Social Worker/case Manager

For more than 35 years, Médecins du Monde (MdM), a campaigning medical organization committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations at home and abroad. It has continued to highlight obstacles that exist in accessing health care and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies. Those working for this independent organization do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations. MdM currently works in 44 countries across all continents where it focuses on 4 priority areas: caring for the health of migrants and displaced persons, promoting sexual and reproductive health, combating HIV and reducing the harm and risks associated with drug use, crises and conflicts. Since 2011 the conflict between the Syrian army and the opposition has resulted in massive displacements of the population within the country and into neighboring countries, particularly to Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. Following assessments in these countries, MdM activities started on Syrian borders in May 2012, offering primary and specialized healthcare services for refugee and displaced Syrian populations. MdM has been working in Lebanon for nearly 30 years and specifically on the response to the Syrian crisis since 2012. The goal of MdM in Lebanon is to offer care to Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese affected by this crisis. Currently, medical assistance is provided through 4 partners in 5 primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in the Bekaa and Mount Lebanon. MdM is also providing mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS) services to Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese in 4 PHCCs in the Bekaa and Beirut. As a complement to its usual activities, MdM in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and the Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy & Applied Care (IDRAAC) in Beirut will conduct a new NIH-funded international research study that will explore the biological pathways of psychological risk and resilience in Syrian refugee children. It is well established that children exposed to war are at increased risk for the development of mental health problems. However, some children show remarkable psychological resilience. In order to better understand the biological underpinnings of resilience this new study aims to explore the interplay between psychosocial, neuroendocrine, epigenetic, and genetic factors in more than 1,000 Syrian refugee children based in Lebanon.    Main objective:        Contribute to the protection and improvement of mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of the displaced population and the strained host population in the Bekaa region.                                                   Main responsibilities: Assist in the coordination of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities among different mental health staff and with PHC staff. Coordinate with the case-management team (psychotherapists, community mental health workers), on the implementation of all MH interventions and activities. Properly assess and refer beneficiaries in need of mental health support/treatment to specialized services. Provide case-management to mental health beneficiaries accessing MDM’s MH services. Provide appropriate psycho-social support to beneficiaries in need. In coordination with the mental health team, develop and facilitate psycho-social activities. Assist in the development and implementation of preventive mental health measures at both the community and PHC Centre level. Sensitisation and capacity building among PHC staff, refugee community, and host population about MHPSS. Main responsibilities and activities of the Social Worker can change according to the organization of the work and to the composition of the team.   Main activities:  1.     Coordinate mental health activities among different mental health staff and with PHC staff: Work with a multidisciplinary team on mental health issues presented in PHC Centres and within   communities/settlements. Assist in the assessment of mental health needs and proposition of interventions in collaboration with the mental health team and PHC staff. Weekly reporting on mental health activities and data collected. When required participate in regular meetings with key actors, GSMH and PHC departments; When required, participation in network/coordination meetings concerning mental health. Participation in MDM internal meetings and individual meetings with the MH coordinator.  2.     Provide psycho-social support and case-management for mental health beneficiaries:  Provide psycho-social support to the refugee community and host population at the primary health clinics and shelters level. Work directly with the case-management team (psychoterapist and community mental health worker) to develop individualized treatment plans for MH beneficiaries. Provide proper case-management for MDM MH beneficiaries.  3.      Community mental health interventions: Participate in defining effective and culturally appropriate approaches and interventions on the community level. Focus on information dissemination and collecting opinions to foster knowledge and self-control of people living in the community and informal settlements. In coordination with the mental health team, develop evidence based mental health interventions on the community level. Implement MDM approved psychosocial activities at the PHC and shelter levels. Initiate and facilitate support groups.  4.     Sensitisation and capacity building among PHC staff about mental health: Prepare awareness/training sessions about MHPSS for non-medical staff at PHCs, refugee community and host population. In coordination with the MH Coordinator, train community mental health workers on provision of psycho-social support. Advocate on all mental health related issues and/or concerns.  5.     Utilize the referral system between community and PHC Centre as well as to other basic services: Develop with mobile community mental health workers referral system between community and PHC level. Utilize the referral system to mental health specialized services. Referral of case-managed beneficiaries to all other needed services.   6.     Analysis, detection and reduction of risk factors influencing the mental health status at community level: In collaboration with the mental health team, explore and detect potential risk factors influencing mental health status of the target population. When required, coordinate with other stakeholders to reduce and/or eliminate potential risk factors.  7.     Develop and perform preventive measures for stable mental health at community and PHC Centre level: In collaboration with the mental health team, develop and implement innovative preventive mental health interventions and activities to be undertaken within the community.  Behaviour: To behave with self-restraint at all times and respect the dignity of the beneficiaries. To be able to work as part of a team and participate in all activities of the mental health 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. Requested Competence/Skills/Profile University degree in Social Work required. At least 1-2 years of experience in NGO work. Experience working within the field of Mental Health will be valued. Belief in a comprehensive and holistic approach towards positive mental health. Arabic and English language are mandatory. Ability to cope with difficult security context. Preferably from the Bekaa region. Good coordination and communication skills are a key factor to this position. Excellence in organizing, planning and prioritizing tasks. Ability to identify   strengths and weakness and in proposing shared solutions for the continuous improvement of providing quality services. Strong ability to observe, analyse, report and take initiative. Ability to work with a team as well as to work independently. Ability to seek, collect, and critically analyse data and information needed to achieve the tasks. Clear commitment to the project thematic. Ability to communicate any technical or non-technical topic with clarity and to share any important project information with the team. Proficiency with Microsoft word. Ability to self-reflect on your work, to recognize what needs improvement and to propose solutions.