Pyschosocial Coordinator

Job posted by: International Rescue Committee (IRC)-USA - Mon, 6 Jul 2015

Job Details:

Organisation: International Rescue Committee (IRC)-USA

Deadline Fri, 4 Sep 2015

Job type: Permanent

Location: Liberia

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BACKGROUND:

 

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

 

IRC has worked in Liberia since 1996 and is one of the largest humanitarian actors in the country. On March 31, 2014, the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was identified as an outbreak in Liberia. Progress was made towards containing the initial phase of the outbreak. However, beginning on May 29, 2014, a second wave of cases was identified. Because of community misconceptions about EVD, the weak health systems of the affected countries (originally Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia), and inexperience dealing with Ebola, the outbreak spread beyond the Ministry of Health or implementing partners’ abilities to address it. As a result, on August 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As part of the organizational mandate to respond to emergencies, the IRC quickly diverted existing funding and raised new funds for critical EVD prevention and response activities in target areas.

 

In October 2015, the IRC was awarded funding to open an Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) in Montserrado County. By December, however, additional beds were no longer needed and the project diverted funds and resources to help restore essential health services at Redemption Hospital and other key health facilities in the county. As part of this intervention, the IRC psychosocial team has been working to heal broken relationships between the community and formal health care facilities. These activities include a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project, a qualitative research methodology where the subjects become participants in the research itself by developing key actions to address the barriers to accessing health care. The Psychosocial Coordinator will be the Principle Investigator for this project.

 

In addition, using lessons learned from psychosocial interventions at facilities in Montserrado County, the Psychosocial Coordinator will design and oversee implementation of a psychosocial intervention in Lofa County. Funding for these activities is dependent on a pending request to OFDA. If approval is not received, the County Director may fund these activities from unrestricted funding at his discretion.

 

 

GENERAL SCOPE OF WORK:   

 

  • Act as Principle Investigator for the Participatory Action Research (PAR) project. 
  • Design facility based psychosocial intervention in Lofa County (funding pending)
  • Oversee implementation of psychosocial program in Lofa County (funding pending)

 

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

 

PAR project

  • Provide technical oversight on PAR activities and ensure that activities are implemented according to the final workplan and approved research protocol.
  • Co-facilitate PAR workshop in July 2015 along with academic consultant.
  • Ensure local stakeholders at the hospital, NKT, Liberian IRB and government levels are kept informed on the PAR progress and findings.
  • Act as focal point between academic consultant and IRC Technical Unit for analysis and publication of the results.
  • Serve as lead writer on the interim report and final technical paper.
  • Work with project and country program leadership to develop a sustainability strategy for the activities identified by stakeholders in the PAR project.

 

Lofa Psychosocial Activities

  • Using lessons learned from interventions in Montserrado County, design a facility-based psychosocial intervention for IRC-supported health facilities in Lofa County. \
  • Strategically implement appropriate mental health and psychosocial support activities, in line with the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
  • Train primary healthcare staff on the WHO Mental Health Gap Programme Intervention Guide for Humanitarian Emergencies (mhGAP-HIG)
  • Lead hiring process for psychosocial team in Lofa County. 
  • Oversee budget allocation for psychosocial activities.
  • Liaise with project and country leadership to ensure project successes and challenges are clearly communicated.
  • Liaise with key community partners to ensure proper coordination on MHPSS in the region

 

Requirements/Skills:

  • Licensed psychologist, social worker, and/or other social sciences/humanities advanced degree
  • 2+ years experience in humanitarian, development, and/or emergency MHPSS programming
  • Demonstrated experience in creating MHPSS interventions in different contexts, facilitating workshops and trainings, providing technical support and guidance on MHPSS (mentoring, supervision)
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in using established international standards and guidelines, including the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
  • Excellent interpersonal skills

 

 

Standards for Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation

 

OTHER DETAILS:

 

HOUSING:  

The position is base in Monrovia, Liberia, with occasional travel to the field. This position is unaccompanied. International staff are provided with staff housing, close to the office, and access to transportation.

 

SAFETY & SECURITY SITUATION:

 

All international Staff must comply with all IRC Liberia security policies and procedures. While there is a great deal of media coverage about the risks of working in an Ebola affected country, both the CDC and WHO have stated that the highest risks remain for those directly treating Ebola patients which this position would not be involved in. Furthermore, you will be working with a team of fellow international staff who continue to work confidently in the country, following robust IRC hygiene protocols to minimize any risk. At any point the position holder has the option to end the assignment should you feel unsafe in any way, with no repercussions in terms of employment in other IRC programs

 


Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=a2F0cmluYW1pbGxlci45MDk4Ni40ODEwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20


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