Social Worker (MHPSS)

1. 1- BACKGROUND AND GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

PU-AMI does not create parallel systems to the MoPH, instead focuses on assisting the National System's Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in dealing with the increasing number of patients as a result of the extended nature of the Lebanon Crisis. Through the consortium including PUI, a number of PHCCs most affected by the crisis were supported to lower the barriers to accessing healthcare including the MHPSS services for refugees and vulnerable populations. Specialized and non-specialized MHPSS services will be provided to clients identified by the PHCC staff and community health teams (CHTs) in order to strengthen the capacity of the PHCCs and to provide holistic care. The Social Worker (SW) is intended to undertake various tasks linked to promoting awareness of and improving access to MHPSS services through a community-based approach under the direct supervision of PUI MHPSS TM and with the technical supervision of PUI MHPSS Specialist and Technical Advisor. SW will conduct MHPSS-focused assessments and actively participate in the care pathways of individual cases with a range of MHPSS complaints in close collaboration with PHCC staff (which includes general practitioners and nurses) and the PUI-AMI MHPSS Team (which includes a psychologist and psychiatrist).

2-RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The SW will facilitate the integration of MHPSS into PHC services in collaboration with the PUI's
psychologist, psychiatrist, and PHCC staff who have been trained in mh-GAP to ensure that mild,
moderate, and severe MHPSS complaints are identified and managed using suitable mh-GAP protocols.
Moreover, SW will play a key role in creating care pathways for individual cases with mild, moderate, or
severe MNS (mental, neurological, and substance disorders) conditions who are referred through the
PHCC staff and CHTs.

1- ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFICATION OF PwSNs
- Increase identification of PwMNs (including people with disabilities, people with MHPSS conditions, and
survivors of SGBV, etc) and their referral and / or service use.
- Facilitate the implementation of MHPSS-focused assessments and screening to better identify the PwMNS
conditions and MHPSS complaints at individual and community levels.
- In case of a need, build the capacity of the CHVs and of outreach activities in close coordination with PUI’s
Psychologist and visits to the different activities of CHTs in the catchment area of PHCCs.
- Identify PwMNs (including particularly vulnerable groups facing MHPSS risks, such as PwMHD, persons
with disabilities, WoHH, survivors of SGBV, etc.) and conduct referrals according to identified needs and
after receiving consent.
- Establish contact, interact with and assess individual’s symptoms and behavior with the adapted
community version of the mh-GAP in coordination with PHCC staff.

2- INTERVENTIONS (PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT)
- Provide PFA in acute traumatic events or for the cases that need an urgent attention at PHCCs
- Develop and conduct brief psychoeducation sessions with an emphasis on self-care strategies, especially
for depression cases and sharing information about the identified MNS conditions with the individuals
and caregivers with the technical support of the psychologist.
- Provide other low resource intensity psychosocial interventions to empower the skills of reducing stress
and enhancing social support at the individual and group level.

3- REFERRALS (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL REFERRALS)
- Refer cases to internal and external relevant services based on the severity of the MNS condition and the
other compounding needs of the cases and follow up on the service provision.
- Assess risk for self-harm or suicide and refer accordingly
- Establish a file for each family receiving MHPSS services to record the situation, plan of intervention,
follow up, and updates;

4- COMMUNITY-BASED MHPSS
- Promote the resilience and empowerment of the targeted community members by ensuring their active
participation in all stages of the interventions.
- Be knowledgeable of the services provided in the area of intervention by both INGOs, community-based
local organizations or institutions, and contribute to updating the service mapping in coordination with
referrals officers and case workers.
- Provide information on the services available to refugees, migrants, and vulnerable host communities.
- Propose and support community-based, in coordination with community volunteers, other teams, and
partners, aiming to raise awareness on MHPSS topics
- Contribute to the development of culturally appropriate and understandable risk communication and
community engagement materials.

5- DEPLOYMENT TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE
- In case of emergency (related to climate events, COVID-19 pandemic, or other communicable diseases
etc.), be quickly deployable in PUI Emergency Teams to provide timely support to the households and
individuals impacted, and to refer them to relevant services.

6- REPORTING
- Provide weekly and monthly activity reports to the line manager.
- Report on any trend related to MHPSS and propose adaptation measures.
The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on
the project’s needs.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
- Language skills (mandatory criteria):
• Fluent in Arabic and Good command of English to be able to follow up on trainings, internal and external meetings as well as
international guidance (speaking, reading, writing)
- Education degree (mandatory criteria)
• A Bachelor degree in social work, particularly from the Medical and Social Work department.
- Work experience (mandatory criteria):
• 2 years or similar experience in the Health and MHPSS sectors.
- Computer skills:
• Good command of Word and Excel
- Other:
• Excellent knowledge of humanitarian principles and of PSEA
• Excellent communication skills, including active listening
• Good analytical skills
• Teamwork
• Good organizational skills
• Respect of professional confidentiality
• Patience
• Ability to remain neutral and put interest of beneficiary population first
• Cultural sensitivity
• Ability to adhere to ethical considerations and principles with regard to work with vulnerable populations
DESIRABLE (NON-MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS) having those would be a plus for the candidate:
- Education degree (non-mandatory criteria)
• A Master degree in social work, particularly from the Medical and Social Work department.
- Work experience (non-mandatory criteria):
• 2 years of working in NGOs operating in the Health and MHPSS sectors.
- Skilled in or willing to build their capacity and knowledge in:
• Developing family-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

ASSETS
- Interests: Work in humanitarian context.

Transversals skills
• Excellent conflict resolution and diplomacy experience
• Good understanding of the local context
• Reliability
• Ability to take initiative to deal with difficulties encountered in daily work
• Capacity to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team
• Ability to adapt or change priorities according to the changing situation within a mission or the organization
itself
• Ability to analyze and suggest improvements of the activities
• Well organized and hard worker
• Able to manage stress and pressure