Psychosocial Support (PSS) Officer at Search For Common Ground’s International

Position Summary

The Psychosocial Support (PSS) Officer supports the direct implementation of the “Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Groups, and other vulnerable children, in North East Nigeria” project through delivery of Trauma Awareness and Resilience Trainings, in addition to facilitating Transformative Dialogues. 

The PSS Specialist will also support Case Management Officers in providing specific PSS related technical advice on more complex child protection cases to improve the well-being and safety of beneficiary children.   

Reports to: Psychosocial Support Specialist

Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension dependent on performance and funding).

Roles and Responsibilities

• • The PSS Specialist will deliver Trauma Awareness and Resilience Trainings to beneficiary children, in addition to Transformative Dialogues, according to project work plan.
  • Coordinate with Community Mobilizing Officers and Assistants to ensure relevant target populations are mobilised. Ensure coordination to capture attendance record and ensure information is stored systematically.
  • Engage in training on Trauma Awareness and Transformative Dialogue delivered by Trauma Specialist.
  • Respond to cases of particular children if more in depth PSS response is required, and ensure coordination with Case Management Officers and Assistants.
  • Support technical capacity building of Case Management Officers, Assistants and Community Case Workers through ad hoc consultations and mentoring on psycho-social support. Deliver in depth trainings when required.
  • Write training activity reports on all trainings facilitated, ensuring rich content is captured through quotations and photos (with necessary consent/ assent), and ensure these are submitted in a timely manner.
  • Represent Search externally where required, for example in MHPSS forums in Borno State.
  • Share necessary security updates with Security Manager in areas of intervention to ensure safety of beneficiaries and team members in ongoing risk assessments
  • As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.

Qualifications

• • University degree, Diploma or equivalent or equivalent in Social Work, Psychology, Law or Sociology
  •  
  • Required Experience
    • Minimum of 4 years psycho-social support (PSS) experience, with a particular focus on children.
    •  Solid understanding of psychosocial trauma interventions, methodologies and theory.
    •  Minimum of 4 years in an advisory/ technical role in the field of PSS.
    •  Minimum of 4 years management/ supervisory experience.
    •  Excellent training and facilitation skills.
    •  Experience working with Children Associated with Armed Groups
    •  Experience working in emergency settings
    •  Experience working in different communities in Borno State
    •  Experience working with refugees, IDPs, host communities, and other vulnerable populations

Other Requirements

• •  Good understanding of Child Protection Minimum Standards and the Inter-Agency
  • Guidelines for Case Management and Child Protection.
  •  Knowledge of types of child abuse and their impact (violence, abuse, neglect,
  • exploitation)
  •  Familiarity with referral pathways in and around Maiduguri
  •  Excellent analytical and writing skills
  •  Excellent ability to develop positive helping relationships with children and
  • caregivers.
  •  Strong reporting skills capturing case management information.
  •  Knowledge of a local language (Hausa, Kanuri) a must.