Psychosocial Officer
The Psychosocial Officer (PSO) works under the day to day supervision of the Psychosocial Team Leader and his/her Deputy and in co-ordination with other PSOs and Counselors. The aim of the PSO is to implement the PS Model of Intervention, contribute to the overall development of the PS team and AMERA services in general. PSOs are responsible for individual case work as well as organising and delivering group based interventions. PSOs are required to become a focal point for a particular area of the team’s work and are involved with networking and advocacy. Furthermore, as more experienced team members, they provide advice and assistance to newer team members, including the delivery of training sessions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Staff and Interns
(e.g. Recruitment, training, supervision, performance appraisals)
• Provide advice and mentorship to newer members of the team
• Supervise intern case management
• Assist in training for new AMERA staff and interns
• Actively participate in weekly staff meetings and all available education/training opportunities organized by AMERA for the PS team.
• Actively participate in bi-weekly group supervision for the PS Team
• Actively participate in bi-weekly individual supervision sessions
• Maintain the standard of performance defined within the office manual and participate fully in the regular process of staff appraisal/performance evaluation which will assess performance against the standards of dependability, proficiency, productivity, interpersonal skills and judgment and initiative.
2. Clients / Caseload (including community work)
(e.g. number of clients per week, initial assessments, case management, communication with other teams, accompaniments, information sessions, workshops, etc.)
Functions related to PS work include (but are not limited to) the following:
• Conduct comprehensive assessments on at least 2 new clients each week, including self referrals, internal and external referrals.
• Assess each new client through the use of an Initial Assessment (IA), in order to identify and analyse specific needs, problems and resources.
• Establish an action plan, setting achievable goals in partnership with the client; establish agreed time scales for each action
• Carry out the identified actions within the agreed time frame
• Facilitate and encourage the client’s own individual advocacy efforts
• Advocate with partner organizations on a case by case basis and / or accompany the clients to services when appropriate.
• Consider the appropriateness of all available PS interventions for each client including (i) provision of information (ii) referral/inquiry/advocacy for social, medical or psychiatric issues, (iii) provision of short term basic psychological support (iv) referral for relevant group based intervention such as a workshop or therapeutic group (v) expand the current network of service provision (vi) make the appropriate referral to other internal teams - Refugee Status Determination, Protection, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Durable Solutions, Unaccompanied Minors & Young People and Community Outreach (vii) grant application completion.
• Act as the on-call officer several days per month; responding to emergency cases and other ad hoc requests from internal teams.
• Carry out follow up on client actions promptly and accurately.
• Design participatory groups & workshops that respond to identified, prevalent needs of AMERA clients in partnership with a member of the Community Outreach team.
• Deliver, monitor, record and evaluate participatory groups & workshops in accordance with AMERA policy.
3. Focal Point (Networking / Interagency Communication and Coordination/Advocacy)
(e.g. data collection and analysis, meetings, identify resources in the community, represent AMERA for your specific area of responsibility, etc.)
• Act as a Focal Point for a specific area of responsibility addressed by the team and participate in policy development; liaising where appropriate with UNHCR, other NGOs and the community.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of any relevant changes in practice, policy and law.
• Incorporate a combination of networking and advocacy in order to improve the coordination with partner organisations and their policies, such as UNHCR and its implementing partners – Caritas and Refuge Egypt.
• Initiate systemic advocacy efforts by collecting information, analysing data and developing evidence based approaches aimed at ensuring refugee service providers’ consistent use of policy; improving the refugee service provision and affecting overall policy change.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of the particular focal point area and respond to internal/external inquiries and referrals.
• Expand the refugee service provision network by keeping regular contact with existing refugee service providers in addition to identifying new resources (community and institutional).
• Actively participate in the development, implementation and supervision of AMERA’s advocacy strategy.
4. Administration
(e.g. monthly reports, statistics, record keeping, developing policy and procedures, etc.)
• Maintain a clear, comprehensive and accurate record of all client contacts and interventions, updating electronic databases and records for each contact made on behalf of a client on a daily basis,
• Effective diary management to ensure client follow ups are conducted to schedule
• Undertake file management and co-ordinate work on cases with other members of the PS team and report on any significant developments to the team leader or his/her deputy.
• Produce monthly statistics and reports while contributing to the development of PS services.
• Create accurate session plans for group-based interventions that ensure client participation
Requirements:
Essential
• English being the official language of UNHCR Cairo as well as AMERA-Egypt, the PS Officer must be fluent in both oral and written English.
• A Bachelors and/or Masters degree in Psychology or Social Work is preferred; other related Bachelors/Masters degree may also be acceptable.
• Experience in the provision of psychological and social services to vulnerable groups of society and/or refugees and asylum seekers.
Preferred
• Arabic or one of the languages of refugee nationalities in Egypt
• Minimum 2 years of refugee/vulnerable persons case management
• Delivery of group- based therapeutic interventions
• Experience supervising/mentoring colleagues
Personal competencies
• Maintain calm in a stressful, fast-paced environment
• Be flexible and able to adapt to changing systems and procedures
• Prioritize responsibilities, multi-task and meet deadlines
• Skilled at problem analysis and resolution at both a strategic and functional level
• Able to develop effective systems considering organizational effectiveness and accountability; aimed at influencing policy change
• Able to express technical ideas and concerns effectively in a non-technical environment
• Commit to working with a Human Rights and client-centred approach
• Able to work independently and learn new tasks quickly.
• Strong organization and planning skills, detail oriented.
• Maturity and discretion: able to work with sensitive and often distressing client information, maintain emotional boundaries and ensure confidentiality regulations are met
• Diplomacy and assertiveness; the ability to confront and discuss sensitive issues with respect and care.
