Consultant For Clinical Supervision

1.     Background and Rationale The Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Program started in Lebanon in October 2012. In response to the influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the IRC initiated a Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) program, with strategies implemented in various locations in the Northern and Beka’a Governorates to support women and girls. The WPE program activities include psychosocial support and risk mitigation activities, and specialized health care and case management for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The program is designed to ensure women and girls are better protected and empowered to access opportunities, services, and support responsive to their needs.  A key element of IRC’s programming is the provision of survivor centred comprehensive case management including psychosocial support to survivors of violence who access services.  Currently, the IRC has a team of 16 staff responsible for WPE programming. Given the complex and demanding nature of work, there is a need to ensure case workers and staff receive adequate support, clinical supervision and debriefing. 2.     Purpose of the Consultancy The purpose of this consultancy is to provide clinical supervision, which is a part of ethical requirements for all professional counsellors but also a way of self care for caregivers who deal with individuals who have undergone traumatic experiences. This is designed to help them mitigate extreme levels of stress and burn-out by engaging them in a therapeutic process that enables them discuss and explore their worries, fears and anxieties in a positive manner. In particular, the services are required to assist WPE staff effectively and positively deal with the demands placed on them and respond to their own well being and that of their clients. This will also increase  productivity at work hence maintaining professionalism and the quality of services offered to women and girls.   Key tasks: To impart skills and knowledge and empower the WPE response team to deal with stress and burn-out inherent in their daily work and explore ways in which care providers can enhance their personal care and development; To support the WPE response team deal with challenging cases and explore alternate ways to respond; To assist the WPE staff deal with the stress of the current high risk security environment; To offer psycho-education on thematic issues as the supervisees might deem necessary to increase their knowledge; To give feedback to the WPE coordinator accordingly on issues that may require her intervention or guidance.   Proposed Outputs: Group therapy session for WPE staff  in Bekaa and the North; Individual counselling sessions in the field (North and Bekaa) and Beirut to debrief with WPE staff. Bi- monthly progress reports to the WPE Coordinator to highlight needs and gaps;   3.     Management The Consultant will work in coordination with the WPE Program Managers (North and Bekaa) and WPE Coordinator 4.     Timeframe 2 days per month from February - December 2013 (2 days x 10 months = 20 days consultancy support)