PSS Team Leader North

II. Organizational Context and Scope

Whether people migrate voluntarily, or forced by vulnerable situations such as poverty, or are displaced due to a conflict or a natural disaster, migration entails major adaptations. During migration, people must redefine personal, interpersonal, socioeconomic, cultural and geographic boundaries. This implies a redefinition of the individual, family, group and collective identities, roles and value systems and may be a source of stress for the individual, the family and the communities involved. Providing psychosocial support to migrant populations in educational, cultural, community, religious and primary health settings reduces vulnerabilities, and prevents their stagnation.

Since 1998, IOM - the United Nations Migration Agency - provides Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people as well as to host communities in more than sixty countries, covering three main strategic objectives:

1. Building the capacities of professionals, national institutions, international agencies, civil society organizations, etc.;
2. Develop a network of MHPSS experts;
3. Provide Psychosocial Support (PSS) services to migrant and crisis-affected populations.

In Lebanon, IOM operates in Baalbek area since 2007 through Dari (داري) Recreational and Counselling Centre for Families and in the South of Lebanon through Al Multaqa Centre in Bissariyeh, established in 2017. IOM is currently expanding its activities through the establishment of a new pilot Centre in the North of Lebanon, in the frame of the project “Psychosocial Support to Crisis Affected, Displaced and Migrant Youth and their Families in Lebanon”.

IOM Centres provide structured and unstructured community-based and specialized psychosocial support activities, aiming at providing a sustainable approach to psychosocial care as well as at promoting dialogue and social cohesion between migrants and host community. Activities will include a) cultural community-based events, like conferences, exhibitions, readings, film screening b) unstructured activities, like clubs and peer groups c) community-generated activities, like hosting youth groups, art troupes, etc. d) structured workshops, including discussion groups, art therapies, etc. e) individual and group counselling.

Since 2013, about 40.000 vulnerable people were served by IOM Centres, among them Lebanese IDPs, Iraqi refugees, Syrian refugees, Palestinian refugees, Lebanese returnees, vulnerable Lebanese nationals.

III. Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Under the direct supervision of the Psychosocial Support Field Assistant and the overall supervision of the Psychosocial Program Manager, the selected candidate will act as team leader of a multidisciplinary psychosocial support team, operating within the new IOM established Recreational and Counselling Centre for Families in North Lebanon. In particular, the selected candidate will be in charge of the following tasks:

1. Provide daily supervision and coordination for the activities implemented by the PSS team, inside and outside (outreach, events, etc.) of the Centre;
2. Map existing psychosocial needs and contribute to psychosocial needs assessment;
3. Based on assessed needs and in coordination with PSS team members, design an array of age and gender appropriate psychosocial interventions for children, adolescents, adults and elderly vulnerable people;
4. Develop and conduct age-appropriate community-based and focused psychosocial support activities for displaced people and Lebanese hosting communities, including outreach activities and community events;
5. Provide technical support, training and assistance to the SDCs network to strengthen their provision of PSS services;
6. Supervising quality of activities and adherence to best practice, performance and techniques, do no harm standards, and implementation of validated PSS methodologies;
7. Support the PSS team members though mentoring/coaching to ensure the quality delivery of PSS interventions and assess capacity building needs; 
8. Organize team meetings and provide weekly program update and staff planning;
9. Assure regular monitoring and evaluation of the activities through appropriate tools;
10. Assist the Centre in the developing or reviewing PSS methodologies and tools;
11. Ensure safe identification and referral of cases that require specific intervention in coordination with the PSS Team;
12. Ensure that the activities are done in a clean, safe, quiet and comfortable location;
13. Ensure that all beneficiaries participate in the activities in a non-discriminatory as well as age and gender sensitive and appropriate approach;
14. Ensure that participants are aware of IOM accountability/complaint mechanisms;
15. Support the effective inclusion of people with disabilities in the PSS activities;
16. Perform any other relevant duty as may be assigned.

Administrative tasks

1. Support the daily management and administration of operations at the Centre;
2. Centralize all information (weekly reports, list of beneficiaries, procurement requests, monthly attendance sheets, etc.) gathered from the team and consolidate them as required;
3. Collect the input of the PSS team members and elaborate the weekly and monthly schedule of activities and supervise closely its implementation;
4. Attend and participate to training and capacity building activities organized by IOM and by other national and internationally partners;
5. Perform daily administrative tasks required for the operation of the centre, including coordination for provision of material and supplies, staff attendances, etc.

Coordination tasks

1. Assist liaising with the local authorities and institutions, international and local CSOs, for the efficient and effective delivery of services;
2. Promote synergies and partnerships with the communities in the implementation area by identifying resources, actors, activities, events, etc.;
3. Identify potential community volunteers/animators;
4. Manage communication and promote the positive image of the centre.

IV. Competencies

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following technical and behavioural competencies

Behavioural

• Accountability;     
• Creativity and Initiative;
• Client Orientation;
• Communication;  
• Continuous Learning        
• Planning and Organizing;
• Professionalism;  
• Teamwork;
• Technological Awareness.

Technical

• Demonstrate leadership and organizational skills;
• Have excellent integrity and demonstrate good initiative and dynamism;
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychosocial support interventions;
• Exhibit a personality that demonstrates enthusiasm and interpersonal skills to relate well with staff and the community;
• Demonstrate gender awareness and gender sensitivity;
• Good communication, interpersonal and organizational skills;  
• Ability to draft clearly and concisely;  
• Demonstrated gender awareness and gender sensitivity;  
• Knowledge of psychosocial guidelines and approaches related to emergency settings (MHPSS IASC guidelines, PFA guidelines, etc.);
• Familiarity with validated psychosocial support methodologies and tools in Lebanon;
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds;  
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Personal commitment, efficiency, flexibility and drive for results;  
• Proficiency in Office applications, including Word and Excel.