Psycho-Social Support Officer- Zamfara at INTERSOS

JOB PURPOSE

• INTERSOS is implementing protection interventions aimed at preventing and responding to crisis affected IDPS and population. The program emphasizes strengthening community-based protection mechanisms, providing direct case management and psychosocial support, and facilitating access to essential services such as health, education, and legal aid.
• Zamfara State, located in Northwestern Nigeria, has been severely affected by protracted armed conflict, banditry, and inter-communal violence, leading to widespread displacement, disruption of livelihoods, and weakening of social protection structures. Families have been disproportionately affected by the crisis, facing risks such as family separation, child labor, neglect, exploitation, gender-based violence, early marriage, and limited access to services.
• The recruitment of Psychosocial Support Officer is critical to ensure timely and effective delivery of case management services, strengthen referral pathways, and support the resilience and well-being of children and their families in Zamfara State. By engaging directly with affected populations and coordinating with relevant stakeholders, PSS Officer play a central role in safeguarding children and promoting durable protection outcomes in line with international child rights standards and INTERSOS’ core humanitarian mandate.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Psycho-Social Support Officer will be responsible for the following tasks: Under the management of the senior protection officer, the PSS officer will coordinate with the community volunteers and the management in responding to the psychosocial needs of the crisis affected IDPS in Gusau in Zamfara State and work with the community volunteers to facilitate community-based activities, advocacy and sensitization effort that prevent, mitigate, and respond to risk for safety and wellbeing of the affected population Specifically:

• Assesses and plans response mechanisms that meet the needs of the affected population.
• Provides technical support and supervision for the implementation of PSS activities in line with current best practices to the community volunteers.
• Conducts individual assessments for the diagnosis of possible psychological disorders and the identification of a therapeutic intervention plan for identified people.
• Conducts capacity-building training on psychosocial support services and other safeguarding actions for community volunteers.
• Facilitates procurement and distribution of PSS materials at Gusau LGA.
• Close cases when the objectives in the PSS intervention plan have been met and no further needs have been identified.
• Coordinate community sensitization activities.
• Provides continuous psycho-social support via regular follow-up meetings, establishing a relationship built on trust and respecting confidentiality protocols.
• Contributes to regular reporting, programme, and proposal development, providing insight and analysis on PSS issues, challenges, gaps and best practices.
• Leads on distribution and ensure the distribution activity is in line with the best practice.

Planning and Coordination

• Coordinates with relevant partners and develop psychosocial strategies and referral services to meet different needs of the affected population.
• Coordinate with other partners to facilitate advocacy activities to improve the condition of the affected population.
• Monitors and ensures that the monthly FGDs are facilitated in coordination with community volunteers.
• Represents INTERSOS in community meeting as required and maintain a positive relationship with community leaders, local community structure and groups at various levels.
• Contributes/coordinates regular service mapping, updates to the service directory and support the development of referral systems with different service providers and the local NGO/CSO partner.
• Supports positive team dynamics and a healthy work environment where case workers feel comfortable and supported in sharing experiences, challenges, and feelings.

Reporting and Administrative

• Documents all general protection activities as per INTERSOS and donor reporting regulations and transmit these on a weekly basis for compilation.
• Supports the planning, implementation and reporting on all protection activities via weekly workplans, schedules and people management.
• Contributes in facilitation of procurement of program supplies
• Ensures timely payment of community volunteers by providing necessary support documents on timely.
• Oversees the proper and safe filing and archiving of PSS client files and activity reports files to maintain data confidentiality as per INTERSOS and international standards.
• Other Duties and responsibility
• Flags PSS and security issues and contribute to the identification of appropriate responses.
• Identifies and assists in the analysis of PSS trends in the overall caseload.
• Strengthens existing community-based PSS and peer support group activities, where such exist and help to develop them where none currently exist.
• Participate in external meetings and training on PSS issues, as well as case conferences with partners as needed.
• Identifies and reports gaps in the availability and quality of PSS service provision in the target areas.
• Any other activities specified by the supervisory/managerial team.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities assigned by supervisor.

Education & Professional experience

• Minimum of Higher National Diploma (HND) or equivalent in Social Work, Psychology, counselling, or related field.
• Proven 2-3 years’ experience working in an INGO, NGOs, and working with vulnerable children and families, preferably in a humanitarian or northwest community setting.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in psychology, social work, and counselling.
• Experience working in Zamfara or similar humanitarian contexts, or the northwest states, preferred. • Fluency in Hausa is required; knowledge of local dialects (e.g. Hausa) is an added advantage.
• INTERSOS Experience will be an added advantage
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Leadership, people management and coaching skills.
• Those from the local community are highly encouraged to apply.
• Qualified and experience female candidate are encouraged to apply.