PSS Worker

[Baghdad,Iraq ]

Position:  Psychosocial Support Worker (PSS Worker) – Pathways Home: Livelihood and MHPSS Support for Returnees (1 position)

Location:  Baghdad, Dhi Qar & Basra, Iraq ( Roving )

Reports To:              MHPSS Coordinator / Project Manager

Application Deadline:  September 18, 2021

Project: Pathways Home: Livelihood and MHPSS Support for Returnees

About You:  A motivated mid-career mental health professional looking to work alongside an inspiring, dynamic team of leading human rights workers. The candidate will have exceptional clinical service provision skills and embrace a collaborative, team approach to the work they do. This person has experience living and working in challenging operating environments and is eager to apply that experience working on innovative human rights projects that support survivors of torture, their families, as well as families of those who have been disappeared.

About Heartland Alliance International: Heartland Alliance International’s (HAI) mission is to secure the rights and well-being of marginalized people and communities. HAI envisions a world in which those whose rights have been violated are safe and empowered to actively engage in their communities and be at the forefront of social change.  In Iraq, HAI provides holistic services focusing on mental health and psychosocial support, legal aid, violence prevention, and social cohesion to diverse vulnerable populations.

 

The Project:

 

Pathways Home: Livelihood and MHPSS Support for Returnees in Baghdad and Dhi Qar is a one-year project funded by GIZ. The project goal is increase livelihood support, comprehensive mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, and legal services for Iraqis who have returned from the European Union, specifically Germany, as well as Iraqi IDPs and host community members. The project consists of three domains of activities: (1) Livelihood support; (2) Case management and MHPSS support; (3) Legal support. Project activities will be implemented in Baghdad and Dhi Qar governorates. Mobile support may also extend to Anbar, Kerbala, and Basra.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Under the direct line management of the project Coordinator and the technical supervision of the MHPSS Coordinator, the PSS Worker will implement center and community-based Psychosocial Support (PSS) services for project’s participants , and their families to ensure holistic service provision for these vulnerable groups. Overall responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.  

• Perform proper and detailed PSS needs assessment and/or case studies of target participants;
• Develop plan for addressing client needs based on developed treatment plan;

• • Provide direct individual and/or group PSS interventions to Project’s participants and their family members;
  • Working as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside, case managers, psychiatrists, Psychologist…etc.
  • Refer clients if needed to specialists or to other institutions for other kinds of services using the referral pathways.

• Establish and facilitate peer support groups among target participants;
• Participate in advocacy, crisis intervention, and problem solving for program participants;
• Maintain records and proper documentation of client needs and interventions carried out;
• Report progress of participants and make corrective actions when necessary;
• Liaise with other project team members and external agencies for holistic service provision; make referrals as needed.
• Serve as a liaison between clients, government agencies and NGOs to ensure clients have access to available services;
• Conduct awareness sessions and mental health education and promotion activities;
• Mainstream protection in all activities;
• Uphold ethical principles in all aspects of work with participants;
• Establish and maintain a relationship with a client that is professional and confidential;
• Participate in client file reviews to ensure that client case record is complete;
• Organize and provide self-care and peer support activities to the trauma rehabilitation and treatment center staff;
• Encourage and contribute to a safe and collaborative working environment where self-care as well as care of colleagues is prioritized.

Position:  Psychosocial Support Worker (PSS Worker) – Pathways Home: Livelihood and MHPSS Support for Returnees (1 position)

Location:  Baghdad, Dhi Qar & Basra, Iraq ( Roving )

Reports To:              MHPSS Coordinator / Project Manager

Application Deadline:  September 18, 2021

Project: Pathways Home: Livelihood and MHPSS Support for Returnees

About You:  A motivated mid-career mental health professional looking to work alongside an inspiring, dynamic team of leading human rights workers. The candidate will have exceptional clinical service provision skills and embrace a collaborative, team approach to the work they do. This person has experience living and working in challenging operating environments and is eager to apply that experience working on innovative human rights projects that support survivors of torture, their families, as well as families of those who have been disappeared.