• Belief in and commitment to gender equality
Other:
Salary ranges from 2500 – 5000LE depending on qualifications and years of experience
Interested applicants for the position should send their CV and cover letter via e-mail to vacancy@amera-uk.org
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Staff and Interns
(e.g. Recruitment, training, supervision, performance appraisals)
• Provide advice and mentorship to newer members of the team
• Supervise intern case management
• Assist in training for new AMERA staff and interns
• Actively participate in weekly staff meetings and all available education/training opportunities organized by AMERA for the PS team.
• Actively participate in bi-weekly group supervision for the PS Team
• Actively participate in bi-weekly individual supervision sessions
• Maintain the standard of performance defined within the office manual and participate fully in the regular process of staff appraisal/performance evaluation which will assess performance against the standards of dependability, proficiency, productivity, interpersonal skills and judgment and initiative.
2. Clients / Caseload (including community work)
(e.g. number of clients per week, initial assessments, case management, communication with other teams, accompaniments, information sessions, workshops, etc.)
Functions related to PS work include (but are not limited to) the following:
• Conduct comprehensive assessments on at least 2 new clients each week, including self referrals, internal and external referrals.
• Assess each new client through the use of an Initial Assessment (IA), in order to identify and analyse specific needs, problems and resources.
• Establish an action plan, setting achievable goals in partnership with the client; establish agreed time scales for each action
• Carry out the identified actions within the agreed time frame
• Facilitate and encourage the client’s own individual advocacy efforts
• Advocate with partner organizations on a case by case basis and / or accompany the clients to services when appropriate.
• Consider the appropriateness of all available PS interventions for each client including (i) provision of information (ii) referral/inquiry/advocacy for social, medical or psychiatric issues, (iii) provision of short term basic psychological support (iv) referral for relevant group based intervention such as a workshop or therapeutic group (v) expand the current network of service provision (vi) make the appropriate referral to other internal teams - Refugee Status Determination, Protection, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Durable Solutions, Unaccompanied Minors & Young People and Community Outreach (vii) grant application completion.
• Act as the on-call officer several days per month; responding to emergency cases and other ad hoc requests from internal teams.
• Carry out follow up on client actions promptly and accurately.
• Design participatory groups & workshops that respond to identified, prevalent needs of AMERA clients in partnership with a member of the Community Outreach team.
• Deliver, monitor, record and evaluate participatory groups & workshops in accordance with AMERA policy.
3. Focal Point (Networking / Interagency Communication and Coordination/Advocacy)
(e.g. data collection and analysis, meetings, identify resources in the community, represent AMERA for your specific area of responsibility, etc.)
• Act as a Focal Point for a specific area of responsibility addressed by the team and participate in policy development; liaising where appropriate with UNHCR, other NGOs and the community.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of any relevant changes in practice, policy and law.
• Incorporate a combination of networking and advocacy in order to improve the coordination with partner organisations and their policies, such as UNHCR and its implementing partners – Caritas and Refuge Egypt.
• Initiate systemic advocacy efforts by collecting information, analysing data and developing evidence based approaches aimed at ensuring refugee service providers’ consistent use of policy; improving the refugee service provision and affecting overall policy change.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of the particular focal point area and respond to internal/external inquiries and referrals.
• Expand the refugee service provision network by keeping regular contact with existing refugee service providers in addition to identifying new resources (community and institutional).
• Actively participate in the development, implementation and supervision of AMERA’s advocacy strategy.
4. Administration
(e.g. monthly reports, statistics, record keeping, developing policy and procedures, etc.)
• Maintain a clear, comprehensive and accurate record of all client contacts and interventions, updating electronic databases and records for each contact made on behalf of a client on a daily basis,
• Effective diary management to ensure client follow ups are conducted to schedule
• Undertake file management and co-ordinate work on cases with other members of the PS team and report on any significant developments to the team leader or his/her deputy.
• Produce monthly statistics and reports while contributing to the development of PS services.
• Create accurate session plans for group-based interventions that ensure client participation
Requirements:
Essential
• English being the official language of UNHCR Cairo as well as AMERA-Egypt, the PS Officer must be fluent in both oral and written English.
• A Bachelors and/or Masters degree in Psychology or Social Work is preferred; other related Bachelors/Masters degree may also be acceptable.
• Experience in the provision of psychological and social services to vulnerable groups of society and/or refugees and asylum seekers.
Preferred
• Arabic or one of the languages of refugee nationalities in Egypt
• Minimum 2 years of refugee/vulnerable persons case management
• Delivery of group- based therapeutic interventions
• Experience supervising/mentoring colleagues
Personal competencies
• Maintain calm in a stressful, fast-paced environment
• Be flexible and able to adapt to changing systems and procedures
• Prioritize responsibilities, multi-task and meet deadlines
• Skilled at problem analysis and resolution at both a strategic and functional level
• Able to develop effective systems considering organizational effectiveness and accountability; aimed at influencing policy change
• Able to express technical ideas and concerns effectively in a non-technical environment
• Commit to working with a Human Rights and client-centred approach
• Able to work independently and learn new tasks quickly.
• Strong organization and planning skills, detail oriented.
• Maturity and discretion: able to work with sensitive and often distressing client information, maintain emotional boundaries and ensure confidentiality regulations are met
• Diplomacy and assertiveness; the ability to confront and discuss sensitive issues with respect and care.
• Belief in and commitment to gender equality
Other:
Salary ranges from 2500 – 5000LE depending on qualifications and years of experience
Interested applicants for the position should send their CV and cover letter via e-mail to vacancy@amera-uk.org
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