Psychologist at Plan International Tanzania Feb 2022

BACKGROUND

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan has over 80 years’ experience and works in more than 75 countries across the world. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners.

Plan International has been working in Tanzania since 1991. Our work supports marginalised children and youth, especially adolescent girls, to grow up physically and mentally healthy and ready to shape their future. We create an enabling environment and empower girls to be active drivers of change in realising their rights. We prioritise working with partners, and ensuring all of our work is evidence based.

Plan International Tanzania has responded to the Burundian Emergency program in Kibondo and Kasulu since October 2015 due to Burundian refugees’ influx with special focus on Case Management, Psychosocial support activities and Education in Emergencies (EiE).

role PURPOSE

The Psychologist will ensure the emotional and social wellbeing of the children supported by PLAN by supporting quality implementation of Psychosocial support programmes within the Plan International Emergency Response in Kigoma Region. The position holder in coordination with staff in child protection particularly case management, Psychosocial Support (PSS) and community-based teams as well as partners will ensure that refugee children receive timely and appropriate structured psychosocial support services. S/he will also be facilitating training for the PSS staff on key topics including but not limited PSS, Psychological first aid and other related topics.

Accountabilities

• Provide on-going technical support to staff implementing psychosocial support activities in Child Friendly Space and the Community
• Undertake assessments of psychological or Psychosocial needs, risk assessments and psychometric testing if needed.
• Facilitate capacity building sessions for key staff teams including social workers as well as associate such as incentive workers and partners on PSS, Psychological first aid and effectively communicating with children and youth in distress among others.
• Identify online courses on PSS and other related theme for staff to undertake in order to build their capacity.
• Develop and update work plans for the implementation of PSS activities.
• Regular follow up to ensure all services and action points listed in the case plan are carried out within agreed timeframes.
• Develop and put in place the necessary tools to evaluate the outcome of Psychosocial support intervention.
• Writing reports and record keeping of all information regarding activities (Data, weekly reports, monthly reports) respecting quality standards.
• Collaborate with key agencies, local authorities and organization for the provision of provide psychosocial support (as needed) to affected children and young people in all plan’s activities and sometimes there families as well.
• Represent PLAN in relevant working groups such as the MHPSS WG and others as will be required.
• Empower staff teams especially those managing Integrated CFSs and case management to be able to identify children with Psychosocial issues and how to provide psychological first aid in the absence of a psychologist.
• Work in close collaboration with the case management and other coordinators to ensure that that the psychosocial well-being of children and young people is addressed.
• Support teams in addressing the special needs of beneficiaries that face psychological issue and the consequences this has on their families and community.
• Responsible for ensuring the provision of individual and group counselling/discussion for beneficiaries and care givers in orders to facilitate his/her community integration.
• Support staff’s teams in the ICFSs and case management to ensure the PSS spaces are according to standard and records management including database is effective.
• Identify and work with management to equip centres and office with relevant PSS materials including manuals or books, IEC among others.

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Dealing with Problems:

• The position involves resolving a wide range of challenges which occur in managing different people with different background and culture.
• The position holder will be required to demonstrate attributes such as honest and trustworthy, respectful, possess cultural awareness and sensitivity, be flexible and demonstrate sound work ethics.
• S/he will demonstrate the ability to solve problems and be creative while providing support.

Skills specific to the post:

• Participatory planning and monitoring, understanding of emergencies with basic technical knowledge of child protection and EiE program.
• Proficient in team building and community works.
• Use a rights-based approach in child protection.
• Good written and oral communication skills in both English and Swahili (Knowledge of French and Kirundi is an added advantage)
• Community mobilization, problem solving skills and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.
• Proficient in computer skills and ability to work under stress and in stressful environments.
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Communications and Key relationships

• S/he will work closely with all staff in the emergency response.
• S/he will maintain a functional working relationship with the Monitoring Evaluation Accountability learning Manager for the Refugee Response to enhance data collection and reporting.
• The position holder will be required to demonstrate attributes such as honesty and trustworthiness, respectfulness, possess cultural awareness and sensitivity be flexible and demonstrate sound work ethics.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology preferably child/developmental psychology, counselling or Clinical Psychology equivalent (A Master’s degree will be an added advantage).
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in related field.
• Demonstrates good understanding of mental health and psychosocial support practices in a similar position.
• Experience with refugees will be an added advantage.
• Interpersonal and psychotherapeutic skills.
• Patience, stress management and confidentiality.
• Good knowledge of computer application.
• Good training abilities.

Desirable and key behaviour

• Ability to explore emotional issues with beneficiaries and sensitive approach to deal with
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Has a positive impact on those around them.
• Relates to people in a friendly, open and accepting manner.
• Timely and accurate in executing his/her duty.
• Demonstrate the ability to solve problems, be creative while providing support.
• Critical thinking and strategic planning.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.

• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.

• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.

• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.

• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.

• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.

• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.

• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.

• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.

• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.

• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

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