Trainer and Supervisor

Background

War Child (WCH) is an independent and impartial international non-governmental organization investing in a peaceful future for children and young people affected by armed conflict. WCH strives to empower children and young people, while enabling adults to bring about positive and lasting change in the lives of conflict-affected children and young people. 

The Research and Development department at WCH has developed a multi-year research agenda that combines work towards evidence-based, socio-ecological, integrated and multi-level care services with validated quality implementation standards. The research agenda therefore goes beyond simply demonstrating evidence for implemented interventions, but improving the understanding of how such interventions can be implemented with sufficient quality in real-world low-resource settings. 

In support of the quality of programs, WCH is involved in a platform called EQUIP to develop and test assessment tools to test the competences of practitioners working with children and their caregivers. WCH is intending to conduct testing of the tool with facilitators implementing a psychosocial intervention with children, using the Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) methodology.

Purpose of the EQUIP Research Study

The research is part of the EQUIP (Ensuring Quality in Psychological Support), a platform of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for training and supervision of mental health and psychosocial support helpers.

The goal of the EQUIP study in Lebanon is to test three competency measurement tools (ENACT (working with adults), WeACT (working with children) and GroupACT (conducting group sessions)) and to investigate the difference in quality of care conducting intervention implementation after a Training as Usual (TaU) and a competency driven training and supervision (EQUIP-based). WCH will test the use of the competency assessment tools of the EQUIP platform with EASE Facilitators.

EASE is an intervention developed by the WHO, with input from War Child Holland.  The intervention aims to reduce distress and improve wellbeing for young adolescents (aged between 10-14 years old) that are experiencing some difficulties with their thoughts and feelings at the moment.  The reason for this intervention is because in most of the settings where we work, there are no services available for children with severe emotional difficulties. And especially in areas or conflict, we expect the levels of emotional problems to be higher – hence the need for an easy-to-access psychological intervention.

EASE is comprised of seven group sessions for young adolescents and includes evidence-based techniques: psychoeducation, stress management (slow breathing), behavioural activation, problem solving and relapse prevention. There are also three group sessions for caregivers which include the following discrete strategies: psychoeducation, active listening, stress management (slow breathing), quality time, praise and showing interest in their child, caregiver self-care and relapse prevention for their child.  It is delivered by trained, non-specialist providers (i.e. people without a specialist degree or qualification in the mental health or health field).

In this phase 3 of the EQUIP research study the EQUIP based EASE training which has a bigger focus on competencies of the facilitator will be implemented in parallel to a regular EASE training (or training as usual). Comparison of the two training approach will happen qualitatively and quantitatively. The feasibility, acceptability, and perceived utility of the EQUIP platform will also be explored qualitatively.

Around 36 facilitators will be recruited and divided randomly in the two arms with assessments of their competencies via roleplays with a trained theatre group. This roleplays will happen pre, post-training as well as after the implementation of the EASE sessions with the children and caregivers.

The planning and study design of the EQUIP Research is tentative and is subject to change depending on the public health and security situation in Lebanon.

Main Tasks

The main task of the EQUIP based EASE trainer is to conduct the EQUIP based EASE training and supervision to 18 EASE facilitators of the EQUIP based arm.

He/she will report regularly to the Research Coordinator  of the EQUIP study, while being embedded within the broader War Child Holland PSS team. Formal line management falls within War Child Lebanon.

The EQUIP based EASE trainer will be responsible for the following key tasks:

• Support the preparation and delivery of two waves of a 9 day training for EQUIP EASE facilitators in August-September 2019
• Provide weekly supervision sessions with the EASE facilitators.
• Coordinate with outreach, the Research Coordinator and EQUIP Implementation Coordinator to schedule EASE group sessions
• Coordinate with the EQUIP Implementation Coordinator and facilitators to ensure accuracy of timesheets and coordinate payments
• Ensure regular and accurate completion of facilitator session checklists and attendance sheets, and be responsible for regular collection and data entry of these clinical records.  
• Participate in regular master supervision sessions with the Training of Trainers of WCH.
• Conduct observations of EASE sessions, complete fidelity checklists, and be responsible for data entry of these records.
• Regular review with the team on the use of the different competency tools
• Attend and participate weekly reflection meetings with the EQUIP team

Knowledge, Attributes, and Experience

• A Masters level degree in Psychology is essential
• Fluent in Arabic and English (written and verbal)
• At least 5 years experience in working as a psychologist or related role in the field of mental health and psychosocial support
• At least 3 years’ experience working with children and parents
• At least one year training experience (MHPSS training experience is a plus)
• At least one year MHPSS supervision experience (MHPSS supervisor the field or in clinical practice)
• Skilled with Microsoft Word and Excel
• Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Strong coordination skills; flexibility, adaptability, and patience; facilitation and interpersonal skills.
• Previous research experience in mental health and psychosocial support, or a related field, is desired
• Previous experience working in humanitarian setting is desired.
• Ability to work within a large team, in a dynamic environment, and have a professional and ethical attitude towards all involved
• Flexibility to travel for this work, especially to Mount Lebanon
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The EQUIP based EASE trainer should have enough information and commitment to the WCH child safeguarding policy, sign the code of conduct, and all policies related to the respect of children rights. WCH will provide the necessary training and support regarding that.