Directive Relating to Child Protection Response during COVID-19

Jurisdiction: Namibia
Citation: Government Notice 120 of 2020
Primary work: Namibian Constitution
Date: 15 May 2020
Language: English
Type: Legislation
Download: Download PDF (337.7 KB)

Namibian Constitution

Directive Relating to Child Protection Response during COVID-19

Government Notice 120 of 2020

Published in Government Gazette 7214 on 15 May 2020
Assented to on 12 May 2020
Commenced on 15 May 2020
[This is the version of this document from 15 May 2020 and includes any amendments published up to 1 December 2023.]

Under regulation 14(1) and (3) of the State of Emergency - Covid-19 Regulations published under Proclamation No. 9 of 28 March 2020, with the authorisation of the President and the approval of the Attorney-General, I issue the directive set out in the Schedule.D. SiokaMinister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare

1. Definitions

In this directive, a word or expression to which a meaning has been given in the Regulations or the Act has that meaning, and unless the context indicates otherwise -"cluster" means the cluster on Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare in the Office of the Vice President;"designated social worker" means a control social worker, a chief social worker, a senior social worker or a social worker listed in Annexure 1 to this directive;"national level supervisor" means a control social worker, or a person designated by the cluster as such;"the Act" means the Child Care and Protection Act, 2015 (Act No. 3 of 2015); and"the Regulations" means the State of Emergency - Covid-19 Regulations published under Proclamation No. 9 of 28 March 2020.

2. Purpose of this directive

The purpose ofthis directive is to:

(a)provide a general framework on how to deal with children in an emergency situation, taking into account their physical and psychological vulnerabilities and associated risks;

(b)address challenges and provide guidance on how to respond to child related cases of Covid-19; and

(c)ensure effective and efficient coordination and management of child protection services during the Covid-19 state of emergency.

3. The response plan

(1)The cluster is the overall lead in child protection.

(2)There will be two complementary parallel response streams for child protection, one at the national level and one at the regional level.

(3)The national level must provide guidance, support and supervision to regional level teams of social workers and administrative officers.

(4)Designated social workers in all the 14 regions must lead the response after they receive a direct referral for child protection from a stakeholder or a community member.

(5)Designated social workers must manage direct referrals for child protection and ensure timely and effective linkages to services.

(6)The cluster must undertake its role as the overall lead in all cases involving child protection in accordance with:

(a)the Act;

(b)relevant Case Management Processes; and

(c)the applicable Standard Operating Procedures that are in place.

(7)National level supervisors must provide supportive supervision and guidance on integrative services and management to assist with the effective rolling out of sustainable and harmonised systems of care services for children.

(8)The payment of state grants referred to in Chapter 16 ofthe Act that are currently in existence must continue.

(9)For the purposes of sub-directive (8), service providers at pay points must ensure that relevant prevention services in terms of section 130 ofthe Act are applied.

4. Procedures for referral of children

(1)The first point of response to children in need of protective services is the 116 or 106 helplines or reporting the matter to the nearest police station.

(2)A helpline official or a police officer must connect the reported case to a designated social worker who must manage the case in accordance with the provision of the Act.

(3)The cluster must assign a designated social worker for each region to oversee all cases of children in that region who are 18 years of age or less and in need of protective measures in accordance with Chapter 15 of the Act.

(4)The national level supervisors must immediately inform the Director of Child Care and Protection about specific emergency cases that require special interventions such as:

(a)households without any parental supervision or child headed households;

(b)children living and working on the street;

(c)children who are infected with the COVID-19; and

(d)households with children in need of nutritional support or any emergency assistance during the State of Emergency period.

5. Acute cases

(1)A designated social worker must immediately refer an acute case to the Director of Child Care and Protection.

(2)For the purposes of this directive, a case is an acute case if the parents of a child have been removed for isolation purposes or the parents of a child have passed away due to Covid-19 infection.

