Social Worker (MHPSS)

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The SW will facilitate the integration of MHPSS into PHC services in collaboration with the PU-AMI’s Psychologist, Psychiatrist, and PHCC staff who have been trained in mh GAP to ensure that mild, moderate, and severe MHPSS complaints are identified and managed using suitable mh GAP protocols. Moreover, SW will play a key role in creating care pathways for individual cases with mild, moderate, or severe MNS (mental, neurological, and substance disorders) conditions who are referred through the PHCC staff and CHTs.

1. ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFICATION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (PwSNs):
– Increase identification of PwSNs (including people with disabilities, people with MHPSS conditions, and survivors of SGBV, etc.) and their referral and service use;
– Facilitate the implementation of MHPSS-focused assessments and screening to better identify the People with mental, neurological, and substance use disorders (PwMNS) conditions and MHPSS complaints at individual and community levels;
– In case of a need, build the capacity of the CHVs and of outreach activities in close coordination with PU-AMI’s Psychologist and visits to the different activities of CHTs in the catchment area of PHCCs;
– Identify PwSNs (including particularly vulnerable groups facing protection and MHPSS risks, such as People with Mental Health Disorders (PwMHD), persons with disabilities, Women headed households (WoHH), survivors of SGBV, etc.) and conduct referrals according to identified needs and after receiving consent;
– Establish contact, interact with and assess individual’s symptoms and behavior with the adapted community version of the mh GAP in coordination with PHCC staff.

2. INTERVENTIONS (PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT):
– Provide PFA in acute traumatic events or for the cases that need an urgent attention at PHCCs;
– Develop and conduct brief psychoeducation sessions with an emphasis on self-care strategies, especially for depression cases and sharing information about the identified MNS conditions with the individuals and caregivers with the technical support of the Psychologist;
– Provide other low resource intensity psychological interventions to empower the skills of reducing stress and enhancing social support at the individual and group level;
– Ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all steps of interventions.

3. REFERRALS (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL REFERRALS):
– Refer cases to internal and external relevant services based on the severity of the MNS condition and the other compounding needs of the cases and follow up on the service provision;
– Assess risk for self-harm or suicide and refer accordingly;
– Establish a file for each family receiving MHPSS services to record the situation, plan of intervention, follow up, and updates;

4. COMMUNITY-BASED MHPSS AND PROTECTION:
– Promote the resilience and empowerment of the targeted community members by ensuring their active participation in all stages of the interventions;
– Be knowledgeable of the services provided in the area of intervention by both INGOs, community-based local organizations or institutions, and contribute to updating the service mapping in coordination with referrals officers and case workers;
– Provide information on the services available to refugees, migrants, and vulnerable host communities;
– Propose and support community-based, in coordination with community volunteers, other teams, and partners, aiming to raise awareness on protection and MHPSS topics;
– Contribute to the development of culturally appropriate and understandable risk communication and community engagement materials.

5. DEPLOYMENT TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE:
– In case of emergency (related to climate events, COVID-19 pandemic, or other communicable diseases etc.), be quickly deployable in PU-AMI Emergency Teams to provide timely support to the households and individuals impacted, and to refer them to relevant services.
– Participate in sensitization activities at the community level, in coordination with community volunteers and the Health team, on protection issues but also on other potential epidemic-related precautions measures if requested by health team.
6. REPORTING
– Provide weekly and monthly activity reports to the line manager.
– Report on any trend related to protection and propose adaptation measures.

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

QUALIFICATIONS:

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:
⮚ Language skills: Fluent in Arabic and good command of English to be able to follow up on trainings, internal and external meetings as well as international guidance (speaking, reading, writing)
⮚ Education degree: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work is highly desirable, particularly from the Medical and Social Work department.
⮚ Work experience: 2 years, preferably with NGOs who are working in the scope of the Health, Protection and MHPSS sectors.
⮚ Skilled in or willing to build their capacity and knowledge in:
– Developing family-centered, goal and strength focused, recovery-oriented care plan

ASSETS:
⮚ Interests: Work in humanitarian context.
⮚ Transversals skills
– Conflict resolution and diplomacy experience
– Good understanding of the local context
– Reliability
– Ability to take initiative to deal with difficulties encountered in daily work
– Capacity to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team
– Ability to adapt or change priorities according to the changing situation within a mission or the organization itself
– Ability to analyze and suggest improvements of the activities
– Well organized and hard worker
– Able to manage stress and pressure
– Ability to remain neutral and put interest of beneficiary population first

– Mental health in complex emergencies (IASC guidelines, Psychological First Aid, mhGAP…)
– Biopsychosocial model in mental health
– Community-based approach in mental health
– Human rights-based approach in mental health
– Knowledge about the predictable stresses of humanitarian aid work and the policies and practices needed to mitigate them
⮚ Computer skills: Good command of Word and Excel
⮚ Other:
– Excellent knowledge of Protection principles and of PSEA
– Excellent communication skills, including active listening
– Good analytical skills
– Teamwork
– Good organizational skills
– Respect of professional confidentiality
– Patience