Psychosocial Support (PSS) officer

Contract

This is a DRC - National contract. More about DRC - National contracts.

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an international non-governmental organization, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine for more than 10 years with emergency and durable solution interventions for assisting IDPs, returnees, Host communities, and conflict-affected populations. With the outbreak of the conflict in February 2022, DRC has shifted its programming to emergency response to meet the urgent needs of conflict-affected population in the country. Current DRC programming is focusing on protection activities such as protection monitoring, information dissemination, Individual protection assistance, and legal aid. DRC is also planning to add to the ongoing emergency protection response activities such as GBV prevention and response, Psychosocial support (PSS), and community-based protection. In addition to protection programming, DRC is currently implementing Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), NFI and Food distributions, Shelter & WASH interventions, and Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Demining and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education.

Overall purpose of the role: DRC is currently looking for a Psychosocial Support (PSS) officer for its activities in Kharkiv.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Protection manager the PSS officer will

Programming & Operations

• Contribute to the development and delivery of PSS capacity building plans on PSS methodologies and materials (PSS foundations, PFA and others).
• Support the contextualization of training materials and activity planning tools as necessary and convey this to PSS assistants.
• Lead the planning and jointly with PSS assistant conduct group sessions on psychosocial first aid (PFA).
• Plan and facilitate and provide culturally and age appropriate PSS activities and positive coping mechanisms activities.
• Compile reports on activity sessions and follow up on areas of technical implementation / additional programing needs.
• Lead the data collection of the pre and post assessment and maintain database insuring accurate and relabel data.
• Manage, file and store data, ensuring the confidentiality of the information collected and the services provided.
• Prepare and submit weekly and monthly work plans in a timely manner.
• Conduct coaching and supervision sessions with PSS assistants.
• Engage in awareness-raising sessions regarding the availability of mental health, psychosocial support, and protection services.
• Identify and refer cases for more specialized case management services.
• Assist PSS assistants to plan and participate in capacity building trainings as needed and required.
• Contribute to developing and continuously updating a service mapping system detailing available services and assistance in our areas of operation and ensuring follow-up of referrals in a timely manner.
• Support protection teams efficiently and confidentially manner referring cases.
• Liaise with Protection team and attend internal update meetings on specified projects, action plans, and following up on key actions related to PSS delivery.
• Develop relationships with other partner focal points, to facilitate effective implementation and follow up on PSS program.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Protection manager, relevant to the achievement of protection objectives.

Logistics/Finance

• Support the monitoring of financial commitments and expenditures against budgets and provide timely feedback on budget follow-up.
• Plan and coordinate proactively logistics and movements of staff from and to different operational areas.
• Initiate procurements and ensure their execution.

Key Deliverables:

• Ensure the quality of the planning, implementation and follow up of all technical aspects of the sector activities being implemented by DRC
• Develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern, relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors, to support adequate implementation and coordination of DRC’s sector activities.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years working experience in protection, social work or related field
• Strong understanding of protection issues including child protection and gender-based violence
• Ability to discuss sensitive issues with respect and empathy including ability to provide basic Psychological First Aid intervention.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Strong sense of personal integrity and understanding of confidentiality and ethics.
• Knowledge of global MHPSS guidelines, including the IASC guidance on mental health and psychosocial support services is desirable.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange, Windows operating systems

Education/qualifications:

University degree in psychology, social work, education, or closely related fields; proven field experience can be accepted.

Languages:

• Fluency in Ukrainian and good command of English – both oral and written.
• Conversational written and spoken English is strongly preferred (Intermediate level).

We offer

Contract length: 3 months with possibility of extension based on available funding.

Level H

Start date: As son as possible

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff.

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 7 May 2023

We reserve the right to conduct further interviews before the deadline for submission of applications.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo