Consultant specialized care for frontline staff involved in the provision of GBV services - Beirut - FOR NATIONAL CANDIDATES ONLY

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 interventions implemented in various locations in the Northern and Bekaaa Governorates to support women and girls. The program is designed to ensure women and girls are better protected and empowered to access opportunities, services, and support responsive to their needs. In response to the recent Beirut Blast WPE programme has also established services for women and girls in some of the affected areas in Beirut.

Consultancy Overview

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. Given the complex and demanding nature of work, there is a need to ensure staff, and particularly frontline workers, receive adequate support, clinical supervision and debriefing. 

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 wellbeing 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.

Responsibilities

 I. 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;

II. To assist the WPE staff deal with the stress of the current high risk security environment;

III. To offer psycho-education on thematic issues as the supervisees might deem necessary to increase their knowledge;

IV. To give feedback to the WPE coordinator accordingly on issues that may require her intervention or guidance.

Deliverables

• Group counselling sessions for WPE staff in Beirut, Bekaa and the North as needed.
• Individual counselling sessions in the field (Beirut, North and Bekaa) and Beirut to debrief with WPE staff.
• Bi- monthly progress reports to the WPE Coordinator to highlight needs and gaps;

Timeframe

From January, 2021 to 31st March, 2021 (with possible extension)

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: WPE Coordinator
• Position works with: WPE Senior Manager and Program Managers.

Requirements

• MSc in Counseling Psychology;
• 3-5 years experience clinical supervision and debriefing;

• Experience working in WPE/GBV programs;
• Experience in the Middle East and/or a refugee-setting, preferred;
• Fluent in Arabic, knowledge of English highly desirable.