Child Psychologist

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC aims to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. In response to the arrival of refugees in Greece in 2015, the IRC has been offering SMS, WASH, Livelihoods and Protection services to children, women and people in need of mental health support. IRC Hellas currently has offices in Athens and on Lesvos, Chios and Samos.

SCOPE OF WORK:

In response to the recent fire and destruction of the Μoria RIC on Lesvos island, the IRC started implementing a child protection program, aiming to assess the needs on the ground, identify vulnerable children and families and offer child protection case management and/or other child protection activities that will be identified as needs, following the needs assessment. For this reason, multidisciplinary mobile units have been set up. The Child Psychologist will manage the provision of targeted mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in target locations working primarily with children, adolescents, and their caregivers while working closely with the Child Protection team.

He/she will be responsible for ensuring that all child protection cases receive psychological support, are properly followed up and/or referred to the appropriate services.

Reporting lines: The Child Psychologist reports to the Child Protection Senior Officer and the MHPSS Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct/participate in Mental Health, and Psychosocial needs assessment among the affected populations. This will include assessments consistent with IASC guidelines and Mental Health Psychosocial WHO assessment toolkit, at different stages of program planning and implementation;
• Establish a safe space to conduct private and confidential conversations acceptable to those on the site and safely accessible by children, adolescents and caregivers;
• Answer to the identified needs, by providing direct psychological support and refer internally and externally as needed, respecting confidentiality and the rights of the children.
• Respond to the clients identified needs by conducting specific psychosocial individual level interventions/ activities (adapted and appropriate to each one’s specific needs and capacities) and lead psycho-educational groups for children and adolescents in areas of stress management, relaxation, etc.;
• Collaboratively set up, monitor and develop community based Psychosocial (PSS) activities with the CP Senior Officer, Child Protection (CP) Manager, and the MHPSS Manager;
• Offer psychological first aid (PFA) to children and parents/caregivers and provide trainings on PFA to internal and external staff;
• Collaboratively work with the CP staff to design and implement ideas for psychosocial programs with children and adolescents in target sites (CFS, etc.).
• Promote community-based PSS initiatives specific to the needs of children and adolescents such as group and community-oriented discussions, provide psychoeducation to caregivers on signs of emotional distress in children, child development, non-violent forms of discipline, secure attachments, etc.
• Conduct awareness raising campaigns and distribute IEC material on common stress reactions, psychosocial well-being, and positive coping mechanisms collaboratively with the refugee population and other partners.
• Provide psychoeducation/family counseling sessions to family members of children and adolescents when needed;
• Refer children and adolescents to other health professionals whenever necessary;
• Join interagency coordination mechanisms for the provision of mental health and psychosocial support and share relevant information;
• Referral Mapping: Work with local partners and the MHPSS team to map MHPSS service providers and other services relevant to children and adolescents in target region. Create document listing relevant services and resources. Facilitate dissemination of information about existing services and supports to strengthen referral networks, both through written output and development of referral workshops for regional service providers;
• MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Complete intake assessments, evaluations, care plans, treatment recommendations, reviews, and other documentation as necessary.

Developing and identifying necessary measuring tools to assess success in accordance to indicators of program.

Implementing and coordinating measurement tools in the field.