Staff Welfare Service for Frontline Staff of Protection and Education Teams

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental international humanitarian organization, and was founded in 1968. Concern Worldwide currently operates in a number of countries across the globe, with its Head Office in Dublin. We work with the poor and vulnerable in the world’s poorest countries to help them bring about long-lasting change in their lives and realize their fundamental human rights; to food, to health, to education, and ultimately to a life of dignity. Together with local and international partners, and with the beneficiaries themselves, we respond to emergencies and undertake long term development work.  We work across the world to promote a better understanding of extreme poverty, and we campaign for local and global action that will help reduce this.

Concern offers a confidential employee assistance programme to support its staff. The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is an information and advice service, which also provides access to telephone counselling. This service is intended to support staff with any personal or work-related issues that may affect their well-being in the office or at home. This is a confidential external service and can be accessed either online or via phone.

Concern is seeking additional support for staff in the form of resilience training and group support sessions, as well as one to one sessions on a request basis.

Purpose of the service

Frontline staff in this project, particularly PSS field staff and volunteers, and and Case Workers, are frequently required to engage with and assist cases of individuals and/or families who are dealing with difficult events and circumstances. Such cases may include, but are not limited to, instances of child abuse, gender-based violence, child marriage, child labour, and extreme poverty. Therefore, such staff require support and a means of coping with such cases and the emotional and psychological stress and trauma which they may cause.

Description of services to be provided

Concern Worldwide Lebanon requires an individual and/or organisation who can provide the following services to frontline protection staff:

1. Group sessions on a monthly basis for all staff to learn skills to respond to, manage and reduce stress and promote positive coping measures and self-care.
2. Psychological counselling available on a one-to-one to basis for staff member’s on a request basis, once a month, if and when required, at a time agreed by the Concern and the psychologist.

Terms & Conditions:

Fees for this would be based on

• Number of group sessions that would be conducted in the Concern office in Halba, Akkar, Lebanon.  Approximatly 2 - 3 groups would be benefiting from the service with no more than 15 individuals in each group session.
• Number of individuals attending one-to-one sessions per month. Approximatly 10 individuals would be benifiting from this service.

Working Arrangements

According to the description above, the service shall involve the delivery of a monthly session for all available frontline staff with approximate 2 - 3 groups, on a range of positive coping and self-care skills which shall benefit the staff members irrespective of their particular role in the organisation. These sessions shall be conducted in a space provided by the organisation, and last approximately 2 hours. Additional materials, links and information on related resources, websites and smartphone apps shall be provided at the end of each session, related to that particular topic for the staff’s continued developed and learning.

Regarding the one to one sessions, one day per month will be chosen for the Psychologist to be available in a space provided by the organisation in Halba and sessions booked in in advance where possible.

Both of these services must be available in Arabic, and to both men and women, in a manner which is cognisant and appropriate for the cultural context and background of our staff members and volunteers.

These services should be available from February 15th 2018 until June 30th 2018.

Qualifications and Requirements

Essential:

1. Advanced University degree in psychology or clinical psychology with license to provide counselling/psychotherapy.
2. At least 3 years’ experience working as a licensed psychologist, counsellor or therapist
3. Qualified psychologist(s) with experience of counselling individuals dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, toxic stress, and other related psychological issues.
4. Experience in delivering group sessions related to positive coping skills and self-care advice for those working in such circumstances.
5. Experience as a staff psychologist/counsellor is an asset
6. Fluent in English and Arabic
7. Respect for confidentiality and data protection

Preferred:                                                 

   8.Experience of working with humanitarian aid workers.