National Consultancy Position

Position: Psychologist 
Job site: 2 positions – 1 for Shabwa (Ataq) and 1 for Taiz (Jabal Habashi)
Reports to: Case Management supervisor and Protection Coordinator 
Status: National Consultant

Female candidates are encouraged to apply please!

About INTERSOS:
INTERSOS is an independent non-profit humanitarian organization committed to assist the victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, and respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable and unprotected people

Project objectives: 
The proposed intervention targets existing protection gaps and needs in Jabal Habashi (Al-Shuraja sub-district, Taiz) and Ataq (Shabwa) through provision of integrated emergency protection service package for the most vulnerable conflict and displacement-affected people. While the intensity of fighting has given no signs of abating but further increased in 2021 – especially in Marib and Hudaida but also in Taiz (e.g. Al-Maqbana district), increasing influx of IDPs was reported since mid-2021 to Jabal Habashi and Ataq. Humanitarian needs of IDPs in these districts are large, while protection needs are critically unaddressed. Vulnerable groups (e.g. children, women, persons with disability, etc.) face disproportionate and specific challenges to their physical and mental well-being. Against this background, the proposed intervention targets the protection needs of conflict and displacement affected persons in the two districts, especially for persons with specific needs (PwSN), CP cases and women protection survivors. The response is grounded in the theory that if access to and knowledge of protection services for conflict and displacement affected persons is increased, then there will be reduced suffering, increased dignity, though live-saving services provided for conflict and displacement affected persons, particularly women, children and other vulnerable individuals. In 2 Community Centers (CC), INTERSOS teams will provide individual case management (ICM) services – focus on CP, women protection and PwSN; provide collective PSS for adults and children aimed at enhanced family resilience and community solidarity; enhance community-based protection mechanisms and community resilience by enrolling community outreach volunteers; run livelihoods/skills training permitting social-economic integration of women/girls at risk and women protection survivors; and lastly run awareness raising and information sharing on protection-related services and issues. The ICM package comprises identification, psycho-social first aid (PSFA), psychosocial counseling (PSC), and internal and external referrals for specialized services, in addition to follow-up and case closure. Internal referral within the project for specialized services include legal assistance, psychological counseling, cash for protection and livelihoods. 

Purpose /Objectives:

The Psychologist is responsible for the prompt provision of psychological assistance to women protection survivors, CP cases and Persons with Specific Needs (PwSN), in need of psychological counselling, following internal referrals by INTERSOS case management team. 
The Psychologist also supports INTERSOS protection staff involved in case management with capacity building but also psychological support and insights on self-help techniques. 

Responsibilities/duties:

Case management: 

• Provide a psychological assessment on selected cases referred by the Social Workers/Case Management Supervisors.  
• Provide psychological support to cases referred by the case workers (SW and CMS) in line with case plan objectives.
• Closely monitor and document the psychological recovery of cases referred by the case workers.
• If needed accompany the social workers during the home visit and IDP site visits.
• Carry out and enforce self-care program for all INTERSOS case workers (SWs and CMSs);
• Participate in case management meetings as required.
• Help to work towards full recovery and case closure.
• Informs the relevant Activity Coordinator and the Project Manager (PM) about any difficulty met in INTERSOS activities implementation or problems observed in team dynamics.
• Accomplish any other assignments given by supervisors or the PM. 

Support to Community services:

• Support INTERSOS staff to improve the quality of specialized services provided (specialized psychological services, group therapy, individual counselling) for different target groups.
• Support INTERSOS staff in designing activities with psychological purpose for vulnerable children, youth, women at risk and men attending INTERSOS.
• Support INTERSOS social workers in organizing and conducting collective PSS activities and support groups for individual at risk.
• Monitor the activities (awareness and support groups), within and outside the Community Center, conducted by the volunteers and social workers.
• Report to the CC coordinator and the PM on any problems and/or training needs identified during the activities.
• Produce and maintain in an accurate way a weekly report of the activities conducted.
• Informs the PM about any difficulty met in INTERSOS activities implementation or problems observed in team dynamics. 
• Be available to train on psychological support and first aid INTERSOS staff when requested. 

Reporting:

• Produce and maintain accurate records of the beneficiaries: write technical reports on specific cases identified during the individual psychological support sessions.
• Case files and technical reports must be archived in locked and secure location; access to them should be restricted only to relevant, authorized protection program staff. 
• Set up a monitoring system to evaluate the effectiveness and the impact of the planned individual and group psychological support intervention programs on the beneficiaries.
• Send a weekly and monthly report on the activities conducted.

Meeting:

• Participate in set team meetings for case management.
• Meet with other program staff as required.
• Any other task requested in order to achieve the project’s objectives.
• Always ensure confidentiality and conduct all activities respectfully and sensitively to beneficiaries and staff.

Overall, these tasks require:

• Adherence to Humanitarian principles of Neutrality, Impartiality, Independence, and Humanity
• Clear & timely communications to line management 
• Full abiding by INTERSOS internal rules and guidelines and respect INTERSOS Charter of Value and Code of Ethics 

Qualification/level requirements

Minimum requirements

• Degree in psychology is mandatory 
• 2 years’ proven experience as psychologist (with required license) with a range of psychotherapeutic methods/approaches such as systemic, cognitive-behavioural, psycho-dynamic, client centred. 
• Demonstrated familiarity with protection language: e.g. case management principles, standards and procedures, terminology
• Proven computer skills (proven computer literacy), especially in excel, word and other data base software, database management skills 
• Excellent reporting skills (English) 

Other requirements:

• Native Arabic - Excellent written and spoken English 
• Strong team spirit, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment
• Excellent analytical skills, observation and analysis capacity
• Attention to detail and structured way of approaching tasks
• Ability to plan and output-oriented
• Able to ensure quick quality delivery in stressful environment
• Ability to adhere to deadlines and respect line management
• Very strong interpersonal skills: strong communication and diplomatic skills
• Practical and problem-solver
• Ability to deal with heavy work pressure