Psychologist

Job Summary

As psychologists, identifying and providing mental health and psychosocial support needs for the benefit of target groups are key tasks. Personnel who will provide MHPSS service adapted according to the priorities determined by IASC guidelines should pay particular attention to serving with dignity and ethical principles. Responsible for the implementation, monitoring and reporting of MHPSS activities, the Psychologist will ensure that performance tools are available within the scope of the service to ensure implementation of the programs considering the cultural context in the MHPSS area for vulnerable groups.

Within the scope of MHPSS interventions, the psychologist not only conducts individual interviews, but also takes part in the preparation, implementation and reporting of psychosocial support activities and other MHPSS-based activities. Knowledge and experienc in Play Theraphy is required.

Within the scope of MHPSS activities, members of profession will work on some compulsive life events and social skills, as well as on various disorders defined in the DSM 5 manual. Apart from individual counselling and helping beneficiaries’ to cope with their problems, psychologists are responsible for assessing the needs of beneficiaries using psychometric tests and interview techniques. Based on these assessments, psychologists will then create an intervention plan for individuals.

Psychologists are also responsible for keeping records, monitoring service users' progress, and reporting to the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support officer and Project Manager.

Responsibilities:

• To evaluate the needs of the population of concern within the scope of Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support Program services,

• To support the preparation of modules to be used in group sessions,

• Organizing individual (one-to-one) counseling or group counseling sessions, programs, and making the relevant MHPSS needs assessment, preparing and implementing an intervention plan, when necessary and appropriate, within the field office or home visits,

• Coordinate with the team leader and other members of the team the integration of mental health and psychosocial support considerations in community-based activities along the full spectrum of the intervention pyramid (IASC Reference Group).

• In collaboration with the educator, design psychoeducation sessions for the communities, based on identified and emerging needs.

• Provide training sessions in PFA and basic counselling skills to humanitarian actors, community focal points and volunteers, and other team members.

• Identify and refer people with severe mental disorders, in coordination with the referral team, if existing.

• Develop awareness messages/campaigns related to mental health and psychosocial support to be disseminated to communities. Coordinate with other members of the teams the most efficacious ways to convey those messages.

• Facilitate MHPSS needs assessments, surveys and research in the concerned communities of the project to enhance access to community-based psychosocial services and specialized mental health care for Population of Concern (PoCs).

• Map existing support provisions at the microlevel and design, together with the supervisor, initiatives to reinforce their capacity.

• Report daily activities.

• Provide and support awareness raising and psychoeducation to groups, both at the center and as part of outreach activities,

• To make referrals to the necessary authorities when required,

• If necessary, to meet the program needs of other units within the scope of MHPSS,

• Supporting team management in developing a weekly program for PSS Assistants,

• Prepare weekly and monthly reports on the number and identification of cases by age and gender, using the provided spreadsheet program and collection tools,

• To keep a record of the attendance and pre-post test of the sessions given in the program files,

• Maintaining individual cases for each individual served, including detailed descriptions of the services provided.

Desirable qualifications:

• Degree in psychology or psycological counselling and guidance.

• Previous experience in MHPSS (2 years) in related areas of intervention is an advantage.

• Experience in communicating and working with a wide range of people, including people of culturally diverse backgrounds.

• Having experience working in case management, individual and group sessions,

• Having experience of working in a team,

• Ability to work in coordination within a team structure, to cope with a flexible and stressful workload, and to work with limited resources,

• Strong communication skills,

• Ability to establish and maintain effective and productive working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment,

• Strong problem solving, coping with stress, communication, time management, organization and facilitation skills,

• Being flexible and sensitive,

• Being open to experiences.

Language Skills: Having fluent Turkish and English language skills.

Computer Skills: Microsoft Office, Zoom, Skype, Kobo and Google tools