Psychosocial Officer Job in Kenya

Job ID: 20230601

Job Title: Psychosocial Officer - Kakuma

Context:

Terre des hommes Foundation is an independent, neutral, and impartial Swiss organization founded in 1960, dedicated to bringing about significant and lasting change in the lives of children and young people, especially those most at risk.

Tdh ensures their well-being and the effective implementation of their rights as defined in the Convention on the Child's Rights and other human rights instruments.


To make a difference, Tdh focuses our efforts on maternal and child health, children and young people in migration situations, and access to justice. Tdh promotes the active participation of children and young people to empower them.

We advocate for their rights and support them in expressing their needs and interests. Tdh works in fragile contexts and conflict zones, as well as in more stable environments.

Tdh is present in Kenya since 2011. Currently Tdh is providing protection and health/nutrition services for children and families affected by migration, drought and poverty in Korogocho informal settlement in Nairobi, in Garissa County, in Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, Kalobeyei settlement and host communities In Garissa County, Tdh supports the Ministry of Health in to contribute to reduction in morbidity and mortality by early detection, referral and provision of appropriate treatment/management to severe malnourished children (6-59 months), pregnant and lactating women (PLW). In addition, a WASH component will be integrated in the activities.

The intervention in Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, Kalobeyei settlement and host communities is focused on prevention and response to child protection needs while strengthening protection community-based mechanisms in the refugee operation and its host communities.

In Korogocho informal settlements, Tdh implements early child development activities and child protection activities with a strong community-based approach aiming at decreasing violence against children and strengthening child protection mechanisms.

General description of the position:

Reporting to his/her immediate supervisor,the Psychosocial Officer provides psychosocial support to the refugee children and families in Kalobeyei and Kakuma Refugee Camps and six surrounding host community villages, monitor the activities in the three child friendly centers and girls safe play areas and provide technical support to Child protection volunteers.

Specific Job Descriptions:

Responsibility: Psychosocial support

Aim: To ensure all psychosocial activities are done in Kakuma camps and Kalobeyei.

Responsibility:

  • To provide psychosocial support to selected cases of high risk or cases in need of specialized psychosocial support or mental health interventions.
  • Participate in need assessments and project evaluations aiming at contributing to the development of the child protection programme strategy for the refugee community project in Kakuma Refugee Complex and in six villages of Kalobeyei, Kakuma refugee camps and host communities.
  • To support in the development of intervention criteria for the psychosocial cases and design appropriate technical responses to psychosocial and mental health cases.
  • Provide training and supervising the CP team and community based structures on the management of children and families with basic psychosocial and mental concerns.
  • Train CP team members on the child friendly interviews techniques and implementation of psychosocial assessment.
  • Under the supervision of the Psychosocial Senior Officer, coordinate with the Case Management and Empowerment Senior Officers on assistance response to cases of children in need of psychosocial interventions.

Responsibility: Conduct Mobile monthly CFS and monitor the CFS and Mobile CFSs in Kakuma and Kalobeyei

Aim: Conduct mobile monthly CFS. Ensure effective and efficient implementation of CFS activities in Kakuma and Kalobeyei in collaboration with Child protection partners.

  • Ensure monthly mobile CFSs are conducted in the three camps and host villages.
  • Train and monitors lay counselors and CFSs Child protection volunteers on the mobile CFSs activities.
  • Ensure children who can’t access the centres are reached through various PSS interventions.
  • Ensure the centre activities are conducted appropriately and they are safe and child friendly.
  • Provide technical support to the centre supervisors.
  • Monitor children activities in the safe play spaces.
  • Plan the leave schedule for the center supervisors, lay counselors and CFSs Child Protection Volunteers.
  • Ensure that children living with disabilities are incorporated into centre activities.

Responsibility: Activities at the Child Friendly Spaces.

Aim: Conduct situational analysis on what the center requires.

  • Conduct and assessment on host community and refugee camps CFSs and Girls safe play areas while ensuring the CFSs are safe and well equipt with play materials.
  • Plan with the logistic team on what the centre needs.
  • Train the community members who are willing to volunteer on basic counselling skills and Psychosocial First Aid (PFA).
  • Ensure all the activities are carried out in the center and they are safe for children.

Responsibility: Provide psychosocial support to the eight  neighbouring villages of Kakuma nd Kalobeyei in Turkana.

Aim: Ensure children in the eight villages receive psychosocial  services.

  • Provide group and individual therapy.
  • Identify and screen children with psychosocial distress.
  • Work in close collaboration with other departments.
  • Provide mobile CFSs in collaboration with the Child Protection Volunteers.
  • Liaise with the Sub-County Children’s Officer to support high risk cases that need protection interventions.

Responsibility: Report writing

  • Develop unit reports.
  • Work closesly with the MEAL Officer and Assistants for efficient documentation of psychosocial work.
  • Develop referrals for high risk cases and ensure regular follow up of the cases.
  • Participate and represent Tdh in relevant working group meeting at the camp level.
  • He/she will conduct his or her duties in respect of the Charter of Terre des hommes and the Tdh Child Protection Safeguarding Policy.
  • Terre des hommes expects that its staff professional conduct reflects proper behaviour in accordance with local culture and traditions. He/she assures the moral protection of the name of Terre des hommes and defends in all circumstances the interests of the movement.
  • Tdh intervenes without any affiliation for politics, religion or financial profit. He/she will direct his or her activities and engagements without preoccupation of political, racial or religious affiliation

Abuse Prevention Policy - Operational Risk Management

  • Commit to respect Tdh Risk Management Policies including: Child Safeguarding Policy, Safety and Security Policy and Anti-Fraud/Corruption Policy, Code of Conduct, Whistle Blowing Policy.
  • Commit to ensure the best implementation possible of the Tdh Risk Management Policies.
  • Commit to inform supervisors and to deal with any cases, allegations, or possibility of transgression, even potential, of the Tdh Risk Management Policies.

Child protection policy

  • Commit to respect the Child Safeguarding Policy.
  • Commit to ensure the best implementation possible of the Child Safeguarding Policy in Kenya, including participation in annual audit, and reviews and updates of action plan.
  • Commit to inform the Country Representative and/or the Field Coordinator to deal with any case of any allegations or possibility of transgression, even potential, of the Child Safeguarding Policy.

·          

    • Good facilitation skills.
    • Problem solving skills.
    • Competency in computer applications and packages.
    • Skills in involving children in various PSS activities.

·          

    • Competencies This position requires personal, social and leadership competencies, technical and methodological competency.Skills : 
    • Requirements
    • Minimum bachelor Degree in Psychology. Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology from a recognized university, clinical experience is a plus.
    • Experience in use of community based approaches for the management of psychosocial and mental health issues.
    • Experience in application of innovative/creative and evidence based psychosocial and mental health issues.
    • Minimum of three years’ experience with prominence in psychosocial and mental health assignments.
    • Experience in case management including management of case conferences.
    • A good understanding of MHPSS framework and guidelines.
    • Project reporting and evaluation experience.
    • Staff supervision experience.
    • Fluency in English and Kiswahili. Knowledge of Turkana culture, language and traditions is a plus.

Languages:

Fluent in English and Swahili.

Other :

Knowledge of Kakuma Refugee Camps or similar context.

Application modalities:

Interested candidates who meet the criteria above are encouraged to send their applications letter and detailed CVs to  KEN.recruitment@tdh.ch  Candidates are required to indicate the position title and location on the subject line of the email when applying.  Kindly note only applications sent to this email address will be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

This position will be interviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Tdh’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protect children’s rights, which includes the prevention of all forms of child abuse.

Tdh is an equal opportunity employer