Psychologist full time, 6 month contract, Wadi Khalid, Akkar

ABOUT MSF

Médecins Sans Frontières/أطباء بلا حدود (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people in 70 countries who are affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation and our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality. 

ABOUT OUR PROJECT IN WADI KHALID

The project started in December 2016 in Jandulah, Wadi Khalid, where MSF is currently managing a clinic and providing health services within non-communicable disease (NCD), paediatric consultations, vaccinations with transversely integrated mental health services and health promotion and referrals for patients who require services beyond the scope of MSF activities.

Mental health activities have been part of the project since the beginning in 2016 and will be an even more important component of the project in the future. We provide mental health care by offering psychiatrist and psychologist consultations. In order to raise awareness to mental health we are about to launch school programs and we have a strong focus on capacity building in the local communities.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Providing psychological support to patients according to MSF principles, standards and procedures in order to improve the patients’ mental health.

“Working hours are currently 8.15 am to 4.15 pm, and area of operation is Wadi Khalid.”

Accountabilities

• Carrying out evaluation of mental health needs of patients and establishing a diagnosis and a plan of treatment. Informing the patient and his/her relatives about the possible consequences of the illness and the drug treatment to follow and referring patients to other health professionals whenever necessary, in order to provide the most appropriate treatment and improve the patient's condition
• Implementing the Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) protocol, identifying possible victims of SGBV and referring them to the medical team so that they receive the necessary treatment.
• Providing psychological support and psychotherapy sessions (individual, family, group) to patients according to MSF protocols in order to improve their mental health conditions
• Assisting and training staff members and resourceful people whenever necessary in order to enhance the scope of MH activities.
• Collecting statistical and monitoring data about mental health activities and giving input to the supervisor to identify improvements.
• Informing the supervisor and the medical team about any issues or problems that may arise related to patients’ treatment in order to provide the best possible solution from a medical (mental health) perspective
• Communicate and collaborate closely with the medical team: CE’s, doctors, nurses, health promotor, social worker, pharmacist, data-analyst and all other staff of the medical team.
• Ensuring that all patient information is kept confidential.

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

Activities more in detail:

• Ensure the good follow up of the referral forms by contacting the patients as soon as possible and by providing psychological support and psychotherapy sessions according to MSF protocols and principles.
• Ensure the good follow up of the psychiatrist’s and task-shifting patients flow: prepare the appointments list, contact the patients, support to fill the files and the tally sheets, continue psychotherapy sessions in parallel.
• Create, organize and deliver trainings for other team members (stress management, …)
• Create and organize peer-groups sessions (identify the patients with anxiety, depression, …) + train the counselors educators to deliver the sessions + propose the follow-up
• Organize and deliver detections and referrals sessions in the PHC, and for other PHC’s and NGO’s.
• Participate actively to weekly clinical supervision with the MH supervisor by preparing the challenging/complex cases, and ensure the follow-up.
• Collect data and report to the data encoder (weekly); provide the number of missed appointments, new patients to MH supervisor and PMR.

Teamwork

• Participate actively to MH team meetings, staff meteings, trainings and team activities.
• Participate actively to interdisciplinary meetings.
• Ensure a efficient collaboration and communication with the social worker when needed (weekly meetings, follow-up on complex cases), respecting confidentiality.
• Ensure efficient collaboration and communication with MH team members: counselor educators, psychiatrist, MH supervisor.
• Ensure quality communication with medical and non-medical staff.

Corona_response:

• Support community activities and identify topics for mental health awareness.
• Continue daily mental health services (psychiatrist, psychologist, psycho-education) within the Infection Prevention Control measurements.

Requirements

Education

Desirable: degree of Master diploma in Psychology ;

Essential: final stage thesis in Master in Clinical Psychology.

Experience

• Desirable 2 years’ experience minimum as a Psychologist
• Desirable previous experience with MSF or other NGO’s in developing countries

Languages             

Local language: Arabic (essential); Mission language: English (essential) ; Other: French (optional/asset)

Knowledge

Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Competencies

• Results and Quality Orientation L2
• Teamwork and Cooperation L2
• Behavioural Flexibility L2
• Commitment to MSF Principles L2
• Stress Management L3