Job Title: Psychosocial Worker (9 Diploma Job Vacancies)
Organisation: Handicap International (Humanity & Inclusion)
Duty Station: Kyaka II and Kyangwali, Uganda
Reports to: SPOT Project Manager
Starting Salary: UGX 1,319,623 monthly gross
About Us:
Handicap International (Humanity & Inclusion) is an independent and impartial aid and development organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside disabled and vulnerable people to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. Handicap International is outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity.
About SPOT:
Strengthening Psychosocial support service for Transformation (SPOT) among the Congolese refugees in Uganda is a collaborative, consolidated and integrated approach among three leading MHPSS humanitarian actors – War Child Holland (WCH), Humanity and Inclusion (HI) and Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) – to bring effectiveness, and harmonization in MHPSS interventions in the refugee response in Uganda. It aims at improving the resilience and well-being of Congolese refugees and vulnerable host populations in South-western Uganda through enhancing their access to quality, holistic, gender-sensitive and inclusive MHPSS services that support positive coping-mechanisms and foster recovery from traumatic experiences, including separation from or loss of family members, abrupt displacement, physical and sexual violence. It will be implemented in and around Kyaka II and Kyangwali settlements as well as in the transit centres at the border with the DRC that are anticipated to receive more refugees in 2019 and are considered at high risk and in high need.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Ensure planning and field coordination of project activities with internal and external stakeholders
- Participate in the monthly HI activity planning meetings
- Develop daily and weekly field activity plans
- Implement field activities in collaboration with consortium partners respecting the referral pathway
Implement, facilitate and follow-up, on a daily basis, the project activities in accordance with the project implementation plans: In coordination with consortium partners and HI settlement team including psychologist, , occupational therapist, and community based volunteers, MHPSS workers will:
- Assess needs of people with disabilities identified in coordination with physiotherapist, occupational therapist, health services and families and/or caretakers;
- Conduct Home visits to people with disabilities and their families/caretakers,
- Identify psychosocial needs of people with disabilities;
- Fill the different assessments and referral forms according to the assessment’s criteria;
- According to the outcomes of the assessment of the beneficiaries’ needs (taking into account her/his daily activities, the participation of her/his care-giver, his/her access to services, etc.), elaborate an appropriate action plan in coordination with the physiotherapist, the occupational therapist and other relevant services;
Offer secure and appropriate psychosocial support
- Provide psychosocial services based on the informed consent of the beneficiary and adapted to her/his needs, taking into account the limitations of the emergency responses;
- Actively involve the beneficiaries and their caregivers at all stages of the assessment and response, in order to ensure the relevance and sustainability of the intervention
- Detect any evolution of the cases and will modify the action plan accordingly or refer to relevant colleague, superior or stakeholders;
- Use secure and respectful methods when working with beneficiary;
- Ensure a proper follow up of the cases;
- Ensure the responsibility of the service provided to the beneficiary;
- Provide appropriate psychosocial sessions to people with disabilities, including children, and/or their caregivers, through family, groups and individual based approaches in coordination with relevant services based on the specific situation of the person
- Provide comprehensive individual and group sessions for people with disabilities and/or their caregivers jointly and /or not with the PTs/OTs according the action plan defined
- Use various communication means (written, spoken, etc.) during activities to ensure the self-expression of the beneficiaries
- Facilitate inclusive activities;
- Identify his/her own limits and ask for support before any acts that could cause harm to beneficiary.
Refer beneficiary to other services when needed:
- Identify needs for referrals to other relevant stakeholders and monitor referrals conducted in relationship with ,the program manager and the relevant Technical Advisor (MHPSS, Rehabilitation and/or other);
- Refer persons to appropriate services through adequate referral system in place. Referrals can be discussed in team meetings and in close collaboration with others colleagues;
- Recognize emergency situation or situations that need immediate medical care or protection measure and react in consequence making efforts to ensure that beneficiary get the appropriate services.
Participate in the data collection and MEAL activities of the project
In close collaboration with the MEAL team:
- Maintain complete individual files for each person, including detailed descriptions of services provided and evolution of the case;
- Ensure that complete beneficiary pack is properly filled and signed;
- Respect all guidelines and documentation within the project;
- Produce weekly activity reports and contribute in the development of project reports using HI Uganda MEAL templates
- Maintain complete documentation for each activity following the recommendations and template of the project manager
- Contribute to the development of the Program Managers activity reports
- Participate in project review workshops
- Facilitate participation of stakeholders and beneficiaries in monitoring and evaluation of activities
- Ensure that field data collection is charged with the MEAL team
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the Handicap International (Humanity & Inclusion) Psychosocial Worker job must hold qualifications in psychology, psycho-social work, education, child development, community development or a similar field
- Theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in Mental health and psychosocial support
- One year of professional experience in an NGO at officer level
- Two years of professional experience in MHPSS related work
Desirable
- Other relevant Bachelor Degrees if proven experience in Psychosocial, mental health and disability inclusion.
- Experience in consortia lead projects
- Experience in the fields of inclusion / accessibility of services / services to persons with disabilities
- Experience working in refugee context
- Experience in hospital settings is an asset
Competencies
- Strong comprehension of the psychosocial issues of people with disabilities
- Proven project activity implementation skills in collaboration with stakeholders
- Perfect fluency in written and oral English and strong report writing skills;
- Familiar with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and internet
Personal Qualities
- Ability to work under high pressure and without constant supervision;
- Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills
- Strong communication and networking skills
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified candidates who wish to join Handicap International are encouraged to send their updated CVs (3 pages max, including three professional references) with cover letters to HR Coordinator at recruitment@uganda.hi.org with the subject: Application for Psychosocial Worker.
NB: Applicants must specify their preferred duty station in the cover letter (Kyaka II or Kyangwali)
Deadline: 3rd April 2019 by 5:00pm
: List of Current Job Vacancies / Opportunities in Uganda