About Heartland Alliance International: Heartland Alliance International’s (HAI) mission is to secure the rights and well-being of marginalized people and communities. HAI envisions a world in which those whose rights have been violated are safe and empowered to actively engage in their communities and be at the forefront of social change.  In Iraq, HAI provides holistic services focusing on mental health and psychosocial support, legal aid, violence prevention, and social cohesion to diverse vulnerable populations.

 

The Project:

 

Pathways Home: Livelihood and MHPSS Support for Returnees in Baghdad and Dhi Qar is a one-year project funded by GIZ. The project goal is increase livelihood support, comprehensive mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, and legal services for Iraqis who have returned from the European Union, specifically Germany, as well as Iraqi IDPs and host community members. The project consists of three domains of activities: (1) Livelihood support; (2) Case management and MHPSS support; (3) Legal support. Project activities will be implemented in Baghdad and Dhi Qar governorates. Mobile support may also extend to Anbar, Kerbala, and Basra.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Under the direct line management of the project Coordinator and the technical supervision of the MHPSS Coordinator, the PSS Worker will implement center and community-based Psychosocial Support (PSS) services for project’s participants , and their families to ensure holistic service provision for these vulnerable groups. Overall responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.  

• Perform proper and detailed PSS needs assessment and/or case studies of target participants;
• Develop plan for addressing client needs based on developed treatment plan;

• • Provide direct individual and/or group PSS interventions to Project’s participants and their family members;
  • Working as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside, case managers, psychiatrists, Psychologist…etc.
  • Refer clients if needed to specialists or to other institutions for other kinds of services using the referral pathways.

• Establish and facilitate peer support groups among target participants;
• Participate in advocacy, crisis intervention, and problem solving for program participants;
• Maintain records and proper documentation of client needs and interventions carried out;
• Report progress of participants and make corrective actions when necessary;
• Liaise with other project team members and external agencies for holistic service provision; make referrals as needed.
• Serve as a liaison between clients, government agencies and NGOs to ensure clients have access to available services;
• Conduct awareness sessions and mental health education and promotion activities;
• Mainstream protection in all activities;
• Uphold ethical principles in all aspects of work with participants;
• Establish and maintain a relationship with a client that is professional and confidential;
• Participate in client file reviews to ensure that client case record is complete;
• Organize and provide self-care and peer support activities to the trauma rehabilitation and treatment center staff;
• Encourage and contribute to a safe and collaborative working environment where self-care as well as care of colleagues is prioritized.

Essential

• University degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related mental health discipline.
• Previous experience with international or local NGOs.
• Experience providing direct MHPSS services to vulnerable individuals, including women, minorities and children.
• Experience providing MHPSS services to survivors of torture and/or war violence strongly preferred.
• Able to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills.
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and humanitarian values.
• A strong commitment to human rights and to international standards relating to human rights.
• Proven ability to calmly, professionally, and successfully manage multiple priorities.
• Knowledge and understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation concepts.
• Experience with Windows platform, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship management skills, with the ability to proactively problem solve and find solutions.
• Demonstrates initiative and is comfortable working in a group, as well as independently.

 

Language:  Arabic is required, English is preferred.

 

Location: Heartland Alliance International’s Iraq program is headquartered in Sulaymaniyah, a city of nearly one million people in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. This position will be based in Baghdad, and will require site visits to Dhi Qar, Basra and KRI as needed.

 

Please submit cover letter (1 page maximum) explaining your interest and how your experience meets the qualifications required and a CV through  to 

https://heartlandalliance.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=542

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear back from us within 2 weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, or HIV infection, in accordance with the Organization’s AIDS Policy Statement of September, 1987. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact the Human Resources and Administration Office at (312) 660-1431.