MH Counselor Educator

WHAT IS MSF?

Médecins Sans Frontières/أطباء بلا حدود  بلا أطباء (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people in 70 countries who are affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation and our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.

We offer basic healthcare, perform surgery, fight epidemics, rehabilitate and run hospitals and clinics, carry out vaccination campaigns, operate nutrition centers, and provide mental healthcare. Our activities include the treatment of injuries and disease, maternal care and the provision of humanitarian aid. Where necessary, we set up sanitation systems, supply safe drinking water, and distribute relief to assist survival.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project started in Sept. 2013 in Shatila, where MSF currently manages an outpatient center for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), vaccination services with transversely integrated mental health services and health promotion, and referrals for patients who require services beyond the scope of MSF activities. Additionally, MSF opened a women’s health center with sexual and reproductive health care.
During 2018, low risk deliveries were relocated from Shatila to Rafik Hariri University Hospital compound, where MSF runs a Birth Centre. MSF took this as an opportunity to work together with external partners as catalyst for change around midwifery model of care and demedicalization of deliveries. The antenatal care services remain in the camps, to serve the most vulnerable women.
In Bourj el Barajneh camp, besides the above mentioned activities, MSF provides in addition home based care for those patients who are housebound or bedridden often due to an advanced NCD disease.

MSF BIRTH CENTER (BC)

The MSF Birth Center is unique in Lebanon, in its objective to develop a midwife led model of care. The midwives are responsible for all of the deliveries and are only required to consult the obstetrician in case of complications. The model focuses on low risk pregnancies. There is an assesment room for all patients being followed in ANC, including the higher risk cases and they may attend at any time to be assessed. The most important role of the obstetrician is to manage any complicated cases either in BC or prior to referral to another hospital, and to be active in teaching, coaching and empowering of the midwives and nurses to help develop the midwife led model of care.

Responsibilities:

MSF is looking for Counsellor Educator to perform counselling and/or education sessions to patients, following different medical and mental health MSF protocols and procedures, in order to improve their psychosocial condition.

Accountabilities:

• Identify the psychosocial, socio-economic and administrative needs for patients
• Actively promote the availability of counselling services and carry out, individual or in group counselling, basic psycho educational sessions, to patients, their families (when needed), in order to alleviate their psychosocial difficulties within the project scope.
• Refer patients to other specialists or other institutions for further assistance, when necessary in order to propose the best support available.
• Participate in the creation of any material needed for counselling activities and look after it,
• Keep files and statistics of daily activities and participate in team meetings to share experiences and discuss special cases with other counsellors, preserving confidentiality
• Inform line manager of any problem of any kind arising during the day-to-day activities.
• Take active part in trainings, supervisions/intervisions and support the activities manager when necessary in doing sensitization for MSF staff or external partners about mental health /psychosocial issues.
• Discuss difficulties and problems in counselling with supervisor
• Provision of 1st assessment and referral of the case to other psychologists in the project when necessary (severity, topic)
• Provision of group and indididual PSS/basic counselling skills sessions to mild to moderate mental health patients in order to develop their coping skills.
• Provision of individual psychoeducation sessions to postpartum women in BC center
• Provision of homebased care session to homebound patients and/or their caregivers in the camps: provide assessment and follow-up
• Fill data on MH files and EMR system on a regular and timely basis.

Qualifications:

Education: 

• Counselling, social work, psychology or other similar degree/diploma

Experience: 

• 1 year working experience is essential.
• Experience with NGO desirable.
• Experience in working with migrants is desirable

Language: Mission language and local language essential

Knowledge: Essential computer literacy (word, excel, internet)

Competencies:

• Open mindeness and flexibility – availability to work/collaborate with people from various background, origin, religion, etc.
• Team spirit and collaboration: MSF aim to provide medical and mental health care in a multi-disciplinary approach – availability to work with other medical, paramedical and psycho-social components
• MSF aim to respect patient’s right and dignity, according to MSF protocols and values – Adherence to MSF values is mandatory, as well as interest in patient centered management – former experience is an asset