PSS Facilitator

Position Aim:

• The Structured Psychosocial Support Activities Facilitator has the knowledge and practical skills to carry out structured psychosocial support activities with children at high risk of vulnerability.
• The intention of this position is to build the resilience of the most vulnerable children and youth through psychosocial support activities. PSS facilitator implements the activities in a manner that leaves a considerable positive impact on children and youth and promote their wellbeing.

Planning and Implementation:

• Support the outreach teams in mapping and assessing children to attend PSS activities in the streets and Drop-In Center.
• Assess the main similar needs/issues faced by the targeted community group of children.
• Register and enroll children in psychosocial support activities.
• Plan, organize, and run activities with children while facilitating and encouraging the participation of all children.
• Develop an action plan of PSS activities, topics, and other types of interventions with the group based on a “Group intervention approach”.
• Ensure activities run in a timely manner to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
• Implement these sessions on a periodical manner and evaluate each session with the children as well as with the Drop-In Center Coordinator.
• Revise sessions according to each feedback/evaluation and constantly adapt approaches and exercises.
• Deal with difficult behaviors (conflict, aggressiveness, introversion) and understand the reason behind the behavior to positively communicate with the situation.
• Ensure Children under her/his responsibility are not exposed to any form of harm or stress during the activities.
• Promote and ensure the Children's participation in all activities.
• Ensure that all activities are done in an appropriate, accessible, and safe location in line with the minimum child-friendly standards.
• Document all necessary feedback and provide regular monitoring reports to the project manager on the progress of children and youth.
• Ensure that parents receive regular feedback and advice on their children's progress and interaction.
• Ensure that all children and caregivers are aware of any accountability/ complaint mechanism.
• Establish or support the establishment of community-based child protection committees.
• Set up the different activities connected with the community programs
• Plan and identify materials and any kind of support required for every intervention on weekly basis.
• Assist in the development of new PSS methodologies or/ and new PSS M&E tools.
• Review and adjust PSS tools to make sure the relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information is always presented in accordance to LOST and the Inter-Agency guidelines
• Suggest modifications of sessions and exercises in order to adapt to changes occurring in the work environment, based on the feedback of the caregivers and children.
• Represent LOST in relevant PSS trainings and in the field visits at sites of intervention with donors and line managers
• Support the identification and packaging of PSS advocacy issues
• Prepare all the necessary for the various activities well in advance, paying attention to details
• Ensure that the activities are done in a clean, safe, and hazard-free location
• Collaborate in ensuring that the material appropriately used and later stored in a safe way at the end of the day
• Establish a calendar/agenda for intervention for each group of children/youth concerned
• Be able to identify children at risk of harm or being harmed and being able to refer them as per the LOST procedures
• Verify the beneficiaries list and presence
• Contribute to spread the messages to the community and beneficiaries (be able to orient and support beneficiaries on services available in the mapping of services and establish positive relationships with beneficiaries).
• Ensure effective engagement of children with disabilities in the PSS activities
• Participate in the advocacy and campaign required from LOST such as back to school and Worst Forms of Child Labor.

Communication and Coordination:

• Keep close coordination and update with the caseworkers
• Contribute to creating a positive atmosphere interacting constructively with colleagues and children/youth and caregivers
• Communicate efficiently with technical team and managers conveying to them ideas and new proposals according to daily observation in dealing with children
• Participate within donor visits and promote proper preparation and implementation
• Communicate with the stakeholders, partners, and municipalities through regular visits

Organizational Policies:

• Respect LOST’s Code of Conduct (GCD), Child Safeguarding Policy (CSP), Prevention from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy (PSEA), and Policy on Gender and Diversity and its principles of child protection, ensuring the policy’s implementation and prompt notification of the CSP/PSEA Focal Point with any information regarding potential breaches of the policy
• Is aware of, abide by, and promote the practices and values set out in all other LOST policies and procedures such as the Internal Regulations, Standard Operating Procedures, and other policies
• Participate actively in weekly and monthly coordination meetings with the line managers and project managers
• Ensure Do No Harm analysis are carried out and the principle of Do No Harm is observed and upheld in all the engagements of the PSS Facilitator
• Undertake all other duties that may be requested by the line-manager and that are compatible with the job

Job Qualifications, and competencies:

• Academic Background (Social Worker, Psychology, Sociology, Specialized Education)
• At least 1-year experience working with children and preferably high-risk children and/or refugee/vulnerable population
• Knowledge in Child Protection
• Strong facilitation and organizational skills
• Motivated-and ability to work in a team
• Strong interpersonal skill
• Excellent communication skills (including active listening)