Psychologist- CAAFAG Project 360 views0 applications

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Job Description

Position :              Psychologist

Grade:                  C

Department & Location:  Emergency Response/PU Maroua

Date:                   24/11/2019

Number of  position:   01

Reports to (position): Project Coordinator

Purpose: 

Working in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan aims to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalized with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits  by increasing its income, working in partnership with others and operating effectively. Plan is committed to responding to children affected by emergencies in the countries of our operation.

Given the current humanitarian crisis in the Far-North Region of Cameroon Plan is engaged in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance, protection, education and psychosocial support. Its operations are implemented in key sectors of Protection (Child Protection and SGBV), Education, Food Assistance and Nutrition, Livelihood, WASH , HEALTH and NFIs in coordination with all other humanitarian institutions.

With a new funding Plan International will implement in 2019 in the region a project in the sector of Protection based on the approach of mobile unit, and specifically touching the case of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG). Under this project, this position is responsible for the implementation of psychosocial support. He will ensure quality of Plan psychosocial intervention within Plan protection programme.

1-     Dimensions  of  position

–       Participate actively in team meetings, planning and review activities, providing enhanced insight into child protection programming.

–       Meet with and coordinate with key stakeholders and other agencies working on MHPSS and CPWG to identify strategic priorities and MHPSS and  divisional CPWG needs within the humanitarian response

–       Conduct  the mapping of activities MHPSS  in collaboration CPWG actors to identify gaps and avoid duplication of efforts

–       Participate  to  needs assessments and analysis among Health (mental health) and Child protection cluster partners, needs, gaps and priorities for child protections issue

–       Support case management meeting  within plan  and represent Plan in divisional case management  meeting  in  order  to  contribute   to  strengthening    of  case  management  system

–       Promote affordable and accessible and cultural based or adapted short term therapies  (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); psycho-educational strategies; relaxation-based interventions

–       Use  community based psychosocial empowerment strategies

–       Provision of psychological of aged and gender adapt care to children in needs of psychological support

–       In coordination with the CP Programme Coordinators and the CP Technical Advisor and  GBV supervisor, ensure delivery of psychosocial support activities in CFSs and in communities

–       Support community support of  children or peers support

–       Provide non-pharmacological and cultural adapted psychosocial  guidance of management of common psychological problems seen in the in targeted population, including depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain and disruption to Quality of  Life  (QoL), self-care and coping techniques, Supportive Group Psychotherapy  (SGP) as well  individual format.

2-     Aereas of responsabilities  and expected outcomes

   Oversee and  ensure quality implementation of psychosocial support activities in   GNO  project

–  In coordination with the CP Programme Coordinator and the CP Technical Advisor, ensure delivery of psychosocial support activities in CFSs and communities,

–  Ensure standards for quality programming in Child Friendly Spaces line with global standards are put in place and met,

–  Support healthcare partners in responding to psychosocial needs,

–   Develop tools and stet up strategies to operationalize quality implementation of psychosocial support,

–  Support for the medical management of mental health problems of IDP,

–  Identify  and upgrade  traditional   strategies     and mechanisms  of community support of  children or peers  support (Supportive Group Psychotherapy   (SGP) as well  individual  format,

–  Provide non-pharmacological and cultural adapted psychosocial strategies of management of common psychological problems seen in the in targeted population, including depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain and disruption to Quality of  Life  ( QoL), self-care and coping techniques,

–  Assessment and evaluation of potential interim and alternative care options for children demobilized from armed groups

–  Under  CP  specialist  and  GBV specialist and  others  psychologist, review of on-going psychosocial support activities (in CFSs and through community structures) to identify opportunities for strengthening quality)

–  Participate in the implementation of the protection program strategy, particularly in psychosocial support and psychological support activities, taking into account the overall strategy adopted by Plan Cameroon

–  Execute   any other  tasks  requested by  project manager

      Capacity building

–  Training and refresher training  of stakeholders.

