Psychologist

Introduction about MSF:

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / أطباء بلا حدود  is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people in 70 countries who are affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation and our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.

We offer basic healthcare, perform surgery, fight epidemics, rehabilitate and run hospitals and clinics, carry out vaccination campaigns, operate nutrition centers, and provide mental healthcare. Our activities include the treatment of injuries and disease, maternal care and the provision of humanitarian aid. Where necessary, we set up sanitation systems, supply safe drinking water, and distribute relief to assist survival.

Main Objective of the position:

Providing psychological support to patients according to MSF principles, standards and procedures in order to improve the patients’ mental health.

Accountabilities:

• Carrying out evaluation of mental health needs of patients and establishing a diagnosis and a plan of treatment. Informing the patient and his/her relatives about the possible consequences of the illness and treatment to follow as well as referring patients to other health professionals whenever necessary to provide the most appropriate care and improve the patient's condition.
• Implementing the Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) protocol, identifying possible victims of SGBV and referring them to the medical team so that they receive the necessary treatment.
• Providing psychological support and psychotherapy sessions (individual, family, group) to patients according to MSF protocols in order to improve their mental health conditions
• Assisting and training staff members and resourceful people whenever necessary in order to enhance the scope of MH activities. Working in close collaboration with translators in order to ensure appropriate terminology and behaviour during sessions
• Collecting statistical and monitoring data about mental health activities
• Informing the supervisor and the medical team about any issues or problems that may arise related to patients’ treatment in order to provide the best possible solution from a medical perspective
• Ensuring that all patient information is kept confidential.

MSF Context Specific Accountabilities:

• Psychologist will be providing specialized mental health care as well as psychosocial activities to vulnerable populations in MSF clinics and in community shelters.
• Psychologist will be responsible to assess MH needs and resources of PHCCs to create and implement a plan to strengthen their MH skills.
• Open mindeness, flexibility, and intercultural competencies – availability to work/collaborate with people from various background, origin, religions, utilizing interpreters, etc in an inclusive and non-discriminatory manner
• Providing individual short-term psychotherapy with a community based approach.
• Providing psychotherapeutical and PSS group session activities in the clinics and within patient communities.
• In collaboration with other team members support for the patients needing psychiatric care.
• Updating patient’s files and data collection in a timely manner and according to MSF protocols while ensuring high standards of ethical compliance and confidentiality.
• Taking active part in case discussions and meetings within the project.
• Team spirit and collaboration: MSF aims to provide medical and mental health care in a multi disciplinary approach – availability to work with other medical, paramedical and psycho-social components
• MSF aims to respect patient’s rights and dignity, according to MSF protocols and values – Adherence to MSF values is mandatory, experience in patient centered-care and multidisciplinary case-management is an asset.

Requirements:

Education

• Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology essential.
• MoPH License to practice clinical psychology profession in Lebanon is required

Experience

Essential: 

• Minimum 2 years’ experience as a Psychologist

Desirable:

• Previous experience with MSF or other NGO’s in developing countries
• Previous experience with violence and trauma related programs, working with NCD patients.
• Previous experience in assessment of MH needs and providing MHPSS capacity building
• Previous experience in facilitating group interventions
• Previous experience in working with migrant and refugee populations
• Previous experience in working in emergency settings

Languages                  

• Arabic and English (fluent)

Knowledge

• Desirable computer literacy (word, excel and internet)