Psychologist

MoSA is seeking the services of  Psychologist that will be recruited by ABAAD and selected based on a joint process between MoSA and ABAAD.

This Position will be contracted by ABAAD and deployed by MOSA central office.

Objectives

Provide technical support to the Juvenile Protection Division at the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) and contribute to the implementation of the child protection case management program.

Background

In the context of its regulatory/governing role in the area of juvenile/child protection, MOSA seeks to strengthen the child protection system at the national and local/ decentralized levels. MoSA is aiming at strengthening the child protection case management system and improving coordination among all the actors involved in this area, including MOSA’s staff and teams, social development centers, international and local NGOs contracted and not contracted by MOSA for this purpose.

Under the direct supervision Juvenile Protection Division, the psychologist will contribute to the support of the  institutionalization of the child protection case management system and for the provision of the necessary supervision and optimal coordination among all partners to standardize the use of the Standard Operating Procedures for Juvenile Protection in Lebanon (SOPs) and the related standardised tools and forms. In addition, it is responsible for establishing the internal referral pathway in MOSA, as well as automating the case documentation using the child protection information management system (CPIMS).

Scope of work

 The psychologist will provide the technical support necessary to manage and provide mental health and counselling services for children whose cases are managed and their family members. S/he will work according under the supervision of the head of the Juvenile Protection Division and in close collaboration with the general coordinator of CPCM.

Deliverables and Schedules

Providing psychological support:

• Contribute to attending to cases and families in the Juvenile Protection Division and to the early identification of cases of violence and exploitation, and documenting case follow-up.
• Provide psychological support through individual sessions involving the child and his/her family at the request of social workers.
• Discuss the protection scheme related to cases requiring psychological follow-up with the social workers of the department.
• Assess the child’s psycho-social wellbeing and needs through counselling, interviews and tests.
• Conduct home visits in certain cases, if necessary.
• Provide support to the Social workers in handling resistance or lack of collaboration by families and children.
• Provide self care to the case management team of the Ministry.

Coordination and reporting:

• Submit a report on the results of the psychological assessment to the social worker following up the case.
• Attend the meetings of the relevant committees at the request of the Head of the Division and following the approval of the Director General.
• Provide support to social workers in MOSA’s central and regional departments and to the social development centers staff who follow up individual cases.
• Liaise with psychologists at contracted civil society/non-governmental organizations  MoSA and ensure follow up on their work.
• Express an opinion on the results of the psychological assessment provided by experts working for the civil society/non-governmental organizations.
• Coordinate with the authoritative focal points in MOSA’s various units regarding the psychological follow-up of cases and provide the necessary support under the supervision of the Head of the division.

Other tasks:

• Propose the necessary trainings for MOSA’s staff and NGOs.
• Contribute to the relevant reports  co-conducted by MOSA’s Juvenile Protection Division.
• Contribute to the development of MOSA’s plans related to mental health, and psychological assessment tools and updating them, and ensure their suitability for use by NGO specialists.
• Contribute to the implementation of additional tasks undertaken by the Department.

Reporting Requirements

• Submit general monthly reports to MoSA s DG through administrative channel (hierarchy )
•  Submit technical each 3 months to MoSA DG
• Submit technical reports and full report on each case by using SOPs forms and individual psychological follow-up models related to case management only to  Head of the Juvenile Protection Division and .

Profile

Requirements

Educational level:

Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and registration in the order of Psychologist.

Qualifications and experience:

• At least 3 years of experience in child protection and family mediation.
• At least 3 years of experience in providing specialized psychological support.
• Ability to communicate and work within a team.
• Adequate knowledge of the child’s right convention, Law No. 422/2002 (Protection of Juveniles in Conflict with the Law and/or at Risk) and the SOPs in Lebanon.
• Training skills and team supervision.
• Experience in Lebanese NGOs work and their contractual relationship with MOSA.

Expected skills and behaviours:

• Experience in working with children and marginalized groups.
• Communication and coordination skills.
• Respect for ethnic and cultural differences and the ability to deal with various social groups.
• Ability to work under pressure and in emergency situations.
• Experience in planning and organizing group activities.
• Experience in dealing with difficult cases and the psychological stress resulting from them.
• Compliance with MOSA’s regulations and maintaining confidentiality of information.
• Willingness to work outside office hours when the need arises.

Languages:

Excellent command of the Arabic and English languages in reading and writing.