Pss Facilitation And Animation Technical Support And Supervision Consultant

Job description Position: PSS Facilitation and Animation Technical Support and Supervision consultant 1.       Background Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees, delivering health and medical care to those worst affected by conflict, occupation and displacement. Over the past 30 years, MAP has maintained a significant presence in Lebanon, responding to the needs arising from life-long displacement in refugee camps. Working in partnership with local organizations and health care providers, we provide access to essential services for the most vulnerable among the refugees. MAP also contributes to the protection of communities and individuals by monitoring access to health and identifying, managing and referring cases of violence, in conjunction with grassroots and high-level advocacy. In response to the current humanitarian refugee crisis in Lebanon, MAP is currently recruiting a Consultant to assist in designing and delivering technical monitoring field visits to project staff working with children in various CFS’s across 5 Lebanon regions, delivering daily recreational and structured psychosocial support activities in the frame of a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Project co-funded by UNICEF, and implemented in partnership with Palestinian NGOs.  The project aims to mitigate the impact of war and displacement and contribute to strengthening resilience, healthy development and positive coping mechanisms among Palestinian refugee women and children from Syria, their families and the host Palestinian community.  MAP is currently recruiting a PSS Facilitation and Animation Technical Support and Supervision consultant for its activities implemented by local partners’ staff in Lebanon. 2. Objective of the position: To support MAP with psychosocial support activities monitoring, technical supervision and supporting  MAP project partners while  delivering recreational and structured group-based PSS activities for boys and girls of different ages, supervising quality of activities and staff adherence to best practice, performance and techniques, do no harm standards, and implementation of validated PSS methodologies. The PSS Facilitation and Animation Technical Support and Supervision consultant will provide onsite, regional and central coaching visits follow up and support MAP partners staff in the frame of “Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support program “Strengthening MHPSS in Palestinian Camps and Gatherings for Children, Women and Families affected by the Syria Crisis”. The PSS Facilitation and Animation Technical Support and Supervision  consultant  will provide support through coaching and mentoring , ensure that activities are implemented according to minimum standards, that PSS interventions are delivered at the required quality, and reporting gaps in capacity building needs to program management. 3. Location, time-frame and duration Frequent travel to various areas; particularly Palestinian camps and gathering in Lebanon, and agreed periodic meeting schedule at MAP Beirut office included. The PSS facilitation and animation technical support and supervision will cover various locations in the major Palestinian refugee camps and gatherings in Lebanon, including CFS’s at partner’s premises, CFS’s at UNRWA HCs, and PSS activities running in number of UNRWA schools delivered by partners’ staff. The work will spread over the period from 15th September to 30th November 2017, however it is expected that in order to fulfill the task, the consultant will need to commit on site visits according to priority and various levels of needs agreed with MAP. 4. Key tasks and responsibilities: Design and deliver Thirty (30) days of onsite Facilitation and Animation Technical Support and Supervision visits in 5 regions, covering staff capacity and skills while working with children; animation and facilitation skills and techniques, adherence to minimum standards and do no harm.  The Facilitation and Animation Technical Support and Supervision visits will be focused on the following key Staff competencies  Animation and facilitation skills Including:  Staff understanding of Know how to organise the physical space to ensure safety and child friendliness,, introducing and explaining activity to the group (facilitator, programme, goals, timing etc.), mastering the techniques used, able to motivate and encourage participation, praising accomplishments, respectful and constructive in non-positive feedback, concluding activity with reflection, wrap-up, and consolidation as appropriate, able to manage discussion, Q&A, and arranging  for participatory activity evaluation, Working with children Including: staff use of clear and simple language, suitable to the age of the child, appropriate body language, set rules and boundaries, responding appropriately to undisciplined/disruptive behavior, managing appropriately group dynamics, manage conflict within the group, ability to capture and retain children’s attention, and ability to  to engage shy or withdrawn children Psychosocial support Including: Staff understanding of impact of conflict/disaster on children and families, psychosocial vulnerability and is able to identify vulnerable children, aware of manifestation of distress and knows how to provide a first response to these, aware of boundaries of their role and knows how and when to involve supervisors Early Childhood Development Including: staff Basic understanding of ECD stages and milestones, child development notions and learn-through-play approaches, understanding of the importance of different type of play activities (i.e. creative, imaginative/symbolic, communicative, physical, and manipulative/constructive, social/games with rules) for child development and psychosocial well-being Child Protection Standards Including: staff understanding what is child abuse and neglect, vulnerability and protective factors, consequences, understanding CP Code of Conduct, CP policy and reporting mechanisms, using appropriate, respectful and polite language, respecting appropriate dress code, using appropriate, positive discipline methods; does not use corporal punishment or abusive language, none discriminating attitude among children, appropriate supervision of children’s safety, respecting children’s privacy and confidentiality, respecting  the opinion of the child, and ensuring  that activities are free of violence, bullying and discrimination 4.1. Other Key M&E tasks and responsibilities: ·         Conduct PSS animation and facilitation technical support  and supervision  visits to MAP partners CFS’s and in Palestinian refugees’ camps and gatherings located in  regions across Lebanon in coordination with partners focal persons, and arrange central meetings with PSS staff as needed ·         Work with partner’s focal persons/ key staff on familiarization with visit plan and other visit requirements. ·         Write visit reports and collect feedback from partners staff  5. Person specifications ·         Academic background in Mental Health and domain of psychosocial support , or extensive experience  in conducting PSS facilitation and animation training, and   interventions with refugee communities ·         Previous experience in a similar position as trainer /supervisor  in the field of psychosocial support  activities for children and adolescents ·         Familiarity with validated psychosocial support methodologies  in Lebanon is highly desirable ( i.e. WCH’s DEALs, Right to Play modules, KAFA’s citadel of protection modules , ABAAD’s Playing for gender equality module , etc…) ·         Previous experience of field work within the Palestinian refugee community in Lebanon ·         Familiarity of work in the framework of UNICEF-funded projects highly desirable ·         Strong proficiency in spoken and written Arabic is an absolute must; proficiency in English highly desirable ·         Knowledge/practice of ethical principles and guidelines to conducting PSS activities, good knowledge  of best practices and guiding principles ·         Excellent communication skills, active listening skills and ability to create rapport with the interviewees ·         Ability to identify and respond to participants distress, vulnerability and/or protection needs ·         Driving license and ability to drive in Lebanon ·         Candidatures by a team of at least two interviewers (male and female) are preferred; however each candidate should meet the specifications listed above. 6.1. Other qualifications: ·         Strong work ethics and commitment to MAP’s goals and values. ·         Excellent coordination and problem solving skills. ·         Goal-oriented; attention to detail with strong follow up. ·         Team oriented with strong team building skills, but with ability to work also efficiently with limited supervision. ·         Flexible and responsive to program challenges, with willingness to take on additional tasks as needed. ·         Able to work under pressure, and to manage multiple tasks. 8. Deadline for applications: Applications close 11/9/2017. Candidatures will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, therefore early applications are strongly encouraged. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.   9. Application process: All applicants should send a cover letter (maximum one page), and an updated CV (no longer than three pages, and including contact details of at least two professional referees), both in English to Training and Admin Assistant: farah.Hasan@map-uk.org