Child Psychologist

Background

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic Church based non-governmental organization with a mission to accompany, serve and protect refugees and internally displaced persons–regardless of faith, race, ethnicity or nationality.  The main areas of work are in the field of education, emergency assistance, livelihood and social services. JRS is a non – profit venture of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits’) that was established in 1980. JRS works in more than 56 countries worldwide. It has committed itself in Ethiopia for more than a couple of decades helping refugees from all over Africa.

JRS Ethiopia is now recruiting a dynamic Child Psychologists to help refugee children and youth as well as vulnerable to their dependents who face psychosocial distress. Many refugee children and youth are negatively affected by the experience of conflict, displacement, and family separation. Anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder are common psychological impacts of refugee children’s past experience which can impact their social life, schooling, confidence and expose them to protection risks. The Child Psychologists are expected to assess the depth of these problems and work together with affected children to develop coping mechanisms, skills and solutions.

Key Role and Responsibilities

• The Child Psychologist is responsible for the following specific roles:
• Providing counseling and support services to children, youth and their dependents as well as caregivers/foster parents
• Conduct initial screenings and psychosocial needs assessments that identify service needs and recommend options for care;
• Involve children  and their families in the development of treatment plan goals, objectives and interventions that address their assessed psychosocial needs;
• Provide individual, family and group therapy/counselling services;
• Conduct regular focus group discussions with children and youth at JRS centers in Addis Ababa
• Collaborate with family members, foster parents, medical practitioners, school officials, law enforcement staff and/or others as appropriate in collaboration with case workers to facilitate case management process, formulation of an action/treatment plan, and related on-going casework.
• Make arrangement for clients to receive a variety of medical, educational, shelter, day care, transportation, counseling, training and related services in collaboration and consultation with CP case workers and MHPSS Officers.
• Counselling of clients whose needs can be met through elementary therapy sessions.
• Accompanied children referral for specialized psychosocial support/mental health services
• Reassess and review treatment progress with clients and their families at reasonable intervals;
• Assist in establishing effective communication between the JRS urban Child Protection and MHPSS teams , other social agencies serving clients, and the community;
• Makes periodic home visits to determine client and family progress;
• The first focal points on testimony at court hearings, if any related with children
• Ensure proper documentation and confidentiality of sensitive information
• May appear and provide testimony at court hearings, if any.
• In collaboration with Art therapist/trainer and music instructor organize various psychosocial support sessions and structured activities to improve emotional and psychosocial wellbeing of children and youth
• In collaboration with Social Worker, CP Case Workers organize various awareness raising and sensitizations events and meetings at various settings
• Performs related duties as required.

No. required: Two (2)

Starting date: As soon as possible

Level: Five (5)

 Required Qualifications and competencies

• MA or MA degree in Developmental Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Child Psychology, Child Health, Early Child Hood Development and Psychologist or related field;
• Minimum 3 years’ experience for MA holder and 5 years for BA holder as a practitioner/psychologist working with children, preferably with other NGOs in the child protection field.
• With good command of English, both written and oral;
• Good interpersonal skills and cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Positive attitude with a willingness to learn;
• Ability to cope and work under pressure;
• Computer literate mainly in Microsoft Office package;
• Well-organized, self-motivated and ability to work in a team;
• Familiar with core principles of Children Rights, Participation, Do No Harm, as well as Children in Emergencies minimum standards.