Psychosocial Support Officer

The Psychosocial Support Officer leads on “Leave no one behind” and “Do no harm” agenda to be integrated into project interventions and improving the flood affected communities’ psychological resilience and trauma, and ensures commitments towards Core Humanitarian Standards, inclusion Charter and Protection Standards.

Key Accountabilities:

The job holder is accountable for fulfilling his / her roles and responsibilities in line with Islamic values and principles of fairness, humanity, honesty, respect and fair treatment of his/her colleagues and team members:

• Conduct client assessments in areas affected by disasters.
• Counseling of clients in target areas, especially in conflict and disaster situations.
• Group/individual sessions for clients on regularly basis.
• Maintain a data base of beneficiaries and individual records
• Design, and implement a community based counseling interventions through support group sessions for older people and their families
• Conduct community emotional health assessments as and when required
• Conduct roving duties as required and as designed in consultation with the Line Manager and the identified  needs  from the communities
• Provide counselling services through static clinic and  with mobile teams
• Conduct sessions of counselling with patients
• Follow-up with registered beneficiaries and support them to develop and comply to the emotional health and healthy living plan
• Establish and maintain accurate and confidential records and train local staff to continue this process beyond the time frame of this intervention.
• Contribute towards establishing appropriate methodologies and approaches for post-traumatic stress disorder clients counseling and emotional support for affected families and individuals displaced and stranded families
• Identify and establish internal and external referral services for emotionally unstable clients.
• Regular and monthly progress reports on the activities and continuous monitoring of the interventions with recommendations including the feasibility of continuation of the service beyond the end of the current project period

Public Relations / Media

·       Support the PR/Media team in the development of constructive working relationships with media representatives to build international and public profile and ensure positive coverage and the timely provision of situation reports and fundraising material to the Organization.

Safety and Security

·       Liaise with the local supply chain officer to ensure compliance with organization’s Security Guidelines and their effective application in the local context;

·       Monitor the operational environment with respect to an increased level of threat and advise the District Coordinator/SPO/PC and Organization’s Security Officer/Security Focal person.

·       Follow the appropriate communications means to meet operational and security requirements;

Administration

• Ensure that administrative support functions are supported in accordance with organization administrative policies and procedures;
• Ensure compliance with district/area/country legal, contractual, labour and statutory requirements.

Financial Management and Planning

• Ensure with the finance department, the maintenance of organization financial protocols and accounting systems for all field interventions under the social mobilization components.

Person Specification: 

• It is essential that the post holder shows a good understanding and sympathy with the organizational values & principles, vision and mission as well as commitment to its PSEAH (preventing sexual exploitation abuse and harassment) protocols. Organization has a zero-tolerance policy towards PSEAH and don’t support any action that promotes or encourages PSEAH.
• Organization is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Organization engages. Organization expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
• Qualification: Master / Bachelor in Psychology or relevant subject.
• Experience: Minimum experience 03 years with Master or 05 years of Bachelor in relevant field.
• Language: Urdu, English and local languages. Pashto language and tribal Pashto language will be an additional asset
• Personal Qualities & Skills:
• People Management Skills: Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrate good community management skills and is able to support the disaster affected communities in a sensitive and participatory manner.
• Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of the organization. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.
• Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to Organization core values and humanitarian principles.
• Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
• Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity. Have experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner. Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessment, particularly in high stress and high security contexts.
• Work style: Is well planned and organized even within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Knowledge and application of Sphere Standards, Humanitarian Principles, telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills and other guiding principles during interaction with Disaster affected communities.
• Good skills in English (oral and written) including excellent writing skills,   however command over Pashto language is very desirable.

Please note, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to live and work in the Pakistan. We are unable to progress applications which would require sponsorship. 

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

The organization is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom the organization engages. The organization expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organization.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. The organization also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Pre-employment Checks:

Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:

• Screening clearance
• Receipt of satisfactory references

We are an equal opportunities employer.

DECLARATION:

By applying for this position with the organization;

Declarations # 1: “I hereby confirm that I have never been involved and/or charged in violation of SEAH (Sexual Exploitation Abuse & Harassment) related concerns in my career.”

Declarations # 2: “I confirm that the above information in the CV/Application is complete and correct and that any untrue or misleading information will give my employer the right to terminate any employment contract offered.”

Declarations # 3: “I agree that information contained within this application and supporting documents (including "sensitive information”) may be accessed, stored and used and by the organization in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.”