Annexure 1

The cluster

Contact details for social services from Gender Equality, Poverty and Eradication Social Welfare Cluster

Name & Surname	Region/office	Position	Telephone no
National Coordinator
Mrs H. Andjamba, Director Child Care and Protection, 0811295219
Khomas Region
Ms. C. Manghono	Khomas	Control Social worker	0812430744
Ms. L. Uiras	Windhoek	Chief Social Worker	0812489383
Mr. B. Kaverua	ASC	Senior Social Worker	0812417901/ 0814786574
Ms. E. Viall	G.B.P.V.U	Social Worker	0812291024
Ms. C. Kavita	Head Office	Social Worker	0813413502
Ms. S. Shaamena	Head office	Social Worker	0814882941
Ms. G. Simasiku	ASC	Social Worker	0816605289
Mrs. A. Mupupa	G.B.P.V.U	Social Worker	0816605279
Ms. P. Shipunda	G.B.P.V.U	Social Worker	0813788249
Ms. M. Aipinge	Otjomuise	Social Worker	0816056578
Ms. P. Feris	ASC	Social Worker	0814683683
Hardap Region
Ms. C. Manghono	Hardap	Control Social Worker	0812430744
Ms. S. Muhinda	Mariental	Senior Social worker	0813388269
Ms. L. Paulus	Gibeon	Social worker	0812352739
Ms. H. Indongo	Rehoboth	Social worker	0818065301
Ms. S. Uuwanga	Rehoboth	Social worker	0813418942
Ms. M. Kuume	Mariental	Social worker	0816707711
Erongo Region
Ms. B. Nshimyimana	Erongo	Control Social worker	0812374468
Ms. M. Ricther (Supervisor)	Erongo	Senior Social Worker	0812564733
Ms. A. Baard	Swakopmund	Social Worker	0814294703
Ms. M. N. Chingwaramusee	Walvis Bay	Social Worker	0814205850
Ms. C. Mutwamezi	Walvis Bay	Social Worker	0813362197
Ms. E. Tjazuko	Omaruru	Social Worker	0813362197
Omaheke Region
Ms. B. Nshimyimana	Omaheke	Control Social worker	0812374468
Ms. C. Muna (Supervisor)	Gobabis	Social worker	0813505515
Ms. Kiimbi Namvula	Otjinene	Social worker	0813731214
Zambezi Region
Ms. B. Nshimyimana	Zambezi	Control Social worker	0812374468
Mr. Dennis Matomola (Supervisor)	Zambezi	Senior Social worker	0816119760
Ms. S. Sinalumbu	Kabbe	Social Worker	0814474883
Ms. M. Mafuya	Linyanti	Social Worker	0816865449
Ms. M. Matengu	Katima Mulilo	Social Worker	0816188414
Mr. G. Chetika	Katima Maulilo	Social Worker	0816589944
!Karas Region
Ms. A. Musukubili	! Karas	Control Social worker	0812808407
Ms. M. Forbes	Keetmanshoop	Senior Social worker	0814790907
Ms. A. Skrywer	Luderitz	Social worker	0816325795
Mr. H. Gaogoseb	Karasburg	Social worker	0817718779
Otjozondjupa
Ms. A. Musukubili	! Karas	Control Social worker	0812808407
Ms. M. Swartz	Grootfontein	Senior Social worker	0813915212
Ms. S. Muharukua	Okahandja	Social worker	0816605159
Ms. H. Petrus	Okakarara	Social worker	0814838890
Oshana Region
Ms. R. Pelema	Oshana	Control Social worker	0812328671
Ms. L. Iipinge	Ogwendiva	Chief Social worker	0813078001
Ms. J. Handele	Ogwendiva	Senior Social worker	0813670793
Ms. L. Endjala	Ogwendiva	Senior Social worker	0812947396
Ms. L. Alfeus	Ondangwa	Social worker	0818501444
Ms. I. Dawid	Oshakati West & Ompundja	Social worker	0812399516
Ms. L. Shaningwa	Ongwediva & Uuvudhuya	Social worker	0812874057
Ms. S. Kakili	Okatana	Social worker	0813325165
Ms. P. Newaka	Oshakati East & Uukwiyu	Social worker	0813051311
Ohangwena Region
Ms. R. Pelema	Ohangwena	Control Social Worker	0812328671
Ms. D. Tshivolo	Eenhana	Chief Social worker	0812482386
Ms. A. Valombola	Eenhana	Senior Social worker	0816363248
Ms. E. Nhinda	Eenhana	Senior Social worker	0812452620
Ms. V. Ashiyana	Eenhana	Social worker	0814423090
Ms. M. Wanailonga	Okongo	Social worker	0814659313
Ms. F. Shilongo	Ondobe	Social worker	0855856568
Ms. M. Nambambi	Oshikango	Social worker	0812149290
Ms. T. Ailonga	Ohangwena	Social worker	0814990098
Ms. F. Kagola	Ongenga	Social worker	0815630116
Mr. A. Sheefeni	Endola	Social worker	0812043353
Omusati Region
