Psychological Support Officer

Job requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in mental health sciences, psychology, counselling or social sciences from a recognized institution.
• Master’s Degree in any of the above fields is an added advantage.
• At least three years' experience in implementing mental health and psychosocial support activities.
• 1 year of experience as a field psychologist, protection case manager/worker, legal aid officer, or any position related to protection.
• Technical knowledge and understanding of protection in humanitarian emergencies, including issues relating to violence, coercion, deliberate deprivation and abuse.
• Experience of providing PSS services to GBV survivors is an asset
• Good knowledge of the Ukrainian humanitarian context.
• Willingness to travel in Kharkivs’ka, Donets’ka, Zaporizs’ka, and Dnipropetrovs’ka oblasts around 30% of the time.
• Adaptability and openness to feedback, including the evolution of contexts and missions, and new protection minimum standards.
• Good communication and report writing skills, excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Computer knowledge
• Autonomy, Adaptability and flexibility to projects needs

What we offer:

• Work in comfortable office in the center of Dnipro
• 24 annual vacation days + national holidays
• Official employment with competitive salary
• Medical insurance for an employee + family members

Duties and responsibilities:

Identification of Persons of Concern for PFA/PSS interventions

• Identification of persons of concern (PoC) in need of psychological interventions in Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizhska, Kharkivska, and/or Donetska oblasts, specifically in the hromadas of TGH intervention, through mobile support, receipt of internal/external referrals, or walk-ins to our Community Centre / Child-Friendly Space (CC/CFS).
• Assessment of psychosocial needs and risks for the PoC.
• In direct collaboration with the PoC, development of a PSS response plan designed to directly respond to the identified psychological needs/risks.
• If deemed necessary/appropriate, referral to State and non-governmental psychological service providers as appropriate and available.
• If deemed necessary/appropriate, referral to other TGH protection services (CM and/or Legal Aid).
• Follow-up on all referrals made to ensure provision of quality specialized services is put in place.

Provision of PSS services in the field (mobile response)

• Conduct regular visits to community or collective centers and other institutions in the hromadas of intervention to assess evolving needs.
• In collaboration with the PSS Supervisor and local authorities, agree on interventions within collective centres and other institutions.
• Through regular visits to the hromadas, identify individuals in need of individualized PSS interventions.
• In collaboration and agreement with the PoC, provide direct PSS interventions or refer to other providers of MH/PSS services.
• Ensure individual PSS sessions are held at a frequency appropriate to the risks/needs of the case.
• Ensure complex and/or heightened PSS needs are addressed through referral to more specialized services.
• Through regular visits to hromadas, identify individuals who would benefit from participating in age-disaggregated, structured PSS sessions in community centers
• Ensure quality data management, including sufficient qualitative data.
• In collaboration with the PSS Supervisor, ensure sufficient stock of age-appropriate PSS materials for mobile interventions.
• Ensure the participation of beneficiaries in decision-making at all stages of the intervention, as safe and appropriate.
• Ensure that PSS interventions are informed by and integrated with other core sectors, including and ensuring that issues for good practice in protection implementation are raised and addressed
• Ensure ethical sensitivity and principles of «Do No Harm» are maintained in the implementation of PSS activities.
• Ensure proper filing of documents, including paper files of individual cases, and that all electronic and paper files are followed up, kept updated, and secured in line with good practice in data protection.
• Ensure TGH’s guidelines and international protection standards are considered and any departures documented.
• Сomply with all relevant TGH policies and procedures with respect to child safeguarding, PSEA, safety and security, code of conduct, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning

• Contribute to lessons learned for the project in collaboration and as requested by the line manager, HoP — Protection, Programmes manager, etc.
• Prepare case studies to inform future programming and strategic directions as requested by the line manager.
• Prepare or contribute to the preparation of timely reports on PSS interventions and activities as requested.
• Support MEAL team as requested by line manager to ensure robust data collection and protection.
• Ensure quality data management, including sufficient qualitative data.
• Ensure respect for good practices in data protection and confidentiality, including the ‘Need to Know' principle.
• Ensure proper filing of documents, including paper files of individual cases, and that all electronic and paper files are followed up, kept updated, and secured in line with good practice in data protection.

Capacity Development

• As requested, contribute to or directly lead on the implementation of Community-Based Protection Trainings and Awareness-Raising Sessions centred on psychosocial wellbeing and resilience
• As requested by the line manager, contribute to the capacity development of new staff, local authorities, and/or implementing partners.

Coordination

• Attend internal and external meetings as requested by PSS supervisor, Programmes manager, HoP — Protection, or Field CO.
• Upon request, represent TGH at Cluster/Sub-Cluster/Working Group meetings, meetings with relevant government departments, UN agencies, NGOs and community based organizations
• Provide the notes of the attended meetings.