership Team.
• Work with school staff to monitor attendance, behaviour, wellbeing, and safeguarding concerns.
• Investigate repeated absenteeism and support children at risk of dropping out.
• Liaise with teachers and families to identify children requiring additional support.
• Monitor attendance and academic reports of sponsored university students.
• Deliver parenting and wellbeing workshops within the community.
• Support vulnerable families and mediate issues affecting children’s welfare or education.
• Identify families requiring emergency or specialist support and refer concerns appropriately.
• Build referral links with local support services where needed.
• Maintain accurate case records and monthly welfare reports.
• Support safeguarding monitoring, data collection, and impact tracking.
• Collect case studies and impact stories with appropriate consent.
• Assist in developing vulnerability assessment and sponsorship monitoring systems.
• Support safeguarding and cultural orientation for volunteers and visitors.
• Act as a safeguarding focal person within programmes where required.
• Assist with staff wellbeing and conflict resolution when necessary.

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Google Drive
• Chichewa
• English

• Degree in Social Work, Community Development, Education, Psychology, or a related field.
• Competent computer skills
• Fluency in both Chichewa and English.