Ms. B. Mukulu	Omusati	Control Social worker	0812310145
Ms. K. Kapata	Omusati	Chief Social worker	0812447310
Ms. M. Hailonga	GBVPSU Outapi & Ogongo	Social worker	0818796794
Ms. J. Kashea	GBVPUS & Outapi	Social worker	0813929230
Ms. M. Uutoni	Anamulenge& Okalongo	Social worker	0812421818
Ms. M. Aiyambo	Oshikuku & Etayi	Social worker	0813289045
Mr. I. Kuliwoye	Elim	Social worker	0811558045
Ms. A. Hamunyela	Okahao & Otamanzi	Social worker	0814032937
Ms. M. Kamati	Tsandi	Social worker	0813519211
Ms. E. Shilumbu	Onesi & Ruacana	Social worker	0812911503
Kunene Region
Ms. B. Mukulu	Omusati	Control Social worker	0812310145
Ms. J. Namundjebo	Kunene	Senior Social Worker	0811682002
Ms. N. Simataa	Opuwo	Social worker	0813109894
Mr. N. Shitalangaho	Khorixas	Social worker	0816185734
Ms. D. Katumbe	Outjo	Social worker	0812011226
Ms. Potrix Lamberth	Kamanjab	Social worker	0813844948
Oshikoto Region
Ms. R. Kamuingona	Oshikoto	Control Social worker	0811434797
Ms. A. Bosch	Omuthiya	Chief Social worker	0813186716
Ms. Frieda Kadhepa	Omuthiya	Senior Social worker	0813820158
Ms. A. Valombola	Tsumeb	Social worker	0813809124
Ms. Helena David	Guinas	Social worker	0816103821
Ms. Sylvia Nangolo	Onayena	Social worker	0812289506
Ms. Julia Nekongo	Onyaanya	Social worker	0816286143
Ms. Josephine Idipo	Oniipa	Social worker	0816128169
Lydia Shipuata	Oniipa	Social worker	0812628834
Kavango East Region
Ms. R. Kamuingona	Oshikoto	Control Social worker	0811434797
Ms. B. Simbaranda	Rundu	Senior Social worker	0814855404
Ms. Joyce Simataa	Rundu	Senior Social worker	0812280245
Mr. Augustinus Tjikuzu	Ndonga Linena	Social worker	0812699182
Ms. Stella Mwazi	Rundu rural	Social worker	0817519869
Ms. Trudy Mushetu	Omashare	Social worker	0813859997
Ms. Teclar Nsozi Mukaya	WACPU-Rundu	Social worker	0816863154
Ms. Mwangala Mutau	Ndiyona	Social worker	0813465456
Ms. Meriam Kauma	Rundu-Urban	Social worker	0814039483
Ms. Masiye Muyalapapi	Rundu - WACPU	Social worker	0817436443
Kavango West Region
Ms. R. Kamuingona	Oshikoto	Control Social worker	0811434797
Ms. B. Mwiya	Nkurenkuru	Chief Social worker	0812896655
Ms. R. Luthuhezi	Nkurenkuru	Senior Social worker	0811515888
Mr. M. Nairenge	Nkurenkuru	Social worker	0812881625
Ms. Penehafo Mupuma	Nkurenkuru	Social worker	0812051176
Ms. Mirjam Agapitus	Mpungu	Social worker	0816492396
Ms. Livius Haikola	Ncuncuni	Social worker	0814466466
Mr. Zeba Mufuta	Musese	Social worker	0812032702
Mr. Toivo Hausiku	Kapako	Social worker	0812800080
Namibia Children’s Home
Ms. H. Siamwanda	Windhoek	Chief Children’s Home Superintendent	0812502767
Ms. J. Manale	Windhoek	Senior Children’s Home Superintendent	0815788840
Ms. A. Tubayunga	Windhoek	Social worker	0818050471
Ms. I. Louw	Windhoek	Chief Social worker	0818343525
After School Centre
After School CentreMaggy Katimba	Windhoek	Senior Children’s Home Superintendent	0812135662

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History of this document

15 May 2020 this version

Published in Government Gazette 7214

Commenced

12 May 2020

Assented to

Cited documents 1

Legislation 1

Child Care and Protection Act, 2015

Directive Relating to Child Protection Response during COVID-19

Directive Relating to Child Protection Response during COVID-19

Government Notice 120 of 2020

1. Definitions

2. Purpose of this directive

3. The response plan

4. Procedures for referral of children

5. Acute cases

Annexure 1

The cluster

Contact details for social services from Gender Equality, Poverty and Eradication Social Welfare Cluster

History of this document

15 May 2020 this version

12 May 2020

Cited documents 1

Legislation 1

Documents citing this one 0