Psychologist/ Psychosocial

Psychologist/ Psychosocial (National position)
Terms of Reference
Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories.
 

Position: Psychologist/ Psychosocial
Location: Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories.
Contract duration: 3 months – with possibility of extension
Schedule: Full time / 40 hours per week
Reporting: Program Manager (PM)
Starting Date: ASAP

Background

There are four million Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) (1.5 m in Gaza and 2.5 m in the West Bank) of which 49 per cent are below the age of 18.  The daily life of children is framed within the context of the Israeli occupation; the conflicts and military operations associated with occupation, the blockade of Gaza (since June 2007), stringent access and movement restrictions, and the existence and further construction of the separation barrier in the West Bank.  This context creates vulnerabilities and inequities in the fulfilment of rights.
There is clear evidence that children and young adults are the most affected from armed conflict events and critical situations, studies show that under such conditions, disorders and symptoms related to trauma manifest: dysfunctional behaviour at family level, increased levels of aggression, sleeping disorders, speech impediments, among many others. There is an evident insufficiency of services adapted and capacitated to respond to the needs for children’s mental health in the Gaza strip, especially in the southern region with less available resources. A UN study source has estimated that the children and adolescent population exposed to this kind of traumatic event and in need of specific mental health care is above 5%.

Medicos delMundo (MDM) Spain is present in Palestine since late 2006. During these years, the principal areas of intervention have been mental health and its integration into primary health care, carrying out specific actions to support the public health system in response to urgent or emergency phases caused by the blockade suffered in Gaza. Currently, MdM Spain is executing projects in the West Bank and Gaza.

MDM-Spain in Gaza is developing a psychosocial project to reduce the negative impact on the psychological well-being of children and adolescence, resulting from the difficult living conditions in the Gaza Strip (blockage, continuous exposure to traumatic events, socioeconomic conditions, ...), especially the impact derived from the latest Israeli military offensive on Gaza in 2014.

Scope of Work

MdM Spain is seeking for a Psychologist/ Psychosocial (PSS) with demonstrated skill, expertise, and experience in responding to the need of MdM Spain in executing psychosocial project program in the target area of intervention, identifying psychosocial priorities, show flexibility to adapt activities in the field to constant changes, represent organization or other meetings and conduct training, if necessary. The psychologist/psychosocial will work together with the rest of the technical team and program manager.
General objective of the Job:
The Psychologist/psychosocial is responsible for the development, coordination, report and execution of psychosocial support activities based on MDM Spain methodology or other methodologies.  The indirect target group of this project are children and adolescences (under 18 years); reinforcing the capacity of the mental health professionals and the PHC sanitary personnel (primary health centers); school counsellors, NGOs and Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC).
The psychologist/psychosocial shall dedicate 40 working hours weekly to support the psychosocial program (organization, coordination, execution, reporting, monitoring, evaluation) in Gaza,during a period of 3 months, with possibility of extension. Upon satisfactory performance and quality of the products, and the needs, the contract can be extended to further period.
Result areas:

Executive Level

-To organize, implement and follow up the community based activities related to MdM Spain MHPSS Programs.
-Organize, implement, support and follow up the implementation of MDM mental health activities in the targeted communities.
-In-depth knowledge and experience (both theory and practice) in psychopathology, psychopharmacology, psycho-medical, and psychotherapy utilizing various approaches in conducting individual therapy and group therapy.
-In-depth knowledge and experience (both theory and practice) in Children and young adults mental health's.
-Able to monitor and evaluate psychosocial activities.
-Implement and lead psychosocial activities with targeted communities.
-Able to create brochures, posters and organize workshops on anti-stigma activities on mental
health issues, psychosocial difficulties among children, parents and the community.
-Provide sessions such as workshops, support groups, training sessions, public meetings,
community awareness, and psychosocial activities for the community.
-Establishes and maintain collaborative relationships within Community Mental Health Center
(CMHC) team and with other structures and organizations.
Developing PSS standards and tools
-Gather input for program development and monitoring, rolling out standards, methods and tools.
-Define shared PSS programming standards.
-Ensure that MDM Spain methods and standards for the implementation of PSS programs are developed/ revised and remain updated based on MDM Spain programming practice and international standards.
-Implement MDM Spain quality standards and PSS minimum standards.
-Stimulate and monitor PSS programming.
Developing and implementing training:
-Support the revision of the PSS methodology and the development of new methodologies as required by the Project Manager.
-Plan, implement and evaluate training courses on MDM PSS methodology, which involves creative tools such as games, fine art, art-therapy, music-therapy, audio-visuals, group discussion, demonstrations, and practice sessions with feedback and role play.
-Ensure that all training requirements are met as outlined in MDM Spain training of trainers (ToT) guidelines.
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.
-Advise on PSS program and project proposals.
-Provide recommendations to the PM 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.
-Ensure the use of MdM Spain  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.
-Evaluate and monitor progress of the trainees through assessing their skills and knowledge in implementing MDM 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, etc.
-Represent MDM Spain externally, in relevant platforms/ networks/clusters focused on PSS theme.
-Report in clusters’ data
-Support the identification and packaging of PSS advocacy issues.
Knowledge and experience
-Bachelor degree in Psychology or Psychosocial degree.
-Advanced degree in clinical mental health with children, young people, and their families and careers.
-Minimum of 1-2 years’ Experience in working with INGO in similar position , preferably in MHPSS projects and community intervention
-Specialist knowledge of current principles and practices of Protection response in (post) conflict areas.
-Understanding of PSS (programming) in (post) conflict environment.
-Minimum 1-2 years in PSS programming in (post) conflict areas.
-Minimum 1-2 years in staff capacity building and experience in providing trainings.
-Demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation of the projects.
Skills and competencies
-Good communication and interpersonal skills (Communication Skills: Excellent fluent written and verbal English and Arabic. Ability to communicate sensitively and assertively with a wide range of stakeholders. Proven capacity to negotiate and maintain relationships)
-Advanced Computer skills
-Context knowledge
-Strong critical analysis and strategic thinking skills.
-Leadership and coordination ability.
-Proven ability to provide (creative/ interactive) trainings.
-Affinity with children and young people.
-Result – oriented
-Familiarity with creative methodologies.
-Positive, respectful attitude and collaborative approach to diversity. Culturally sensitive.

Application Procedure:

Qualified applicants are invited to send their resume or CV and a one-page cover letter in English, by e-mail to
 

[email protected]

Please reference the job title as MDM Spain Psychologist/ Psychosocial in the subject line of your e-mail.

Dead line for receiving the application is 6th November 2016.

Please note that MDM Spain will contact only pre-selected candidates and by email, the position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified.

We thank all candidates for their interest in a position with MDM Spain.