Psychotherapist

Main responsibilitie

• Provide psychological assessment, support and individual and/or group psychotherapy to service users with mental health and/or substance use conditions.
• Contribute to response to emergencies through the provision of PFA when needed.
• Coordinate with the case management team and supervisor for the implementation of all Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and Substance Use (SU) interventions and activities.
• Actively participate in the development and implementation of psychosocial activities, including group support activities.  
• Contribute to the development and implementation of preventive activities and various events related to MHPSS.
• Support in the integration of MHPSS into primary health care (PHC) by building the capacity of supported Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) staff.
• Contribute to awareness raising activities in PHCCs and in the community, and to capacity building activities for Community outreach volunteers and other stakeholders on MHPSS.

Main responsibilities and activities of the Psychotherapists can change according to the organization of the work and to the composition of the team.

Main activities:

1. Diagnosis and treatment of mental health and substance use cases in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team

• Provide assessment and appropriate mental health support including psycho-education and individual and group psychotherapy to service users with mental health and/or substance use conditions referred by the team.
• Support the case manager in assessing the service user’s situation.
• Work directly with the case-management team to develop individualized treatment plans through regular case discussions.
• Provide regular feedback to the case management team regarding the follow up of the cases and progress of therapy.
• Actively participate to the case discussions with the multidisciplinary team (including case managers, nurse, psychiatrist, supervisor, receptionist).
• Make sure the appointments are properly scheduled and respected
• Ensure that emergency cases are properly taken care of, referred and followed.
• Follow up all the procedures and SoP’s for service user’s flow, from assessment till discharge.
• Closely work with the deputy MHPSS coordinator to ensure the quality of the service provision.
• Provide PFA upon request in situations of emergencies.

2. Development of MHPSS activities

• Contribute in the assessment of MHPSS and substance use interventions needs in the community and PHCCs and suggest appropriate interventions.
• Participate in establishing and implementing innovative PSS activities including preventive activities.
• Design, organize and implement group support activities.

3. Support in the integration of MH into Primary Health Care

• Contribute to the assessment of Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) staff needs in MHPSS.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of capacity-building and sensitization activities for PHCCs staff.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of awareness raising activities in PHCCs.

4. Awareness raising and capacity building about MPHSS and substance use

• Support in the training of the case management team, Community Outreach Volunteers (COVs) and other stakeholders on MHPSS and SU issues.
• Participate in the preparation and/or implementation of awareness sessions about MHPSS and SU in the community.
• Support the case manager and the COVs in the provision of awareness sessions in the waiting areas of PHCs and in the community.
• When requested and in collaboration with the community outreach supervisor, participate to awareness sessions or other activities in the community to support Community outreach volunteers (COVs).

5. Utilization of the referral system between community and PHCCs as well as to secondary treatment level

• Assist in the development of effective internal and external referral system when needed.
• Contribute to the identification of the multiple needs of the service users and inform the case managers about them to allow better referral mechanisms to the other sectors (such as child protection, GBV, health, shelter, etc.)
• Utilize the referral system to secondary mental health care always in coordination with the case management team.

6. Reporting and meetings

• Commit with clinical documentation (intake assessments, progress notes, closure notes and other required service users’ data documentation) and with reporting for other MHPSS/SU activities.
• Daily data collection and entry, respecting deadlines
• Monthly reporting on MHPSS and substance use activities
• Participate in internal meetings and individual meetings and take responsibility for documentation of the meeting minutes.
• Participate in regular meetings with key actors, NGOs/INGOs and PHC, hospital

• Participate in network/coordination meetings concerning MHPSS and substance use as required by the supervisor.
• Participate in internal MdM meetings (all staff meeting, team meetings)
• Take an active role with center’s visitors to present and promote the services

Behaviour:

• To behave with self-restraint at all times and respect the dignity and confidentiality of the service users.
• To be able to work as part of a team and participate in all activities of the mental health and substance use unit.
• To believe in concepts of equity, human rights, neutrality and impartiality.
• Demonstrate motivation at work.
• Demonstrate willingness to improve own knowledge and skills by participating in any capacity building activities.
• Respect each team member’s position, work and specialty.
• Adapt to special situations or demands from supervisor (flexibility).
• Respect different cultures