Senior Psychologist

[Erbil,Iraq ]

About SEED Foundation: SEED Foundation is a locally-registered NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. SEED’s mission is to protect, empower, and support the recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk. SEED is committed to delivering quality and holistic approaches, combining international expertise and local know-how to achieve results for the people of Iraq and Kurdistan. SEED’s programming focuses on four key objectives: 1) the delivery of transformational, comprehensive MHPSS services including case management, mental health, and legal services, as well as psychosocial support activities; 2) strengthening the capacity of service providers through education, training, and capacity-building programs; 3) promoting policy and social change to strengthen the rights of, and protections for, vulnerable groups and individuals; and, 4) supporting the protection and recovery of survivors of trafficking, including through SEED’s shelter for victims of trafficking and those at risk, after care services, and prevention work to reduce the risk of trafficking through public awareness, technical assistance, and advocacy for legal, regulatory, policy, process, and institutional changes. 

Role of the Senior Psychologist:

The Senior Psychologist will provide services to protect, empower and support the recovery of individuals residing in the KRI through comprehensive mental health and psychosocial support services to survivors of torture, trafficking, and gender-based violence, as well as members of religious and ethnic minorities in the KRI. The Senior Psychologist will provide therapeutic services, including assessment, individual and group therapy, and referrals, through remote and in-person services to vulnerable individuals and their families in the KRI, primarily within the Erbil Governorate.

The Senior Psychologist will also provide technical supervision for other psychologists including technical support, advice, clinical supervision, and consultation on clients’ psychological assessment and treatment. Further, the position will closely support and work with the MH Technical Advisor, other Technical Department advisors, and Service Delivery Coordinators on supervision as well as provide input on the range of community and other MHPSS interventions including group work for the communities they are working in. The Senior Psychologist will work with team members and clients of different religious, ethnic, cultural, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. All services will be provided in accordance with international ethical standards. The Senior Psychologist will be managed by the Program Manager and/or Service Delivery Coordinator, but also take technical direction/supervision from the Technical Department.

Specific Tasks:

Mental Health Service Delivery: 40%

• Provide confidential critical care remotely and in-person to potential clients and their families including a mental health assessment and collaborative development of a treatment plan in order to determine the survivor’s interest in and need for continued services.
• Provide confidential mental health services and therapy to individuals, and groups of clients including LGBTI, GBV & TIP cases, and complex or challenging clients.
• Collaborate closely with the Case Managers and Service Delivery Coordinator to contribute to the development of Care Plans, with a specific focus on mental health needs, and ensure continued collaboration during intervention.
• Utilize mental health assessment and intervention tools, in keeping with SEED’s mental health strategy and SOPs.
• Facilitate effective group therapy sessions, as relevant to the population being served.
• Contribute to the development of MH interventions according to the needs per community.
• Work in collaboration with the Technical Department (TD) to provide inputs for MHPSS strategies for group therapy and PSS interventions.
• Participate in supervision sessions with the Mental Health Technical Advisor; and attend relevant training sessions, as assigned, to ensure that the highest quality services can be delivered.

Capacity Building & Supervision: 40%

• Provide training and supervision to other psychologists and offer them technical support, advice and consultation on clients’ psychological assessment and treatment in line with SEED’s Supervision Guidelines, including 1-on-1, group and field supervision.
• Design, train, monitor and coach SEED staff on mental health interventions.
• Ensure that a trauma-informed, survivor-centred approach is applied in all mental health services provided by the psychologists.
• Collaborate with the Technical Unit and Service Delivery Coordinators to ensure that service providers develop appropriate integrated Care and Treatment Plans and ensure that particularly MH clients are identified and referred to the psychologists.
• Collaborate with Service Delivery Coordinators and MEAL in ensuring supervised psychologists are completing assessments, treatment plans, case notes, and other documentation in a timely manner, updating trackers to reflect ongoing treatment, and closing cases efficiently when treatment goals are met.
• Evaluate staff competencies, identify capacity building needs and feed into development of services, guidance and SEED MH standards for staff.
• Contribute to the staff well-being program as needed.

 Documentation and Reporting: 15%

• Document all interactions with clients or other contacts in relation to a client’s case in accordance with SEED’s mental health SOPs; CommCare and M&E systems.
• Accurately measure and document improvement in well-being and mental health through service provided.
• Document supervision sessions in line with SEED’s Supervision Guidelines.
• Comply with all reporting requirements and ensure accuracy and data quality.
• Provide accurate, clear, and precise quality data of clients’ cases and other reporting such as client highlights (success stories) or trend information, that contribute to grant reporting.

 Coordination & Representation: 5%

• Strengthen referrals between case management, psychosocial services, and mental health interventions. This includes briefing staff in the identification of needs of clients and available services for clients, ensuring psychologists adopt accurate interventions with the appropriate level of support.
• Provide organizational representation at working groups, media and donor visits, and other areas as needed.
• Support the development of strategic partnerships, maintain effective relations, and work closely with partners and key stakeholders.
• Help to maintain connections between SEED and the DoH by coordinating closely on potential referrals, clients’ needs, and addressing gaps in service provision.
• Perform other duties as necessary, as assigned by the supervisor.

Essential criteria:

• University degree in psychology from a recognized university, a master’s degree is desirable
• A minimum of 5 years working experience as psychotherapists or clinical psychologists is and experience working with survivors of conflict, rights violations, GBV and TIP, as well as children and in Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAAG)
• At least two years of experience in supervising other psychologists providing on the job
• Demonstrated capacity to supervise other psychologists, High standard of spoken and written Arabic and Kurdish, with English a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to gain trust and build relationships with team members and clients
• Ability to work in a stressful setting and adapt quickly to a changing environment
• Openness to diversity is considered essential requirement
• Strong organizational skills (i.e. planning, time management, ability to prioritize, problem solving, etc.)
• Strong advocacy and coordination skills internally and with external stakeholders
• Demonstrated commitment to human rights.
• High regard toward preserving confidentiality of work-related information and data

Key values:

• Serve as a positive role model and SEED ambassador at all times
• Treat all people with respect regardless of age, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability status, marital status and ethnicity.
• Working collaboratively with all colleagues.
• Maintain a positive, cooperative attitude.

 

TO APPLY:  

• Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications through the link below;

 https://seedkurdistan.odoo.com/jobs/detail/senior-psychologist-262

• In order for an application to be considered valid, SEED only accepts online profiles duly completed. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.