Facilitator

Background

War Child (WCH) is an independent and impartial international non-governmental organization investing in a peaceful future for children and young people affected by armed conflict. WCH strives to empower children and young people, while enabling adults to bring about positive and lasting change in the lives of conflict-affected children and young people. 

The Research and Development department at WCH has developed a multi-year research agenda that combines work towards evidence-based, socio-ecological, integrated and multi-level care services with validated quality implementation standards. The research agenda therefore goes beyond simply demonstrating evidence for implemented interventions, but improving the understanding of how such interventions can be implemented with sufficient quality in real-world low-resource settings. 

In support of the quality of programs, WCH is involved in a platform called EQUIP to develop and test assessment tools to test the competences of practitioners working with children and their caregivers. WCH is intending to conduct testing of the tool with facilitators implementing a psychosocial intervention with children, using the Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) methodology.

Purpose of the EQUIP Research Study

WCH will test the use of the competency assessment tools with EASE Facilitators. EASE is an intervention developed by the World Health organisation, with input from War Child Holland.  The intervention aims to reduce distress and improve wellbeing for young adolescents (aged between 10-14 years old) that are experiencing some difficulties with their thoughts and feelings at the moment.  The reason for this intervention is because in most of the settings where we work, there are no services available for children with severe emotional difficulties. And especially in areas or conflict, we expect the levels of emotional problems to be higher – hence the need for an easy-to-access psychological intervention.

EASE is comprised of seven group sessions for young adolescents and includes evidence-based techniques: psychoeducation, stress management (slow breathing), behavioural activation, problem solving and relapse prevention. There are also three group sessions for caregivers which include the following discrete strategies: psychoeducation, active listening, stress management (slow breathing), quality time, praise and showing interest in their child, caregiver self-care and relapse prevention for their child.  It is delivered by trained, non-specialist providers (i.e. people without a specialist degree or qualification in the mental health or health field).

In this phase 3 of the EQUIP research study the EQUIP based EASE training which has a bigger focus on competencies of the facilitator will be implemented in parallel to a regular EASE training (or training as usual). Comparison of the two training approach will happen qualitatively and quantitatively. The feasibility, acceptability, and perceived utility of the EQUIP platform will also be explored qualitatively.

Around 36 facilitators will be recruited and divided randomly in the two arms with assessments of their competencies via roleplays with a trained theatre group. This roleplays will happen pre, post-training as well as after the implementation of the EASE sessions with the children and caregivers.

Main Tasks

EASE facilitators should have enough information and commitment to child safeguarding policy, sign the code of conduct, and all policies related to the respect of children rights, WCH will provide the necessary training and support regarding that.

• Attend an introductory day to War Child and the EQUIP study
• Attend a full day Child protection and Child Safeguarding induction
• Attend and participate in a 9-day training to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver both child and caregiver sessions

• Attend competency assessment days, before and after the EASE training, and after implementing a cycle. On this day the EASE facilitators will perform a roleplay with a theatre group, and at that moment the competencies of the Facilitator will be observed and assessed by the Competency Raters.
• Implement EASE psychosocial activities with group of children anf caregivers
• Attend weekly supervision sessions with the supervisor.
• Work within a team and have a professional and ethical attitude towards all involved
• Use feedback provided by supervisors to improve practice
• Use the set guidelines to document sessions delivered, supervision sessions attended, and any adverse events occurring in the course of the intervention
• Reflect in the notes taken a high level of objectivity and professionalism that portrays the real situation on the participants without possible impact of personal prejudgments or opinions.
• Attend and participate in reflection meetings when needed
• Be willing to perform additional task related to projects

Knowledge and Experience

• Fluent in Arabic.  Skills in English are a plus
• At least 1 year of previous experience in facilitating groups with children in Lebanon  
• At least 2 years’ experience working with children (teaching, tutoring, scouts, summer camps, or any other relevant activities). Experience in facilitating via community based organisation are a pre.
• At minimum must have completed high-school education. Completion of a bachelor-level degree is desirable (but not in Psychology or Health)
• Experience facilitating PSS sessions with children is desirable but not mandatory.
• Flexibility and willingness to attend online training sessions.

Timeframe – EASE facilitators

• Two waves of EASE cycle will be happening during the second half of 2020 (June 2020- December 2020) comprising:

• 9 days of training
• Two introductory daysto War Child and the EQUIP study.
• A full day induction on Child Protection and Child safeguarding principles
• 3 Competency Assessment days 
• Part time work, facilitating 1 or 2 EASE groups with adolescents and caregivers
• This planning is tentative and is subject to change depending on the public health and security situation in Lebanon.
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All field activities will take into consideration COVID 19 national and WHO guidelines