Psycho-Social Workers (Female) – Eurika ,Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION

Eur¡ka Yebego Adragot Dirigit (in short: ‘Eur¡ka’) is a local NGO registered in accordance with Ethiopia’s CSO Proclamation No. 1113/2019. We pursue any sustainable action aiming at a visible progress of children’s rights & well-being through projects seeking particularly to: prevent or alleviate poverty; increase households’ food security; enhance health and nutrition statuses; protect or support persons at risk; empower mothers and caretakers; improve access to quality education; expand family planning practices; provide decent shelter and clothing; offer legal assistance and psychosocial counselling, etc.

‘WHEI’, the acronym of our new intervention entitled ‘Women’s Healing & Empowerment Initiative’, funded by the Embassy of France (PISCCA Fund), is to be implemented in the Gamo zone over a period of 15 months until late 2022. The project’s general objective is “to prevent and respond to gender-based violence [GBV] in Arba Minch city and surrounding areas through holistic services to survivors, the promotion of enabling environments and enhanced coordination mechanisms”. The action targets: 1/ girls and mothers victims of GBV in need of a ‘Safe Home’ to get rehabilitated from their trauma and reintegrated in the society in decent conditions; 2/ students in Arba Minch public schools, local leaders and caretakers in rural areas plus radio listeners, for various prevention and awareness activities; and 3/ organizations such as local / international NGOs and public institutions (hospitals / health centres, police and justice departments, etc.) to strengthen referral pathways and networks of GBV stakeholders, set up a coordinated strategy against sexual abuse, etc.

JOB PROFILE

Two (2) Psycho-Social Workers (PSWs) will be hired as key staff to implement WHEI. They will: work in shifts at the Safe Home established for female survivors, report directly to the GBV Coordinator (and indirectly to the Programme Manager), in close collaboration with a team of Nurses / Safe Home ‘Mothers’. The PSWs will notably have the following responsibilities:

1. Patient assessment, case management and follow-up (around 40% of the time): following evidenced-based, trauma-informed and survivor-centered approaches; adhering to the Safe Home’s protocol, to applicable standards and best practices; completing informed consent, screening intake and other forms as required upon orientation, incident, exit, etc.; providing psychological first aid and follow-up support as appropriate (personal notes, phone calls, hospital visits, etc.), including in life-saving situations; developing multisectoral action plans for complex cases – seeking external expertise and referring to psychiatrists as needed – and to respond to depression, anxiety and traumas; conducting individual or family-based counselling sessions (in culturally- and age appropriate fashions) and support the patients in achieving their goals; regularly evaluating the emotional and mental health of all; supporting the effective resolution of disagreements or conflicts; tracking progresses on a systematic basis; performing home visits after discharge; ensuring documentation is properly maintained and sufficiently detailed (up-to-date records); making sure at all times that the survivors are safe, respected, cared for and that their data are protected and kept confidential within the medical team; observing ethical practices and providing services with empathy, a non-judgmental attitude; attending and actively participating in weekly case review committee meetings; compiling monthly reports with accurate, qualitative and quantitative data and information; writing clinical case studies and success stories.

2. Design and delivery (or coordination) of holistic psychosocial support activities (50%): stimulating group dynamic by favouring exchanges and participation in collective sessions on specific topics; developing / providing interactive teaching methods (like therapeutic play sessions or role playing) for group facilitation or mother & children bonding, according to the residents’ needs, so as to ease behaviour change; fostering healthy communication and problem solving / conflict resolution within the families; working to prevent domestic violence and empower victims to move towards self-sufficiency; recognizing / rewarding positive life choices of caregivers and their children; providing literacy classes and social empowerment trainings (life skills, SRHR, prevention of HIV/AIDS, family planning, IYCF, early childhood development, parenting and positive discipline, HTPs, child early marriage, etc.), economic strengthening (vocational training / skills development, financial education, self-help group methodology, material support, etc) and healing through recreational activities (physical, gardening and art therapy) to express feelings and reduce PTSD / levels of anxiety.

3. Any other task as required (10%): liaising with the GBV Coordinator if transport is required by patients for movement or referral; training other staff on psychosocial issues, so they can integrate them within their regular work and better coordinate with the psycho-social team; when necessary, distributing dignity kits or child care and other supplies to the survivors and their children; raising awareness in school clubs; providing community outreach education (child development, positive parenting, mother & child interactions, IYCF practices, etc.) in targeted rural areas; taking part in workshops, events and radio shows on HTPs and child early / forced marriage; occasionally substituting the GBV Coordinator / other colleagues, e.g. managing incoming calls for the 24-hour hotline; drafting / translating / reviewing IEC materials, ensuring key messages are appropriate for the community and conducting pre-testing before dissemination, etc. Performing other tasks as assigned by management.

Number of positions: 2 (two)

Duration: 12 months (with a probability of contract extension)

Education level:

Required: BA/BSc. degree in clinical or counseling psychology / mental health, social work or other relevant fields (e.g. nursing with additional training in psychiatry).

Preferred: MA/MSc. in psychology / mental health / ICCMH or other relevant fields.

Professional experience:

Preferred: Proven track record in a safe house setting or similar social work, undertaking case management and psychological services, counseling / assessing the psycho-social wellbeing of / providing mental health support/training to GBV survivors (women and girls).

Other expectations:

Required: Written and spoken proficiency in Amharic; team player; high stress tolerance; flexibility / adaptation capacity; willingness to work in routine shifts (including at night, during weekends and holidays) and to substitute colleagues in case of emergency, so as to ensure adequate 24-hour coverage of the Safe Home in all circumstances; capacity to receive and restrain the expression of strong emotions, as well as to observe, evaluate and analyse the content of a counselling group session with structured tools; ability to build positive relationships through acceptance, cooperation and mutual respect; capacity to maintain clear personal and professional boundaries; rigorous in recording and reporting accurate patient data on a timely basis, according to professional norms; hard-working and a self-motivated person; never convicted and free from substance abuse addiction.

Preferred: Written and spoken proficiency in English; good command of Gamogna; solid understanding of the dynamics of domestic & sexual violence; good knowledge of MHPSS guidelines and of key messaging to vulnerable caregivers and other issues (e.g. TBRI, GBV programming, child development, IYCF, HTPs, CEFM, PSEA, etc.); computer proficiency (MS Word); CPR / first aid certified or willingness to secure the training after recruitment.