Psychosocial Support Specialist

Job Description
Psychosocial Support Specialist

Job Title:  Psychosocial Support Specialist
Organization:  War Child
Job Location: Based in Jerusalem and covering West Bank and Gaza- Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt)
Starting date:  ASAP
Reporting:  Program Development Manager (PDM)

Background:
War Child (WC) is an independent and impartial international non-governmental child rights organization investing in a peaceful future for children and young people affected by armed conflict. We strive to empower children and young people, while enabling adults to bring about positive and lasting change in the lives of conflict affected children and young people. WC has been working in the oPt since 2004 and has an office in Jerusalem and in Gaza.

Scope of Work
WC is seeking a Psychosocial Support Specialist (PSS) with demonstrated skill, expertise, and experience in developing, coordinating and implementing PSS interventions in oPt. The PSS Specialist will work closely with the program team and WC partners. The PSS Specialist will ensure responses are compliant with donor requirements, technically clear and accurate and adhere to WC style. Supervise the quality implementation of the psychosocial intervention and contribute to the development of new project proposals.

General objective of the job
The Psychosocial Support Specialist is responsible for the development, coordination and mainstreaming of PSS methods and supports WC staff, partner staff, facilitators and volunteers with the knowledge and practical skills to carry out psychosocial support activities based on WC “Deals” methodology or other methodologies. Supervise the quality implementation of the psychosocial intervention in the field.
The Psychosocial Support Specialist ensures the quality of the WC PSS components all over oPt and contributes to the integral implementation of the PSS approach in all the projects, and contribute to the development of new project proposals


Position in the organisation
The Psychosocial Support Specialist is part of the program team reporting to the PDM. She/he works closely with the Program Coordinator (PC)/Project Officers (PO) within the oPt. S/he does not manage staff.

Result areas
Developing Psychosocial Support standards and tools
-Gather input for program development and monitoring, rolling out standards, methods and tools.
-Define shared PSS programming standards.
-Ensure that WC methods and standards for the implementation of PSS programs are developed/revised and remain updated based on WC programming practice and international standards.
-Generate overview of PSS quality in oPt: status, methods used and results achieved.
-Implement WC quality standards and PSS Minimum standards.
-Stimulate and monitor PSS programming.
-Review oPt strategy, proposals, reports and evaluations.
-Supervise and ensure the quality implementation of the psychosocial intervention in the field.
-Assist with the development of new project proposals
-Monitor, evaluate and measure the impact of the psychosocial intervention on beneficiaries (children, caregivers and community)

Developing and implementing trainings
-Support the revision of the PSS methodology and the development of new methodologies as required by the Quality Department Manager.
-Suggest modifications of sessions and exercises in order to adapt to changes occurring in the work environment, based on the feedback from trainees and children.
-Plan, implement and evaluate training courses on WC PSS methodology, which involves creative tools such as games, songs, fine art, audio-visuals, group discussions, demonstrations, and practice sessions with feedback and role play.
-Ensure that all training requirements are met as outlined in WC training of Trainers (TOT) guidelines.
-Supervise the quality implementation of the psychosocial intervention conducted by the partners and facilitators.

Capacity Building
-Design and provide briefings, TOT; and tailored trainings where needed for program staff, partners and volunteers.
-Provide ongoing support, guidance and advice to program staff in the field of PSS.
-Link oPt initiatives; stimulate knowledge sharing and management.
-Advise on PSS program and project proposals (including those applying for institutional funds);
-Provide recommendations to the PDM when necessary on recruitment of potential facilitators and animators.
-Develop training reports and progress report per trainee.  

Monitoring and Evaluation
-Design and implement monitoring and evaluation tools in coordination with the PSS protection experts and provide the Quality Department with the necessary information to assess the program quality.
-Assist in analysing the data collected and reports both quantitatively and qualitatively.
-Develop and provide reports on the impact of psychosocial intervention on beneficiaries.
-Ensure the use of WC M&E tools and formats.
-Check, support and follow up on trainees’ comprehension and understanding of the training workshop by using observations and interviews to verify that learning objectives were met.
-Visit project sites and provide information about progress when required.
-Evaluate and monitor the progress of the trainees through assessing their skills and knowledge in implementing WC PSS methodology.
-Establish plans to support learning process and the retaining of trainees skills.

Coordination and representation  
-Ensure use of uniform methods, tools and forms in activities, training and PME.
-Represent WC externally, in relevant platforms/networks focused on PSS theme.
-Support the identification and packaging of PSS advocacy issues.

Handling administration and finance
-Provide PC/POs with PSS reports and recommendations based on Deals psychosocial “ Deals” evaluations.
-Contribute to reports on PSS achievements (on results) and developments in oPt.
-Account for the different budgets assigned to PSS work.



CANDIDATE’S PROFILE
Knowledge and Experience
Relevant academic background in Social Sciences / Psychology.
Specialist knowledge of current principles and practices of Child Protection with children in (post)conflict areas.
Understanding of PSS (programming) in (post) conflict environments.
Understanding of the Palestinian context.
Experience working with Governmental and Civil society organizations.
Minimum 5 years (I) NGO work in developing countries/conflict areas, preferably with children.
Minimum 3 years in PSS programming in (post)conflict areas.
Minimum 3 years in staff capacity building and experience in providing trainings.
Demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation of projects.



Skills and Competencies
Strong critical analysis and strategic thinking skills.
Leadership and coordination ability.
Proven ability to provide (creative/interactive) trainings.
Excellent communication skills; ability to give and receive feedback.
Affinity with children and young people.
Cultural sensitivity.
Result-oriented.
Familiarity with creative methodologies.
Positive, respectful attitude and collaborative approach to diversity.
Ability to work independently as well as cooperatively with team members.
Fluency in English and Arabic.
Excellent reports writing skills in English and Arabic


Other requirements:
Works well in small team, flexible to take on new tasks, comfortable in a flexible working environment;
Willing and able to travel regularly to Gaza.


Conditions
Full-time job of 40 hours per week, distributed over five days.
Remuneration and benefits according to War Child’s salary scale for oPt local employees/ Terms and Conditions for oPt local employees (in accordance with local Labour Laws).

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