CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

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.

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 remains 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.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Providing psychological support to patients according to MSF principles, standards and procedures in order to improve the patients’ mental health.

MSF clinics are located in Shatila and Bourj al Barjne camps and the selected candidate may be based in either or both camps. Work hours are currently 8:00 am to 4:30pm, however, there is a probability  of evening or weekend sessions in the future, depending on the development of project activities.

Sessions are both individual and group and raising awareness in the community.

DETAILED ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Carrying out assessment of mental health needs of patients, identifying and measuring Mental Health symptoms, and developing a treatment plan with the patient. .
• Informing the patient and his/her caregivers about the presenting symptoms/ MH disorder and possible outcomes of both receiving and not receiving MH intervention
• Referring patients to other health, protection or psychosocial professionals whenever necessary, in order to provide the most appropriate treatment and improve the patient's condition or life circumstances
• Implementing the Sexual Violence (SV) protocol, identifying possible victims of SGBV and referring them to the medical team so that they receive the necessary treatment.
• Providing supportive counseling sessions (individual, family, group) according to patients needs presenting with mild, moderate, severe mental health symptoms according to MSF protocols through evidence based approaches in order to improve their mental health conditions
• Assisting and training staff members and external partners whenever necessary in order to enhance the scope of MHPSS activities..
• Ensure timely documentation filing, and monitoring of sessions, referrals and patient symptoms according to MSF standards and protocols 
• Participate in biweekly clinical supervision – discussing patient cases in detail with MH supervisor in order to increase quality of clinical practice, discuss any emergency or protection concerns and inform the supervisor about any current or potential issues that may arise related to patients’ treatment and safety in order to provide the best possible solution from a bio psychosocial model of care.
• Ensuring that all patient information is kept confidential and informed consent is always discussed received before proceeding with intervention
• Actively promote the availability of MSF MHPSS (mental health and psychosocial support) services with medical and non-medical MSF staff, beneficiaries, communities and NGOs;  conduct group work, awareness sessions, trainings and other activities under the supervision of the MH supervisor/ MH activity manager/ project medical referent as needed
• Actively seeks for and gives support to other team members concerning cases and gap filling and participates in trainings planned. Actively participates in meetings by bringing up challenges and possible solutions and by participating in discussions in team meetings
• Being open to provide psychological support and counseling to a different range of age groups and nationalities in different health facilities of MSF.

• Education: Essential degree or diploma in Clinical Psychology, Master’s Degree Preferred

Registered in the Ministry of Health, Lebanon as a licensed psychologist

• Experience: Minimum 1 year experience as a Psychologist

Desirable:

- previous experience with MSF or other NGO’s in resource limited settings

- previous experience working with children and families

- previous experience in evidenced based approaches for treatment of depression,   anxiety, trauma and/or violence

• Languages: Fluency in English and Arabic are essential 
• IT skills: Desirable computer literacy (word, excel and internet)
• Soft Skills: Results and Quality Orientation, Teamwork and Cooperation, Commitment to MSF Principles, Stress Management