Psychosocial Support Counselor

AMURT Lebanon Background:

AMURT’s mission is to help improve the quality of life for the poor and disadvantaged people of the world, and those affected by calamity and conflict. It aims to assist individuals and communities to secure life’s necessities and to gain greater social and economic fulfillment, while honoring individuals’ customs, language, and religious beliefs.

AMURT Lebanon registered in 2012 as an independent charitable organization and is affiliated with the AMURT Global Network, headquartered in Washington, USA.

Since 2012, AMURT has been addressing the Syrian crisis and its effects, as well as hardships the Lebanese community is experiencing. Its programs have ranged from disaster relief and emergency response, to psychosocial support, diverse education programs, child protection, social stability, and is currently focusing on the livelihoods sector.

Vocational Opportunities for Youths in Chouf and Aley:

Under this current project, funded by BMZ and KNH Germany, 500 youths between 15 and 25 years old are offered vocational qualification courses that encourage and support the Dual System approach, in addition to psychosocial support and other activities. The aim is to offer youth the space to grow, work on their self-development, and train not only in theoretical but also practical skills that are relevant for their future occupations and, most importantly, are oriented towards the actual needs of the Lebanese market.

Job Purpose:                                                                                                                 

In coordination with the Chief Psychotherapist, the Psychosocial Support Counselor is responsible for the day-to-day psychosocial support of the youth as well as providing specialized counseling support to youth with difficult cases.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Aiding in the planification of PSS activities and procedures to be implemented in these activities.
• Working alongside other professionals in planning how best to work with the youth (what kind of approach may be used, intervention strategy, etc).
• Helping in setting up a monitoring system to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the planned individual and group psychological support intervention programs.
• Conducting psychosocial assessments and baseline psychological questionnaires.
• Conducting thorough observation of youth throughout the program.
• Collecting relevant information from different team members who are in contact with youth about their behavior, any incidents that occurred, conversations that took place, etc.
• Encouraging youth to talk about and explore their feelings and behavior.
• Conducting individual or group counseling sessions with youth.
• Arranging and performing home visits following the Policy & Rules Guidelines.
• Implementing family intervention theories & practices, tailored to the beneficiaries’ needs.
• Preparing workshops and awareness sessions.
• Keeping up to date with youth’s psychological files.
• Keeping case files and reports archived in a locked and secure location; access to them should be restricted only to relevant, authorized PSS staff.
• Conducting research and writing reports.
• Networking with the professional health community for case referrals.
• Liaising with businesses to find suitable jobs for youth and follow-up on their well-being in the workplace.
• Participating in meetings and requested work-related workshops or conferences.
• Perform any other duties as required and agreed upon.

Personal Characteristics:

• Excellent organizational and planning skills
• Strong problem analysis and assessment skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy
• Good MS Office and data entry skills
• Demonstrated capacity to innovate and think creatively
• Ability to work independently and within a team
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Compassionate, caring, and non-judgmental
• Sensitive and respectful of ethnic and cultural differences
• Approachable, trustworthy and discrete
• Willingness to improve own knowledge and skills by participating actively in training sessions and capacity building activities
• Committed to equality and social inclusion
• Conscientious, with an excellent sense of judgment

Overall Monthly Reporting: Chief Psychotherapist and Vocational Project Coordinator

Direct Daily Reporting: Chief Psychotherapist

Collaborates with: Other PSS Team members, Social Worker, Head Teacher, Teachers, Facilitators

Other Contacts: Outreach Liaison, Bus Drivers, Kitchen Team