Psychosocial Counsellor - JRS Thailand (Urban Refugee Project)

Reports to: Project Director, Urban Refugee Project, Bangkok Starting date: Immediately Contract duration: 2 years

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. The organisation was founded in November 1980 and has a presence in over 50 countries. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support of an international office in Rome. The style of JRS service is human and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term wellbeing of refugees and displaced persons, while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs. JRS offers opportunities to a wide variety of staff, local and international, while maintaining a realistic and localised scheme of salary/stipend, insurance, etc.

In Thailand, JRS manages six programmes spread throughout urban and rural areas serving refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and people in detention. JRS Thailand has field offices in Bangkok, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sot, Ranong, and Wiang Haeng (Chiang Mai). The main areas of work include education, psycho-social services, livelihoods, legal assistance, emergency assistance, medical services, and advocacy. For more information about JRS in Asia Pacific and Thailand, visit: http://www.jrsap.org

Project Description:

Although half of the world’s refugees live in urban areas such as Bangkok, the vast majority of assistance is focused on refugees living in camps. Guided by Pedro Arrupe’s vision for JRS – to go where no one else is working and serve the most forgotten – JRS Thailand is dedicated to serving, accompanying and advocating for urban refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. Established in 1990, the Urban Refugee Programme in Bangkok supports urban refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in Bangkok through emergency and casework assistance, psychosocial counselling, legal services, and community capacity building. There are over 2,000 urban refugees, asylum seekers and other persons of concern registered with UNHCR in Bangkok, of which half are asylum seekers. The majority of asylum seekers are from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Because many refugees have fled violence and conflict in their home countries, JRS is committed to providing psychosocial support services to those who have experienced traumatic or extremely stressful experiences. Clients who are recent arrivals in Thailand or whose applications for resettlement have been rejected are given priority access to counselling by JRS.

Role: The Psychosocial Counsellor is responsible for developing and implementing JRS psychosocial support services for asylum seekers in Bangkok.

Responsibilities:

Psychosocial Support

• To provide comprehensive psychosocial support and case management for clients who have experienced war trauma, torture, SGBV, depression or mental illness. • To refer clients for Mental Status Examination or psychological testing when they require clinical or specialized care. • To develop and implement psychosocial assessment tools to monitor client progress. • To facilitate or assist with ongoing psychosocial community and group activities in collaboration with relevant URP staff and service providers from other agencies. • To coordinate closely with the other URP staff in managing cases.

Managing the work of JRS at the field level

• To safeguard the vision, identity, and unity of JRS at the project level. • To know and understand well JRS policies and to implement them at the project level. • To implement relevant aspects of the project according to the approved proposal. • To analyse the needs of the refugees and to suggest new initiatives to the Project Director.

Strengthening Partnerships and Networking

• To lead in conducting case conferences with relevant stakeholders on behalf of the URP team. • To develop partnerships with refugee support groups and local agencies to sustain the provision of psychosocial and mental health services to urban asylum seekers and refugees. • To strengthen the capacity of all staff involved in urban refugee work to integrate psychosocial support into the management of all clients.
• To develop, implement and facilitate in-service training on mental health awareness, psychosocial activities and counseling for refugee communities, staff, volunteers, and partner organizations.

Communication/Reporting

• To communicate regularly with the Project Director, reporting on all major issues and developments in the field. • To submit monthly activity reports to the Project Director. • To develop/complete project proposals and reports (6-month and annual) according to JRS format as well as write other project/situation reports as required, together with the project team members. • To participate in regular team meetings.

Qualifications & Experience:

• University degree in social work, mental health, counseling, psychology or related profession. • Advanced university degree desirable. • Expertise in mental health and psychosocial support after crises; experience in family counseling, training, stress management are an asset. • Compatible with the vision-mission of JRS. • At least 2 years’ experience working with NGOs or humanitarian agencies. • Awareness of the need for self-care and personal counseling. • Prudent to maintain professional boundaries. • Understanding of and empathy with migrant and refugee communities. • Ability to remain calm in stressful situations. • Strong teamwork skills, able to work successfully in a multi-cultural and flexible environment and to handle multiple priorities. • Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office.

How to apply:

This position offers a localised salary with insurance, health and other benefits. Interested candidates must apply by sending cover letter and CV (including 3 references) and address how they satisfy the criteria described above. Applications are to be sent to job.psychosocial@jrs.or.th . Applications close on 30th June 2013. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.