Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support Officer

Humedica, founded in 1979 and situated in Kaufbeuren (Bavaria), is an international non-governmental organization funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. In Lebanon, humedica runs one Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) serving approximately 30 informal tented settlements (ITS) in the Bekaa valley, providing free primary health care and medication for Syrian refugees. In addition, humedica is supporting Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs) (under the administration of Ministry of Public Health) for both Lebanese and Syrian patients.
 

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide adequate psychosocial-support to beneficiaries in need:
  • Assist in identifying and assessing beneficiaries in need of mental health support/treatment
  • Coordinate with the MMU team in adequate support
  • Provide appropriate psychosocialsupport to beneficiaries in need by conducting one-on-one sessions, follow-up and home visits (case management)
  • Help and advise refugees adjust to changes and challenges in their lives, such as illness, divorce, unemployment etc. through conducting PSS Group Sessions 
• Awareness Creation:
  • Raise awareness on mental health issues through planning and implementing sensitisation and capacity building sessions among e.g. the refugee community and host population 
• Referrals and coordination:
  • Coordinate with the MMU team and referral partners on identification, first intervention and followup on MH patients
  • Assist in referring beneficiaries in need of mental health support/treatment to specialized services
  • Update information on referral pathways in the Lebanese Mental Health sector 
• Reporting:
  • Manage, fill and archive specific forms of case profiles, referrals
  • Submit weekly reporting
  • Continuously monitor and evaluate the progress of humedica’s work in the field of MHPSS
  • Overall ensure confidentiality, accuracy and timeliness through adequate documentation 
• Networking:
  • Participate in MHPSS meetings, share relevant points with the supervisor and other MMU staff
  • Represent humedica e.V. during MHPSS related events 
• Conceptualisation
  • Develop MHPSS Guidelines and document working processes for humedica 
• PSEA focal point:
  • Attend relevant meetings and trainings
  • Train staff on PSEA topic
  • Be available and the team focal point for PSEA related issues

This list is not exhaustive, additional tasks may occur.

CONDITIONS OF ENGAGEMENT:

• Position full-time (5 days per week)
• Contract duration till October 2020
• Working hours Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5pm
• Post based in the humedica MMU in Zahle and Central Bekaa. With your team (doctor, pharmacist, field officer), you will visit one to two different tented settlements each day.

REQUIREMENTS:

• University degree in Pyschology or Social Work required.
• Preferably experience in NGO work.
• Experience working within the field of Mental Health.
• Belief in a comprehensive and holistic approach towards positive mental health.
• Arabic and English language is mandatory.
• Ability to cope with difficult security context.
• Preferably from the Bekaa region.
• Good coordination and communication skills are a key factor to this position.
• Excellence in organizing, planning and prioritizing tasks.
• Ability to identify strengths and weakness and in proposing shared solutions for the continuous improvement of providing quality services.
• Strong ability to observe, analyse, report and take initiative.
• Ability to work with a team as well as to work independently.
• Ability to seek, collect, and critically analyse data and information needed to achieve the tasks.
• Clear commitment to the project thematic.
• Ability to communicate any technical or non-technical topic with clarity and to share any important project information with the team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft office
• Ability to self-reflect on your work, to recognize what needs improvement and to propose solutions.