Psychologist – Emergency pool

Action against Hunger is an international non-governmental, private, apolitical, non-religious and non-profit organization created in 1979. Its goal is to combat hunger and dangerous situations that threaten men, women, and children. Currently 500 expats and more than 5,000 employees are working for Action against Hunger in more than forty-six countries working in projects concerning four areas of focus: nutrition, health, food security and water and sanitation. 

In Lebanon, the Syrian crisis continues to generate political, social, and economic pressure due to the war in Lebanon and keeps more than 1.5 million refugees in a situation of increasing vulnerability. In this environment of political, economic and social uncertainty, our teams have maintained their high levels of humanitarian response and aid to Lebanon. Likewise, our interventions have been maintained in the Bekaa and northern areas, as well as in the south of the country, with a special focus on working in partnership or in consortium with other organizations and on institutional strengthening of the relationship with both donors. institutional, such as with local authorities and entities

 Under the supervision of Nutrition Head of Project and the Nutrition supervisor, the Psychologist is responsible to participate on IYCF/Mental health and care practices and identification of implementing sites. S/he will implement and monitor the nutrition and psychological activities provided to beneficiaries, with a particular focus on group awareness sessions about mental health, assessment of persons’ needs and follow-up/monitoring as per mental health professionals’ recommendations. S/he will ensure proper coordination and communication with nutrition and health staff and other Action Against Hunger supervisors. The position requires extensive field work and movement in West  and North Bekaa (Baalbeck and Hermel Governorates).

To contribute to mainstream priority nutrition security issues across sectors, to develop a progressive and sustainable response to health/nutrition needs.

To integrate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support at community, family and basic services levels.

To promote, protect and support Infant and Young Child Feeding at community and Primary Health Care level.

Objective 1 - Needs analysis and adapting approaches to cultural context (15%)

• In collaboration with other Field Officers in the team and the Nutrition supervisor, the Psychologist will be responsible of assessing on a regular basis needs (including mental health needs), IYCF-E, nutrition and care practices amongst the targeted communities in the areas of interventions.
• S/he will be responsible for determining the optimal and sub-optimal practices needing improvement and formulate and manage care plans.
• S/he will offer technical advice about the mainstreaming of MHPSS across Action Against Hunger’s activities in Bekaa, general Action Against Hunger’s approaches in Lebanon, and advocacy objectives.

Objective 2 – To program and facilitate psychosocial support sessions (50%)

• To develop guidelines for group sessions integrating mental health and psychosocial support to improve care practices, infant and young child feeding and nutrition.
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• To support and accompany other field officers, so that psychosocial considerations are effectively mainstreamed across all group sessions.
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• To contribute to the development of standardized tools to collect and measure baseline and end line mental health indicators (psychological well-being, caregiver-child interactions, and child development, together with knowledge, attitudes and practices).
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• Participate in the design and implementation of any other psychosocial/psychological activities that might be identified as relevant and pertinent according to the beneficiaries’ needs or linked to the mental health situation of the beneficiaries.
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• Improve play sessions and child stimulation.
• Ensure adequate quality and quantity of structured play sessions and plan appropriate games and materials for children based on their ages and abilities.
• Provide children and attendants with opportunities to play together to improve the caregiver / child relationship and bonding;
• Conduct regular inventories of age-adequate toys and request new ones if necessary;
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• Care practices and Breastfeeding:
• Actively collaborate with nutrition and health staff and participate in activities to support breastfeeding;
• Take advantage of the activities time to observe and encourage a positive caregiver-child relationship and bonding;
• Assist mothers with breastfeeding difficulties as much as possible, as well as supporting husbands and other family members to create a supportive environment for breastfeeding and adequate care practices.
• To offer advice and stimulate self-care and continued application of recommendations and lessons learnt after participation in the program.
• Stimulate exchange between beneficiaries in discussion / working groups on particular topics related to mental health and make them more dynamic. 
• Observe and analyse the content of group sessions and evaluate it on the basis of an evaluation grid.
• To offer psychological first aid if required and support other team members in improving their ability to do the same.

Objective 3 – Identification of families in need of specific monitoring and ensure individual or group monitoring for identified beneficiaries. (25%)

• Assess needs by talking to the mother (or the attendant) to determine problems encountered, then identify with the team members (who should be referred for monitoring, either individual or group;
• Carry out individual or group monitoring with the identified beneficiaries, according to the ethical rules of the profession.
• To manage care plans and provide follow-up and monitoring of individuals as per mental health professionals’ recommendations.
• Visit, if necessary, at their living place, the families identified in an attempt to understand the family situation which could explain the difficulties and to assist the family to find possible solutions (working on the mother/child relationship, assessing the resources, etc.)
• Ensure an effective referral system (with external partners and services) in MHPSS for , beneficiaries in need of primary or secondary mental health support.

Objective 4 – Reporting (10%)

• With the support of other Field Officers, the Psychologist will be responsible for reporting the work and activities implemented in the field.
• Through a narrative report, s/he will report the challenges faced through the implementation process and provide possible solutions relevant to the context and culture.
• To participate in internal and external evaluations of the program and activities, and required analysis to draw lessons learnt for future interventions.

Objective 5 – Security

• Respect the security rules specified in the mission and base security plan, see to it that the team under his/her responsibility complies with the security plan and perform the security management tasks that can be assigned in its protocols.
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Communicate to the security managers of the working location any security related information or noncompliance with the security plan

Objective 6 - Support humanitarian activities of Action Against Hunger

• Support the emergency interventions of the organization as per the employee’s abilities.
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• Support any activity that helps reaching our humanitarian goals, as per the employee’s abilities.

Qualifications:

Ability to conduct a full assessment of a person’s needs including mental health needs, effectively assess and support persons in crisis, formulate a care plan, initiate management of the case, provide follow-up and monitor as per mental health professionals’ recommendations and provide group awareness sessions about mental health.

Additional knowledge and abilities in maternal and child health and in nutrition will be highly appreciated.

Skilled in mental health in complex emergencies (IASC guidelines, psychological first aid, mhGAP…)

1-3 years of experience in Psychology OR in social work OR in nursing with previous experience in mental health.

Experience in working with the response to the Syrian crisis especially in Lebanon.

Action against Hunger is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work such as but not limited to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and/or financial misconduct; We expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through endorsing our code of conduct and other related policies and only those who share our values and code of conduct will be recruited to work for us.