Clinical Psychologist for Persons at Heightened Risk - Arsal

Project Overview/Summary: The Psychologist will be responsible for providing direct support and care for persons at heightened risk in Bekaa area. The Psychologist will be supervised by the Senior Protection Manager – Case Management Specialist and technically supporting the Case Management Officer and Case Workers.

The Psychologist is responsible for the overall technical oversight of quality of the case management services for Bekaa and capacity build the case management team consisting of the Case Management Officer and team of Case Workers.

With support from IRC PRoL technical advisor, the Psychologist will develop standard operating procedures for the provision of psychosocial support in individual, group, and community-based settings specific to the needs of for persons at heightened risk and will be informed by an understanding of cultural norms around mental health, gender roles, violence against women and girls, and the neglect, exploitation and abuse of children and other vulnerable refugee groups. Coordination with other IRC protection programs such as WPE and CP is expected.

Major Responsibilities: Major responsibilities of the Psychologist (not exhaustive) are listed below:

Provision of Psychological Support:

• Provide structured clinical assessments and clear case formulation: Assess the needs of the client on the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional levels.
• Use standardized assessment tools.
• Provision of technical support to the case management team.
• Provide training on the safe identification and management of priority mental health conditions to general health and protection staff in line with relevant guidelines.
• Provide training, support and technical supervision and monitoring and evaluation assistance to staff implementing PSS activities if applicable.
• Improve and develop curricula, materials and other tools used by teams during the implementation of PSS programming if applicable.
• Support in developping standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols for mental health and psychosocial support providers in close coordination with the MHPSS TA.
• Lead/support development of guidelines for the referral of cases in need of psychosocial support by community focal points, to ensure effective responses to the needs of clients, and for referral of cases in need of clinical mental health support.
• Develop and ensure integrated data collection tools are used across case management team; with a special focus on referrals and follow up.
• Overview of case management assessments of clients to ensure qualitative reporting and analysis on a case-by-case basis to ensure action plan set with client is in line with protection principles.
• Support response to the identified needs by providing training for specific groups and individual level interventions/ activities (adapted and appropriate to each one’s specific needs and capacities);
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of services provided to clients, in support of quality monitoring and effective project management processes, at all times ensuring the confidentiality of clients’ identifying information.
• Provide quality specialized psychological consultations to clients identified both through the project and as a result of external referrals.
• Provide structured clinical assessments and clear case formulation: Assess the needs of the client on the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional levels.
• Use standardized assessment tools.
• Develop a consistent and acceptable treatment plan with clear objectives in relevance to the need assessment with a logical and consistent timeframe that includes estimated dates for case evaluation, closure, and post-support check-up.
• Monitor and evaluate the psychological progress of the patient.
• Maintain irreproachable levels of confidentiality and privacy.
• Complete intake assessments, evaluations, treatment recommendations, reviews, follow-up, and other documentation for each consultation and as necessary in an organized and efficient manner.
• Ensure that emergency cases are properly managed, referred to, and followed-up.
• Submit reports and updates on the cases to the manager of the program, the Case management Officer, and the designated case worker after every session or field visit conducted including feedback, concerns, and recommendations.
• Any other tasks as deemed necessary by the supervisor.
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• Focused Psychosocial Support Curriculum update
• Conduct Key Informant Interviews to have a clear knowledge of the context and challenges. This will include meeting with the Protection Sr Manager – Case Management Specialist CMS, Case Management Officers CMO,  Protection case workers PCW.
• Conduct a desk review of the current IRC data on people at heightened risks, check relevant resources and reports.
• Review and update the current regional curricula, and incorporate relevant feedback provided by the IRCs team into the new focused PSS curriculum to finalize the draft.
• Develop a training module for this curriculum (All materials should be potential templates to be used by stakeholders, with visual guides, examples of best practices, etc.). Conduct the training of trainers for IRC staff.
• Develop key guidance and tips as a reference for the CMS and CMOs concerning the required support needed for staff proving to roll out the curriculum.
• The scope of work for the Focused PSS short-term assignment is separated into two phases:

• PHASE 1: Assessment
• Reviewing IRC data and relevant reports
• Conduct relevant analysis of the data, coordinating with the CMS, CMOs and M & E officer to highlight outcomes of data.
• Discuss alternative ways to analyze the data that could potentially provide additional, helpful information on the needs of the population to inform programming and related advocacy priorities.
• Include a description of the methodology.
• Draft final assessment with recommendations including opportunities for an integrated approach with other programs.
• Share the assessment with the CMS upon completion.

Modifications to the PSS Curriculum

• Incorporate relevant feedback provided by the IRCs team into the focused PSS curriculum to finalize the draft curriculum for translation.
• Compile and include any references to the curriculum.
• Draft and develop key practical guidance/ tips as a reference sheet for the CMS concerning the required mental health technical support needed for new staff implementing the curriculum.

