Psychologist at INTERSOS

JOB PURPOSE

Under the supervision of the Protection Manager, the psychologist is to work with the PSS team to ensure INTERSOS MHPSS program for people affected by violence and conflict in Borno is provided with quality MHPSS needs, including its mitigation action. The Psychologist is to focus on strengthening community-based interventions, that constitutes a key entry point to identify, assess and address invisible mental health and psychosocial help needs. The aim is to build the local capacity to enable key stakeholders in providing quality individual and group psychological and psychosocial support, counseling services, and awareness sessions to the affected population, with constant supervision while providing and facilitating referral services to address identified adverse mental health issue on affected population, in coordination with the health team, S/he will also support the GBV/PSS Specialist in any technical support especially pertaining to the development of tools and guidelines in implementing psychosocial support services activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Task:

Program quality and technical support

• Provide case-by-case assessments and recommendations and referrals for appropriate treatments for beneficiaries with psychological distress.
• Implement the treatment plan for psychological distress cases that are within the threshold for INTERSOS in coordination with the health team’s mental health focal person.
• Ensure safe documentation and storage of individual cases by ensuring that data protection protocols are respected.
• Train the protection and other INTERSOS staff on PFA, identification, and assessment of people with psychological distress.
• Strengthen community-based psychosocial support and peer support group activities by mapping the community-based structures that respond to MHPSS issues and building their capacity.
• Work in close collaboration with technical staff (Protection Coordinator, Medical Coordinator, Medical activity Managers, and GBV/PSS Specialist) in developing the project’s overall MHPSS component.
• Reviewing and developing the technical materials, tools, guidelines, and documents needed for MHPSS in collaboration with the GBV/PSS specialist.
• Provide coaching and support to the field staff in the implementation of structured MHPSS activities and ensure standardization across the field locations.
• Establish and ensure efficient running of the help desks within the field locations.
• Work with the Senior protection officer, in ensuring timely supplier and replenishing of PSS materials.
• Carry out all tasks respecting key protection principles, including but not limited to do no harm, non-discrimination, confidentiality, accountability and need-to-know principles.
• Establish and strengthen referral pathways for MHPSS at the field and Maiduguri level.
• Represent INTERSOS in MHPSS working group and other coordination meetings, when assigned

Other Duties and responsibilities

• Coordinate with field staff in ensuring timely development and submission of weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports on PSS activities.
• In coordination with the protection officer ensure safe spaces readiness activities are conducted and actions are taken to meet the safety and warmlines of the spaces
• Work with the PSS team leads to ensure the weekly PSS assessments are conducted to ascertain the impact of the safe spaces PSS activities and align the findings to better inform program activities and proposal development.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisors and the technical team to enable and develop the INTERSOS program.

REPORTING, ADMINISTRATIVE & TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the planning, implementation, and reporting of all protection activities via project work plans, schedules, team management, and the availability of materials.
• Support positive team dynamics and a healthy work environment where protection officers feel comfortable and supported in sharing experiences, challenges, and feelings.
• Ensure an equal division of the overall workload, timely follow-up on targets, and flag issues to the Project Manager and Protection Coordinator. Regularly review team activities to ensure compliance with INTERSOS policies and provide quality service to beneficiaries.
• Supervise the accuracy of case management using the case management platform. Provider feedback on the same to protection Officers.
• Monitor protection project timeframes for implementation, gaps, challenges, and changes.
• Participate in individual supervision sessions on a weekly basis with the Protection Coordinator, bringing immediate attention to any case of special/emergency needs, discussing ongoing issues, and strategizing on project and program development.
• Provide individual supervision sessions on a weekly basis to each Protection Officer, supporting and coaching them in their duties using various methods. Support the Protection Officers’ ability to find solutions and respond appropriately to daily challenges.
• Identify gaps and training needs for the Protection Officers and request support from the Protection Coordinator to provide them. Provide learning opportunities via the delivery of training, workshops, and role modeling.
• Compile all reporting on case management, general protection activities, and PSS activities as per INTERSOS and donor reporting regulations and transmit these on a weekly basis to the Protection Coordinator for further handling. Engage in regular feedback and dialogue with the Protection Coordinator on quantitative and qualitative reporting.
• Support the MEAL team in the compilation of the monthly 5Ws, CPIMS and GBVIMS reports, and other reports as needed. Liaise with MEAL Protection Focal Point and reconcile gaps in reporting monthly.

DATA PROTECTION, CONFIDENTIALITY & ADHERENCE TO PROTECTION PRINCIPLES

• Oversee the proper and safe filing and archiving of case management files to maintain data confidentiality as per INTERSOS and international standards. Ensure that all teams are trained in data protection and confidentiality.
• Ensure adherence of team members to protection principles, codes of conduct, and internal SOPs. Conduct regular case audits to ensure that work is following established SOPs and minimum standards.
• Conduct all tasks respecting key protection principles, including but not limited to.
  • do no harm.
  • non-discrimination.
  • confidentiality,
  • accountability, and.
  • need-to-know principles.

OTHER GENERAL PROTECTION ACTIVITIES

• Contribute to the design and execution of project assessments, regular service mapping, updates to the service directory, the development of referral systems per area, and project data collection (surveys, pre, and post-tests, etc....).
• Identify and report gaps in the availability, access, and quality of protection services in the assigned area.
• Flag protection and security issues and contribute to the identification of appropriate responses via regular data review and the submission of protection reports.
• Identify protection trends in the assigned area and provide analysis for them.
• Harmonize guidance and support for the planning and implementation of awareness-raising activities, focus group discussions, PSS activities in the CFS and WGFS, and training workshops as instructed by the supervisory/managerial team.
• Coordinate with INTERSOS teams from other departments (WASH, Health & Nutrition, Livelihoods, etc....) in order to ensure holistic solutions to beneficiaries’ needs.
• Participate in external meetings, representing INTERSOS as needed, with an emphasis on training on protection monitoring, general protection trends, and challenges.
• Ensure good relationships and coordination with the main service providers in the areas of intervention, relevant partners, and other project stakeholders.
• Support the development, updating, and local adaptation of protection tools and training material and deliver step-down training on these as needed for the field.
• Support donor reporting and project development and protection strategies at the macro level as required.
• Any other activities specified by the supervisory/managerial team.
• Ensure good relationships and coordination with the main service providers in intervention, relevant partners, and other project stakeholders.
• Support the development, updating, and local adaptation of protection tools and training material and deliver step-down training on these as needed for the field.
• Support donor reporting and project development as required.
• Any other activities specified by the supervisory/managerial team.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• University degree in Psychology. A master’s degree in clinical psychology is an added advantage.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience, including at least one year in an NGO providing psychotherapy services.
• High degree of skill in psychological assessment and evaluation.
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Analytical and reporting skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Willing to work extra hours and available at the weekend for emergency cases.
• Capacity to work under pressure and willingness to work and live in a complex context.
• Respect and adherence to protection principles
• Capacity to work under pressure, flexibility
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Fluency in English and Hausa (written and spoken) and excellent writing skills.