Psychologist: Mental Health Reports Specialist (volunteer position) 327 views0 applications

Founded in 1979, St Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) is a refugee service provider in central Cairo that works to enhance the quality of life for refugees and vulnerable migrants through five broad services: Education, Legal, Unaccompanied Youth and Children, Community Outreach, and Psychosocial Services. We provide high-quality services meeting the unaddressed needs of refugees, and we provide a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a community.

StARS’ Mission: Driven by a commitment to justice and fairness, StARS works as displaced people and for displaced people to respect human dignity and enhance the quality of life.

StARS’ Vision: Displaced people lead in the creation and implementation of responses to different forms of migration to establish safe, just, welcoming, and inclusive communities globally.

We serve people from many places, including Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Yemen, and Syria. To learn more please visit www.stars-egypt.org.

Description: StARS services

StARS’ Psychosocial Services (PS) assists refugee adults and children in overcoming barriers to meeting their basic needs. Psychosocial services focus on health, mental health and wellbeing, and social needs, such as shelter, security, and community support. StARS has psychosocial programs staffing a drop-in clinic for refugees approaching StARS, providing individual psychosocial support and case management for adults and families, supporting access to medical treatment, delivering group activities, and providing mental health services. Unaccompanied Children and Youth Services (UCYS) provide similar wraparound psychosocial support for unaccompanied children.

StARS’ Refugee Legal Aid Program (RLAP) assists refugees in issues relating to their refugee status determination before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), including preparing refugees for their interviews and representing them on appeal. RLAP also screens and refers vulnerable refugees to UNHCR for resettlement, and for those with serious protection needs (including detention).

StARS runs its programs through 20 different teams, comprised of 400 staff and volunteers, of whom more than 85% are refugees themselves or from forcibly displaced communities. Of StARS staff, 25% are youth staff aged 18 -21 who arrived in Egypt as unaccompanied refugee children (without their parents). StARS’ working language is English, however many staff and clients are Arabic speakers, and speak a range of languages from their countries of origin. Interpreters are used as required.

Role: Mental Health Reports Specialist

Under the supervision of the Mental Health Program Coordinator, the Psychologist (Mental Health Reports Specialist) will be responsible for preparing mental health reports, to address mental health issues relevant to the legal process for refugees in the refugee status determination (including appeals) and resettlement processes. This includes coordination with legal advisors, conducting assessments with clients, writing detailed mental health reports, and making the necessary mental health referrals for the assessed clients for follow up treatment required. .

Responsibilities

· Conducts assessment sessions with clients for the purpose of assessing their mental health status, and writing a report and recommendations on their mental health needs.

· Collaborates with the legal advisor and psychosocial caseworker involved in the case.

· Makes the necessary mental health referrals for the assessed client.

· Writes high quality mental health reports, providing information on the client’s background and mental health history, clinical findings including diagnosis and clinical implications, observations, and recommendations.

· Meets the necessary deadlines for the reports.

· Supports in training, reporting and meetings related to the mental health reports.

Administrative tasks

· Organizes client appointments and logistics involved across the organization, informing supervisor as required.

· Keeps accurate records of sessions held, in line with StARS data recording procedures.

· Reports monthly on progress to supervisor.

· Contributes towards internal and external reports as required.

· Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and experience

· Fluency in speaking and written English is essential. Fluency in Arabic is highly desired. Ability to speak other languages commonly found in displaced populations in Egypt will be an asset.

· Minimum bachelor degree in psychology, with relevant post graduate study.

· Good knowledge of DSM- 5 diagnosis criteria.

· Previous experience of writing reports. Excellent writing skills.

· Previous clinical experience (whether in placements during study, or externally), preferably with some experience in multi-cultural environments.

· Broad knowledge of the field of counseling, including an understanding of trauma and its effects.

· Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, sexuality, and age sensitivity and tolerance.

Hours: Three – five days per week, depending on availability of selected candidate.

Salary & contract length: This is a volunteer position. The position is available for six months – one year, depending on availability of the selected candidate.