Subcontracting Social Workers on Consultancy Basis

About Taawon

Taawon is an independent non-profit organisation established in 1983. Taawon strives to make a distinguished contribution toward furthering the progress of the Palestinians, preserving their heritage and identity, supporting their living culture, and building civil society in the different working areas it serves: the West Bank (including Jerusalem), the Gaza Strip, the 1948 Areas, and the Palestinian communities in Lebanon.

Taawon works closely with local, grassroots organisations to address the specific needs of the Palestinian refugees living in difficult circumstances throughout the country. We support the implementation of a range of initiatives under three specific programs: Education, Community Development (including health and relief), and Culture.  We work in close partnership with more than 40 local partners and touch the lives of more than 100,000 Palestinian refugees annually.

About the consultancy

Background

Currently, Taawon is implementing a project titled “Enhanced Services for People and Children with Disabilities Living in Palestinian Gatherings” . Originally, the project aimed to improve services and promote inclusion for Palestinian persons with disabilities (PwDs) and children with disabilities (CwDs) in Lebanon. However, in response to the emergency needs arising from the ongoing war, the project has partially shifted its focus to providing psychosocial support (PSS) activities for displaced families in the Nahr al-Bared and Beddawi communities (camps surroundings). These activities will primarily target children, adolescents, and their parents, with the goal of improving mental health and social well-being. The sessions aim to create a safe environment where participants can access vital mental health support and services.

To support the implementation of these activities, Taawon is seeking to contract 10 social workers as short-term consultants to support the implementation of psychosocial support (PSS) activities in the Nahr al-Bared and Beddawi areas. The social workers will be responsible for delivering PSS activities targeting children, adolescents, and their parents, ensuring that services are tailored to the needs of displaced families. The role will involve direct work with beneficiaries, organizing group and individual sessions, and providing psychoeducation, among other duties.

Objectives

The PSS activities aim to:

• Enhance the psychological and social well-being of children, adolescents, and parents.
• Provide a safe environment where children and adolescents can express their feelings and receive emotional support.
• Raise awareness among parents on the importance of mental health and their role in supporting their children.
• Build adaptive coping skills among beneficiaries to face the challenges of displacement.

Target Groups

• Children: Aged 6 to 12 years, targeting 300 children (150 from each area). Sessions will focus on emotional expression, coping with displacement, and self-regulation.
• Adolescents: Aged 13 to 17 years, targeting 200 adolescents (100 from each area). Sessions will address emotional management, stress relief techniques, and communication skills.
• Parents: Targeting 200 parents (100 from each area). Sessions will focus on improving communication with children, understanding mental health, and building family resilience.

Scope of Work

The social workers will undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct group psychosocial support sessions with children, adolescents, and parents.
• Develop and implement activities aimed at building coping mechanisms for displaced individuals.
• Provide psychoeducation to children, adolescents, and parents on mental health, coping strategies, and stress management.
• Use observation, assessment, and social history tools to identify beneficiaries’ needs and provide appropriate support.
• Facilitate communication and emotional expression in children and adolescents through structured activities.
• Support parents in managing the mental health needs of their children through training and skill-building workshops.
• Maintain detailed records of each session and client case, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with Taawon’s ethical standards.

• Participate in regular meetings with the project team to discuss progress, challenges, and case management.
• Prepare and submit weekly and monthly reports documenting the activities conducted, attendance, and any relevant observations or issues.
• Document beneficiary progress and refer cases to other professionals or organizations as needed.

• Coordinate with local community organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure the smooth delivery of services.
• Promote community engagement and encourage participation in PSS activities.

Qualifications and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in Sociology or other related fields
• At least 2 years of professional experience in social work, preferably in mental health, psychosocial support, or community-based services.
• Strong understanding of the challenges faced by displaced populations, particularly in Palestinian communities.
• Experience working with children and adolescents in crisis or trauma-sensitive environments.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment with sensitivity to local customs and values.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to facilitate group sessions and provide psychoeducation.
• Proficiency in Arabic is required; knowledge of English is an asset.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to manage and prioritize a caseload.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of mental health and psychosocial support principles.
• Experience with documentation and report writing.
• Good organizational and time-management skills.

1. Deliverables

• Deliver group PSS sessions for children, adolescents, and parents (14-16 sessions for children, 8sessions for adolescents, 6 sessions for parents).
• Design and implement age-appropriate coping activities for children, adolescents, and parents to manage displacement challenges.
• Complete thorough assessments of beneficiaries' mental health needs, track their progress, and provide necessary referrals while maintaining accurate, confidential records.
• Submit regular reports documenting the progress of activities, any challenges faced, and the outcomes achieved, including beneficiary attendance and engagement.

Timeline

The expected timeframe for this assignment is approximately 2 months, (November-January 2024), starting from the contract signature. A detailed timeline for each phase of the consultancy will be mutually agreed upon between Taawon and the selected consultant.

Submission Guidelines

Interested candidates are requested to submit their CV and a cover letter to recruitment@taawon.org no later than 17 November 2024. Please include “Social Worker for PSS Activities” in the subject line of your email. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Taawon is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, or any other status.