Assistant Technical Officer, Psychosocial Support at FHI 360

Requisition No: 2023200667

Project Description

• Northeast Nigeria is currently facing a growing humanitarian crisis with a vast number of Internally Displaced Persons in need of emergency assistance.
• These IDPs are living among host communities, lacking access to livelihoods and resources, ultimately leading to unprecedented levels of malnutrition and food insecurity.
• FHI 360 has been working in Nigeria for over 30 years and responded to the humanitarian crisis in the NE for five years. In anticipation of a new project, and in support of ongoing ones, FHI360 seeks an experienced Assistant Technical Officer – Psychosocial Support (PSS) to support our response to the humanitarian crisis in NE Nigeria.         

Basic Function

• Under the Protection Sector, FHI 360 aims at improving the wellbeing of vulnerable individuals through increased access to psychosocial support services (PSS) and integrated Gender-Based Violence (GBV) support and Child Protection. 

Job Purpose

• Under the overall supervision of the Field Coordinator, the ATO-PSS will daily ensure effective and timely implementation of all PSS activities in his/her assigned location.
• Key activities include individual, group counselling and case management, including referral to MHPSS services for vulnerable adult affected by the crisis to support them recover and regain their social functioning through sharing individual and group experiences to cope more effectively.
• S/he will also be responsible for organizing and overseeing implementation of adolescent mentorship classes through adolescent clubs and outdoor activities for adolescents and will support and supervise community volunteers to enable them to facilitate PSS activities at SHLS and community level. 
• In addition, the ATO-PSS will oversee implementation of community capacity building and community outreach activities to create supportive social connections at community level to foster stability. 

Duties and Responsibilities
Program Implementation:

• Under the supervision of the TO-CP&PSS, identify psychosocial needs among the vulnerable individuals in the assigned location.
• Provide individual and group-based counselling as well as case management to beneficiaries in need and identify appropriate referral pathways for cases that require MHPSS and do necessary follow ups to ensure their full recovery.
• Provide appropriate care for people  with  special  needs ( older people,  people with disabilities, etc.).
• Design and implement expressive activities (drama), traditional  rituals, context-appropriate sport/recreational activities, psychoeducation, family interventions, healing education to  help adult people build resilience and social  connection.
• Oversee community  awareness sessions   and  focus group discussions ( FGDs) on PSS related topics (social cohesion,  self-care,  stress management, problem solving,  copping skills)  and  ensure all target groups can attend them  without  barriers.
• Engage with communities and stakeholders through outdoor activities using FHI 360 developed PSS sensitization guide to build strong support systems hence the community will be empowered to prioritize the psychosocial/emotional needs of community members.
• Facilitate  training and provide regular coaching and mentoring to  PSS community volunteers on  PSS related topics to ensure quality PSS services, psychological first aid (PFA ) and  appropriate referrals.
• Engage with community leaders, local government authorities and the Field Coordinator to select PSS community volunteers in compliance with  related SOP. 
• Provide training, weekly coaching, on-the-job training and daily mentoring  to PSS community volunteers and perform all tasks related to their  contracts in  the volunteer management system (VMS). 
• Monitor quality of message dissemination by community volunteers by conducting joint awareness sessions together with the community volunteers.
• Contribute to the development of appropriate IEC materials on Child Protection and PSS.
• Initiate creative facilitation skills to be used by community volunteers during dissemination of PSS related messages during indoor and outdoor activities.  
• Work closely with ATO-CP  to  efficiently manage  SHLS  for CP and PSS activities. 
• With the support of  TO-CP&PSS,  develop/update PSS referral pathways as per PSS service directory. 
• Ensure PSS mainstreaming into  Child Protection and GBV Subsectors as well as  into other sectors namely Health, Nutrition, and WASH. 
• Support the M&E team in conducting Post Distribution Monitoring for PSS integration kits.
• Conduct trend analysis for PSS concerns to inform community awareness messaging and  
• Contribute to Sector and Multisectoral Needs Assessment and related reports in collaboration with  ATOs-CP/GBV and M&E field team. 
• In collaboration with the ATO-CP, compile weekly, and monthly activity reports and M& E database as required.

Other Responsibilities:

• Update monthly activity workplans to indicate accomplished tasks, any postponed tasks and tasks that remain unfinished.
• Always adhere to the child protection guiding principles and FHI 360 Child Safeguarding policy.
• Practice self-care 
• Contribute to the development of concept notes and project proposals when necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisors. 

Qualifications and Requirements

• BA / B.Sc in Social Work, Sociology, Social Sciences, Psychology, Mental Health,  or a similar Degree with1-3 years relevant experience in PSS programming.
• 1-3 year experience in  counselling and PSS case management  in humanitarian settings.  
• Extensive knowledge of  PSS/MHPSS in humanitarian context. .  
• Ability to maintain confidentiality. 
• Proven experience in working with IDPs or refugees, returnees, and host communities.  
• Familiarity with Nigerian law enforcement systems and NGOs and CBOs is highly desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes:

• Proven experience in setting up and managing SHLs in humanitarian context.
• Experience in facilitating training and mentorship of local communities to support child protection, GBV and PSS activities.
• Proven experience  in individual and  group-based counselling for  adult people  affected by a crisis.
• Vital knowledge of PSS and basic knowledge of MHPSS.
• Understanding Protection and child protection related coordination mechanisms.
• Excellent reporting skills.
• Strong communication and negotiation skill.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Understanding and commitment to child’s rights and child protection and GBV issues.
• Ability to live in the field with minimum access services.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Dynamic, pro-active, and self-motivated.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.
• Mandatory fluent in English and local languages – Hausa, Kanuri.
• Acts according to FHI360 values; uses ethical considerations to guide decisions.
• Solid understanding of Safeguarding and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).  
• Flexible, respectful, willing to cooperate with and support project stakeholders including colleagues, beneficiaries, local community, and local leaders.