Psychologist

1. GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The Psychologist works within the MHPSS team and in close collaboration with health and protection colleagues. The Psychologist offers direct care to host and refugee communities and provides supervision to the MoPH staff on targeted mental health services.

S/he supervises the development of individualized treatment plans, conducts focused individual and group counseling sessions for complicated cases when deemed necessary, provides technical support for the conduct of the psychosocial activities at community-level, contributes to on-the-job capacity building of the MoPH staff involved in MHPSS response (general practitioners and nurses trained on mhGAP Depression module).

S/he contributes to data collection as well as the monitoring and evaluation of the activities.

In close collaboration with the MHPSS Coordinator, the Psychologist will:

- Support Psychosocial Activities through clinical supervision and technical guidance;

- Provide targeted psychological consultations to more severe cases;

- Participate in training activities;

- Provides clinical supervision to trained MoPH staff in MHPSS;

- Participate in data collection and reporting.

2- RESPONSABILITIES AND TASKS

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND LINKED ACTIVITIES

CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED AND ACCESSIBLE PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE AT COMMUNITY LEVEL FOR HOST AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY 

Provide technical guidance to the protection team on the provision of community-based psychosocial support, including group counseling, awareness-raising and advocacy with the community leaders through the supported primary health care centers;

Provide close and regular supervision in the form of group and/or individual case discussions and formal supervision sessions, if possible, conduct in-field observations of the PSS activities;

Help and facilitate the identification of moderate to severe cases to be referred for targeted and specialized mental health services;

Support the referrals for MHPSS consultations.

   2. PROVIDE TARGETED MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Provide one to one psychological sessions upon request and for most urgent/complex cases, with a focus on depression and anxiety-related disorders;

When agreement from the beneficiaries, provide co-counseling sessions for empowering the psychosocial workers and psychologists;

Conduct psychological assessments to identify the severity and impact of the symptoms and problems, design a treatment plan and assess the needed services;

Proceed with regular assessment of the impact of treatment on the beneficiary, involving the use of clinical assessment scales and ensuring quality care throughout the care process

Provide feedback on the needed adjustments to the activities according to the impact assessment and beneficiary feedback;

Support the monitoring of data collection and patient information to patient file and database

Support the referral of beneficiaries to advanced services of identified partners (both secondary health care and other services) when needed;

Follow-up on the referred cases and ensure the good continuation of MHPSS care;

Work in coordination with other organization providing MHPSS services.   

   3.  TRAINING

Actively participate in the training needs assessments;

Support the design of training material, schedule and logistic needs;

Support the facilitation of MHPSS trainings and workshops to PU-AMI teams and partners, including MoPH staff;

Contribute to the training assessment and learnings assessment process.

   4.  PARTICIPATE IN DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING

Monitor accurate record of the beneficiary and activity data using PUI standard tools and according to PUI guidelines;

Contribute to the development and implementation of data-collection tools as well as relevant supervision and clinical tools – with the support of the MHPSS Coordinator;

Contribute to the MHPSS statistic reports and reports to the donors;

Participate in project assessments (implementation, data-collection and reporting)

  5.  MEETINGS/COORDINATION

Participate in PU-AMI team meetings and in meetings with the team members of partner association;

Be an active and responsible member of the team;

Actively collaborate with Health and Protection teams and ensure integrated response is rolled-out throughout the project;

Collaborate with other organizations involved in health, water, sanitation, and nutrition in the project area.

      6. OTHER DUTIES

Be aware of the security rules and social and political situation in the field at any time and provide feedback to the line manager;

Support any other work duties requested by the MHPSS Coordinator;

Mainstream of protection principles and standards throughout all actions;

Ensure high level of confidentiality and ethics throughout the actions;

Conduct all actions with high level of professionalism (confidentiality and ethics included);

Ensure PU-AMI MHPSS guidelines are followed and clinical & quality standards are met;

Ensure internal PU-AMI Code of Conduct is respected at all times.

 The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project’s needs.

3- PRIORITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT

Qualifications 

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

Language skills: Fluent in English and Arabic, (speaking/reading/writing);

Education degree: Master’s degree in psychology or related field. Training and significant clinical experience in management of depression and anxiety disorders. Desirable: WHO’s Mental health Gap (mhGAP), Training in community or public health, Training in CBT-based focused interventions 

Work experience:

At minimum 2 years of clinical practice in mental health care

Experience in community or public health

Experience in working with a NGO

Experience in the provision of clinical supervision and trainings 

License to practice the clinical psychology profession from the Ministry of Public Health

Computer skills: Excellent knowledge of the MS office software including Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook.

Other: 

 Excellent writtten and verbal communication skills

 Understanding of the Lebanon health care system

 Ability to work in unstable circumstances

 IT skills (basic Excel knowledge)

ASSETS:

Transversals skills

Excellent communication, conflict solving and diplomacy skills

Strong motivation to help people in need

Ability to make decisions

Ability to analyze and suggest improvements of the activities

Ability to adapt or change priorities according to the changing situation

Well organized and able to manage stress and pressure

Neutrality, impartiality and reliability