1. What should the job description of a professional social worker look like?
Tehri Hydro Electric Corporation Ltd.
JOB TITLE: Professional Social Worker JOB CODE: (e.g. 10001)
RECOMMENDED SALARY GRADE: X EXEMPT/NONEXEMPT STATUS:
Nonexempt
JOB FAMILY: Social Services EEOC:
DIVISION: Rehabilitation REPORTS TO: Project Manager
DEPARTMENT: Community Relations LOCATION: (Project Area)
DATE: 7 November, 2024
SUMMARY
This role supports the rehabilitation and resettlement of communities impacted by THDC’s
hydropower projects, serving as a bridge between displaced individuals and THDC.
Responsibilities include providing social, emotional, and logistical assistance to ensure a
smooth transition, while also collaborating with local authorities, NGOs, and other
stakeholders to ensure compliance with legal and humanitarian standards.
SCOPE AND IMPACT OF JOB
● Budget Management: Manages community support funds to effectively meet
displaced community needs.
● Community Liaison: Acts as the main point of contact between THDC and affected
communities to foster trust and address concerns.
● Reporting: Keeps records and provides updates to ensure alignment with THDC
standards and legal requirements.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Related Work Experience
● Minimum 2-3 years of experience in social work, community outreach, or
rehabilitation projects. Previous experience with displaced or vulnerable populations
is highly desirable
Education
● Bachelor’s or Masters’ degree in Social Sciences/Public Administration/Legal Studies
and Psychology
Skills
● Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Must have excellent communication
skills and the ability to engage empathetically with affected individuals and
communities.
● Organizational Skills: Capable of managing multiple tasks, maintaining records,
and coordinating with various stakeholders.
● Language skills: Familiarity with regional languages and cultural practices is
preferred.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Community Engagement (50%)
● Establish and maintain relationships with displaced individuals and community
leaders
● Conduct needs assessments to identify and address key areas of support for
displaced families
● Act as a mediator between THDC and the community, resolving concerns related to
relocation and compensation
Program Implementation (40%)
● Develop and execute rehabilitation plans that align with THDC’s goals and
humanitarian standards.
● Coordinate with government agencies and NGOs to ensure the provision of adequate
housing, livelihood programs, and other support services.
● Monitor the progress of relocation and resettlement initiatives, adjusting plans as
needed to address challenges.
Reporting and Compliance (10%)
● Maintain detailed records of interactions and interventions with displaced individuals
and families.
● Ensure that all activities comply with legal and regulatory guidelines for displacement
and resettlement projects.
● Prepare and submit regular reports to the Project Manager, summarizing
achievements, challenges, and progress toward goals.
Decision-Making Responsibilities for This Position:
● Decide on the best approach to manage community relations and build trust with
affected populations.
● Work with the Project Manager to allocate resources effectively to support
rehabilitation and resettlement goals.
Submitted by: [Name] Date: 7 November, 2024
Approval: Date:
Human Resources: Date:
Corporate Compensation: Date:
2. What are the ideal job specifications for the person in this position?
This role would require someone highly adaptable, with a deep commitment to social and
environmental justice, and the ability to balance the interests of THDC and the community
for mutual benefit.
Qualifications
Must have a graduate/master’s degree in Social Sciences/Public Administration/Legal
Studies and Psychology with coursework or experience in community development,
rehabilitation, or rural social work.
Experience
Minimum 2-3 years of relevant experience
Key Skills
● Community engagement
● Conflict resolution and Mediation
● Organizational
● Interpersonal & Communication
● Language
Responsibilities
● Act as the interface between THDC and the local communities
Emotional Characteristics
● Empathy and compassion
● Emotional resilience and stability
● Optimism and Motivational skills
3. How should we have gone about recruiting and screening for this position?
Ans: Since the job requires an employee to deal with locals for rehabilitation and
resettlement, understanding the local sentiments and nuances is pivotal. Hence, local
employees can play an important role.
Internal Recruiting:
● Employee Referrals: Encouraging current local employees to refer local, professional
social workers.
External Recruiting:
● Online Recruitment: Utilising online job boards (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed) and social
media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter)
● Traditional Advertising: Placing advertisements in local newspapers, magazines, and
other relevant media outlets
● Employment Agencies: Engaging with local employment agencies to source qualified
candidates
● Walk-in Interviews: Accepting walk-in applications to identify potential candidates.
Screening:
Initial screening can involve reviewing resumes and cover letters to assess qualifications.
Written tests can evaluate knowledge of social work principles and problem-solving skills.
Interviews can assess technical skills, interpersonal abilities, cultural fit, and motivation.
What selection tools, specifically, would you use? (Zareen)
Ans: A blend of a few selection tools should be used to employ professional social workers
for the purpose. Firstly, personality tests in this context are relevant and necessary since the
employees have to be sociable in their dealings with the local community and must exhibit
rich emotional adjustment, strong interpersonal skills, and resilience. Hence, the “Big Five”
personality test can be deployed to test extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Moving on to more favorable tools, situational testing will help the employers screen
effectively as the employees respond to situations representative of the job. For example-
employees can be presented with a hypothetical situation in which there are conflicting
interests between the locals and the company where the employee’s negotiation skills,
persuasiveness and conflict-resolution skills can be evaluated. Work sampling also falls
under this category using which the employees’ job relevant skills can be envisioned pre
hiring. Role-play exercises, group discussions and case studies to further observe
interpersonal skills, empathy and problem-solving abilities as part of assessment centre are
effective inclusions.
Lastly, background checks with their former employers and their commitment to social
work in general judging from the employees’ social media presence can be decent criteria in
making effective hiring decisions.
