Psychologist (Trieste)

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC aims to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. In response to the increased refugee arrivals into Europe, the IRC established the program initially in Greece, which was expanded with programs in Serbia and wider Balkans and with programs in Germany.

Following a first assessment conducted in January 2017 in Italy and another one in July 2017, several critical protection gaps were identified within assistance provided to refugees in migrants in Italy: mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), assistance to unaccompanied children, information provision and legal support. To respond to the identified gaps IRC established a small presence in Italy. Programs in Italy include: Refugee.Info web-based information platform, child protection programming targeting unaccompanied children and victims of trafficking, mentoring programs for the socio-economic inclusion of refugee youth, WPE and education (social emotional learning and healing classrooms), emergency response to the Afghan crisis on the border between Italy and Slovenia. The IRC is setting up a response to the Ukraine refugee crisis with mental health and protection components in Trieste area.

Job Summary

The psychologist(s) will be based in Trieste and support IRC MHPSS response to refugees from Ukraine. The Psychologist(s) will manage the provision of targeted mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in target locations working primarily with children, adolescents, and women while working closely with the IRC team. Special focus will be given to children, adolescents and women displaced by the Ukrainian conflict. MHPSS services will be specific to the needs of children, adolescents and women and will be informed by an understanding of traumatic experiences, cultural norms around mental health.

The position will report to the Program Manager and will receive additional technical support from the IRC Technical Advisors.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct/participate in Mental Health, and Psychosocial needs assessment among the affected populations.

• Support the establishment of a safe and protective environment to conduct both group activities and confidential conversations with children, adolescents and women.

• Respond to the clients’ identified needs by conducting specific psychosocial individual level interventions and group activities (adapted and appropriate to each one’s specific needs and capacities).

• In collaboration with IRC staff, provide psychoeducation/family counseling sessions to family members of children and adolescents when needed.

• Support and coach the IRC team in the design and implementation of community-based PSS initiatives specific to the needs of children, adolescents and women such as group and community-oriented discussions, provide psychoeducation to caregivers on signs of emotional distress in children, child development, nonviolent forms of discipline, secure attachments, etc.

• Discuss individual cases with the IRC team and advise on next steps to support vulnerable cases or refer them to other health professionals.

• Maintain close coordination and collaboration with the IRC team and attend bi-weekly calls.

Reporting Lines

Position directly reports to: Program Manager, IRC Italy

Expected Travel

This position is based in Trieste.

Qualifications

• The qualified candidate must be a psychologist with extensive psychosocial programming experience with 2 + years’ experience in setting up or implementing psychosocial programs for children, adolescents and women at national and international levels.

• Significant experience in working in child protection in emergencies, particularly on Child Friendly Spaces and psychosocial programs.

• Knowledge of tools for assessment of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Children and Women in the Context of Humanitarian Emergencies.

• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of psychosocial programs and feeding learning into program design.

• Experience working on the inclusion of hard to reach groups of children and adolescents.

• Cultural awareness and sensitivity.

• Self-awareness and proven ability to operate successfully in different cultural environments

• A good command of verbal and written English.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.