–  Integration of child protection into mental health response activities (if needed)

–  Conduct a training needs assessment with staff, partners, volunteers and community workers across the field sites and develop a capacity building plan based on the results

–  conduct core trainings for staff, partners, volunteers and community workers on psychosocial support

–  Strengthen the capacities of staff and partners in relation to psychosocial support: strategies, approaches and methods.

–  Specific capacity building plan for community actors and those of the partner structures (Assistants of the Program components, Community Relays and Case Workers, Focal Points of partner health facilities, etc.)

      Monitoring , Evaluation and  Research

–  Assessment and evaluation of potential interim and alternative care options for children

–  Ensure the implementation of the data collection tools in collaboration with the Monitoring & Evaluation Unit.

–  Ensure the synthesis of the data collected by the Health Assistants, focal points, community relays and case workers with the support of the Monitoring & Evaluation Unit.

–  Review the reports and action plans of Project animators in collaboration with project officer  and  project  coordinator

–  Contribute to the development of tools and workbooks in the field of child protection and psychosocial support

–  Participate in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the program in accordance with Plan standard formats in its area of intervention

–  Promote synergies with other programs and foster exchanges with other key protection actors, including psychosocial support and reference to vulnerable cases, in its area of intervention

–  Inform the database for a continuous analysis of the situation of the child in, Mayo Sava, Logone Chari

–  Set up effective M&E systems for psychosocial support activities

–  Conduct a training needs assessment with staff, partners, volunteers and community workers across the field sites and develop a capacity building plan based on the results

–  Based on the capacity building plan, conduct core trainings for staff, partners, volunteers and community workers on psychosocial support.

3-     Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Knowledge, aptitudes and skills

Knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience necessary to achieve the objectives of the position Acquired through education, training and experience

–  At least a Masterdegree in clinical psychology or equivalent specialized education,

–  Able to work as a team.

–  Synthesis and analysis.

–  Ability to plan and organize: prioritizing activities and priorities and rearranging priorities as needed.

–  Speak clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, and write in a compelling, clear and concise manner.

–  Good computer skills including Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, MS Project).

–  Have at least three years of continuous experience in the management of health projects.

–  Be bilingual (read and write English or French) in addition to working experience with one of the two languages.

–  Good knowledge of UNHCR’s mandate and of persons of concern.

–  Knowledge of Sphere, CPIMS, IASC guidance on SGBV Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles and established international child protection standards and SGBV standards is an asset;

–  Proven professional experience in psychosocial, child protection,  humanitarian affairs, human rights, and related fields;

–  Practical and relevant experience of operating in emergency;

–  Be able to speak one of the local languages of the Far North of Cameroon (Fulfulde, Haoussa, ….);

–  Minimum of one successful assignment in an emergency situation/context, is an asset.;

–  Experience in the Far North of Cameroon is an asset.

   Behaviours: 

–  Commitment and adherence to humanitarian values and standards,

–  Aware of own strengths, weaknesses and pro-active in using feedback and self-development

–  Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to PLAN’s core values and humanitarian principles

–  Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.

–  Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity. Have experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner. Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessment particularly in high stress and high security contexts.

–  Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive under pressure.

–  Preparedness to live and work in uncertain security environments.

4-     Dealing with Problems:

–       Complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required to solve them.

–       The job requires intense interventions on the field, in areas often at risk. This requires prudence, vigilance and compliance with security instructions on the part of the staff.

–       Decisions may affect the lives of thousands of disaster affected children, millions of dollars, security of staff, and the profile of Plan across the humanitarian sector and across media.

–       Excellent and creative leadership skills will be utilized to correct implementation of Child protection activities, in accordance with the standards and with possible resistance from colleagues as is often the case in emergency response work

–       He/She should work under pressure and accept travels and stays in areas often austere.

–       Aptitude to work  in volatile  and insecure environment

–       Frequently interaction with children: medium

Location: Far North

Type of Role: Psychologist

Reports to: Project Coordinator

Grade: C

Closing Date: 08/12/2019