PHASE 2:

Conduct a 3 days training on the update focused PSS curriculum for IRC staff implementing the intervention.

• Highlight any concerns regarding the theoretical background
• Introductory overview section, giving a general overview of the training package, proposed agenda, and key considerations for conducting training on topics related to Focused PSS intervention.
• Prepare Actual training modules, each including materials such as a facilitator guide, simulation case studies, small group exercises, learning assignments, handouts, and other supporting materials such as PowerPoint presentations as appropriate.

Deliverables:

1. Assessment finalized,

2. Update the focused PSS Curriculum,

3. Develop focused PSS curriculum training tools.

4. Brief recommendations on the Assessment

5. Brief practical tip sheet on relevant technical support required for the CMS and CMO to oversee the program, as well as the required modality of technical support required for the implementing PCM team.

All materials developed must be original work. If information from existing resources is integrated into the materials it must be done with the permission of the source, and clear attribution and credit must be provided to the source.

Data Management and Reporting

• Manage, file and store data, ensuring the confidentiality of the information collected and the services provided.
• Participate in weekly/monthly reporting and planning meetings to ensure adherence to standards of care, quality case management and reporting requirements.
• Support implementation of monitoring and evaluation exercises, when required, in order to understand project impacts and outcomes, and report challenges encountered in the implementation of the project.
• Participate in the preparation of internal and external reports, as required.

Coordination and representation

• Contribute to the maintenance of an up-to-date service mapping of the service providers operating in the area and take proactive steps to remain informed about the available services.
• Lobby on behalf of individuals and families to access services and support individuals and families to effectively represent their views, needs and capacities in all meetings affecting them.
• Support timely information sharing regarding challenges and needs at the field level.
• Attend MHPSS Task Force meeting if needed.
• Represent IRC in internal and external forums as needed.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  Senior Protection Manager – Case Management Specialist

Position technically support:  Case Management Officer

Other Internal and/or external contacts:  MHPSS Technical Advisor, IRC different Programs

Consultancy Requirements:

Education:

• The qualified candidate must have a MA in clinical psychology.
• A completed clinical training/practicum in a university center consisting of at least 100 hours of training under supervision and 300 hours of applied training.

Having:

• Lebanese colloquium certificate for clinical psychologists.
• License to practice the clinical psychology profession from the Ministry of Public Health.
• N.B: A letter of recommendation from a senior clinical psychologist supervisor (holder of a doctorate and/or a scholar) and membership in one of the registered psychological associations of Lebanon is preferable.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of delivering specialized psychological consultations in a humanitarian setting through an NGO.
• Trained on, certified, and experienced in utilising evidence-based psychological interventions (eg., IPT, CBT, TF-CBT, EMDR…).
• Experience in assessment, program design, evaluation and technical training and supervision
• Knowledge of and experience in using established inter-agency standards and guidelines in MHPSS, such as IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.
• Solid understanding of protection principles, case management and client-centered care in humanitarian settings.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, respect, non-discrimination, and safety of beneficiaries at all times.
• Proven understanding of women and child protection
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to recognize mental health priority conditions as per the mhGAP.
• Skilled in at least one evidenced-based psychotherapy approach.
• Using different relaxation and stress management techniques.
• Ability to develop rapport with the patient.
• Interviewing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, creativity and flexibility.
• Experience providing clinical supervision or leading trainings is a plus.
• Ability to work autonomously, take initiative and responsibly escalate issues.
• Excellent coaching skills, including the capacity to provide structured feedback.
• Strong team spirit, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment.
• Interpersonal qualities: Works well in teams and promotes teamwork, flexible and able to handle pressure and conflict well in a calm and constructive manner.
• Strong problem-solving skills with ability to be flexible, adaptable, and creative in a challenging and fast-moving multicultural environment.
• Flexibility in working overtime when needed and ability to handle pressure well.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity, non-discrimination, and readiness to work with men, women, and girls and boys from diverse backgrounds, particularly the most marginalized segments of the community.
• Ability to adhere to ethical considerations and principles regarding work with vulnerable populations.

Candidate must be skilled in:

• Developing person-centered, goal and strength focused, recovery-oriented care plan.
• Mental health in complex emergencies (IASC guidelines, Psychological First Aid, mhGAP…).
• Biopsychosocial model in mental health.
• Community-based approach in mental health.
• Human rights-based approach in mental health.
• Knowledge about the predictable stresses of humanitarian aid work and the policies and practices needed to mitigate them.
• Good digital literacy and knowledge in Microsoft Office and internet use.

Language Skills: 

Ability to communicate, read, and write clearly in Arabic and English.

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. 

Working Environment:  Base Located in Arsal, the working environment will be a combination of office based, Zahle and Arsal field based.