Clinical Supervision/ Psychologist Consultant at Norwegian Church Aid ('NCA')

1.     Background

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) has been operating in northeast Nigeria since 2017, delivering integrated humanitarian assistance in WASH, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) in conflict-affected areas in Borno LGAs. NCA has rich experience in providing services in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls with a vision of: Women and girls live in a world where they are valued and respected members of their community and able to: live free from violence and inequality; pursue their potential, and exercise their rights to their own safety, equality, and voice. It approaches this through its specialized Gender Based Violence (GBV) programming. NCA have been implementing GBV in Northeast, Borno States – Dikwa, Pulka and Monguno LGAs camps since 2017.

NCA GBV program activities include psychosocial support and risk mitigation activities through well elaborate and tested GBV prevention approaches (Male Engaged, SASA! Together), and specialized case management for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The program is designed to ensure women and girls are better protected and empowered to access opportunities, services, and support responsive to their needs.  A key element of NCA’s programming is the provision of survivor centered comprehensive case management including psychosocial support to survivors of violence who access services.  Currently, the NCA, Nigeria has a team of staff responsible for GBV prevention and response programming. Given the complex and demanding nature of work, there is a need to ensure case workers and staff receives adequate support, clinical supervision, and debriefing.

2.     Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide clinical supervision, which is a part of ethical requirements for all professional counsellors but also a way of self-care for caregivers who deal with individuals who have undergone traumatic experiences. This is designed to help them mitigate extreme levels of stress and burn-out by engaging them in a therapeutic process that enables them to discuss and explore their worries, fears and anxieties in a positive manner. In particular, the services are required to assist GBV staff effectively and positively deal with the demands placed on them and respond to their own wellbeing and that of their survivors. This will also increase productivity at work hence maintaining professionalism and the quality GBV services offered to women and girls

2.     Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide clinical supervision, which is a part of ethical requirements for all professional counsellors but also a way of self-care for caregivers who deal with individuals who have undergone traumatic experiences. This is designed to help them mitigate extreme levels of stress and burn-out by engaging them in a therapeutic process that enables them to discuss and explore their worries, fears and anxieties in a positive manner. In particular, the services are required to assist GBV staff effectively and positively deal with the demands placed on them and respond to their own wellbeing and that of their survivors. This will also increase productivity at work hence maintaining professionalism and the quality GBV services offered to women and girls

Description of Tasks

The Psychologists will work closely with GBV Manager to complete the following: 

• To engage the staff in a therapeutic process through group and individual counselling and/ or debriefing sessions
• To offer support to the case workers in managing difficult client issues or those that present psychological dilemmas and explore alternative ways to respond positively during their practice
• To equip the staff with life skills for example stress management strategies, coping mechanism, psychological first aid and skills of case management to empower their self-response mechanism as individuals and collectively as a team
• Impact skills and knowledge and empower the GBV Case managers team to deal with stress and burn- out inherent in their daily work and explore ways in which care providers can enhance their personal care and development.
• To provide feedback where necessary (either in informal confidential written or also oral debriefing) to GBV Manager, SMT and Country Director on areas that may require administrative support to improve staff wellbeing in relation to their work
• Provide one on one counselling to other NCA staffs who might show interest and in need.

Expected Deliverables and outputs

Expected deliverables include.

• To offer counselling sessions in groups and individual sessions as to effectively manage their personal issues, support their peers and clients.
• To help the participants gain sense of self awareness and growth; create an enabling environment for catharsis and support
• To build the capacity of the staffs in thematic areas relevant to their day-to-day work
• Compile and share reporting to GBV Manager highlighting needs and gaps  

Time frame

The consultant expected to provide 4 days individual and group sessions to GBV case workers in Maiduguri to enable them to ventilate and catharsis. The consultant is expected to write and share report with recommendation. The consultant will be expected to make effective and efficient use of time to ensure that Program objectives are achieved and the GBV staffs’ wellbeing and teamwork built

Key Qualifications

Requirements

• MA in Counseling Psychology or clinical Psychology
•  3-5 years’ experience clinical supervision and debriefing.
• Experience working in GBV programs.
• Experience in the Humanitarian setting
• Fluent in English and Hausa,

Skills Required

Interpersonal Skills: The Psychologist should have strong interpersonal skills to enable the establishment of relationships with GBV Staffs and this involves respect for and sensitivity to local cultural norms and practices.

Confidentiality: The Psychologists should uphold high level of confidentiality and provide a conducive environment for the staffs to openly share.

Preference for candidates with strong behavioral analysis and therapy skills.

Flexible and tolerant