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Job Title:  Clinical Psychologist

Organisation: LWF World Service (LWF)

Duty Station: Adjumani, Uganda

Reports to: Protection Coordinator.

About US:

LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world. Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Uganda is part of the LWF World Service and we are currently supporting Congolese and South-Sudanese refugees living in settlements in the districts of Kamwenge, Adjumani, Moyo, Kyangwali and Lamwo respectively.

Job Summary:  Under the supervision of the Protection Coordinator, the Clinical Psychologist provides technical support to the project team in mental health and psychosocial support interventions, supports training activities for the project implementation team on MHPSS assessments and case management, provides quality assurance during project implementation, supervision of social workers, record learning and coming up with adaptable intervention approaches to support effective implementation of the project goals and objectives in line with the LWF Uganda MHPSS-Protection intervention strategies and the IASC MHPSS principles. An integral part of the role will include; providing overall monitoring and clinical supervision and quality assurance during the project implementation to the social workers by the project theory of change and the IASC MHPSS principles guided closely by the LWF Country Strategy.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Case management and Specialized support.

• Improve or build up a case management repository in the assigned location in accordance with the standard case management principles and IASC case management process.
• Observes identified PoCs with specific to severe mental health and psychosocial distress in various situations; Selects, administers, and interprets intelligence, personality, or other psychological tests to diagnose disorders and formulate plans of treatment, and provides consultation to other MHPSS, Health, and Protection teams about test results.
• Support, through co-case management and consultation with case management teams, the ongoing needs assessments and plans for beneficiaries with layered or complex vulnerabilities, considering special populations.
• Treats psychological disorders to effect improved adjustments utilizing various psychological techniques; selects appropriate treatment approach and plans frequency, intensity, and duration of individual, group, and family therapies within his /her areas of operation.
• Assess referred and severe cases from social workers and case management teams to ascertain progress and modify treatment programs accordingly; communicate with and counsel family members as appropriate. Document therapy by policies and procedures regarding clinical records; implements and adheres to policies that ensure patient confidentiality
• Provides crisis interventions for groups and individuals in situations requiring immediate psychological treatment including PoCs, and staff at risk of deliberate self-harm, suicidal ideations, and other severe and common mental disorders, and liaise with general practitioners’ psychiatrists’ psychologists, and other healthcare professionals to support clients in need of MHPSS through the referral diagnosis and treatment process.

Assessment, and Diagnosis.

• Guide the use of the various global and internal assessment tools about the population needs and guide on intervention approach by DSM-V and ICD-10 standard diagnostic criteria.
• Ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and evaluations of mental and emotional disorders of individuals and administers relevant therapeutic specialized and non-specialized treatment
• Assess the necessity for referral of cases according to the referral criteria, verify that the referral system is followed correctly, and report and discuss the barriers with the line supervisor for resolving them.

Community-Based Psychosocial Support.

• Mainstream CBPS action principles within other program activities of protection, WASH, Livelihoods, Environment, and Energy using a community-based psychosocial support approach.
• Support in the development and implementation of community-based psychosocial support activities; training in psychological first aid, designing holistic recreational, vocational, and social activities; development of material for awareness campaigns.
• Conduct quarterly review meetings with community MHPSS support structure members to review progress, challenges, and developing actions to improve psychosocial work in the settlement zones.
• Support the client(s) coping process and mobilize their internal and external resources for processing acute adversities
• Lead Community awareness, Psychoeducation outreaches, and de-stigmatization campaigns around mental health issues periodically involving community volunteers and implementing partners
• Ensure integrated MHPSS initiatives support and demonstrate best practices in safeguarding, inclusion, and gender mainstreaming; collaborate with families to establish child-friendly, accessible, and confidential feedback and reporting mechanisms for protection concerns.

Capacity strengthening and enhancement.

• Training Social Workers, partners, and Community Support Structures on MHPSS, mhGAP HIG, PFA, and any other skills as required by project objectives and arising needs during implementation
• In Consultation with the MHPSS programs Officer, shall organize needs-based MHPSS training and orientations
• Provide support supervision, consultation, and mentoring to social workers in specialized clinical care to beneficiaries and managing difficult MHPSS cases and support run Cognitive Behavioral Therapy sessions, Psychological First Aid, problem management Plus, Self-help plus, Acceptance and commitment therapy
• Develop appropriate training objectives, planning, contents, evaluation tools, and didactic materials for MHPSS interventions (topic areas as defined by programmatic needs in the assigned area)
• Identify the training needs of site staff on MHPSS, including support to GBV survivors, and children at risk, and organize relevant training (directly).

Staff Care.

• Assess and propose interventions to reduce psychosocial hazards and improve psychosocial well-being among staff in the assigned location
• Ensure access and referral to mental health care by directly providing initial clinical support to sub-program staff with specific MHPSS needs

Reporting.

• Produce timely progress reports, including both quantitative and qualitative information, on MHPSS using the IASC Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for MHPSS Ensure regular supervision and monitoring activities at all levels.
• Share findings and recommendations and ensure with the rest of the team to exchange information that LWF programs are responding to the evolving MHPSS needs of refugees, and the host community.

Others.

• Perform any other official duties that may be assigned by the supervisor or his/her designate.

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Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal applicant must possess a Master’s in Clinical Psychology. Membership and License from or in any psychology association is an added advantage. Research experience and sound clinical practice experience is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of key IASC guidelines, professional diagnosis, and evaluation of the nature and severity of mental and emotional disorders in individual clients, families, and/or groups; b) a, assessment, and interpretation of various psychological tests and assessments; c) formulation, implementation, and evaluation of a range of psychological treatment plans.
• Knowledge of therapeutic remedies, mental health assessments and diagnoses, IASC principles, and guidelines; advocacy theories and principles; and sound knowledge of CBT intervention modules and mhGAP.
• Good problem Solving, Decision Making, interpersonal, and communication skills; Fluency in English, both written and verbal; Information Technology (MS Office, Internet); Ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines; Good teamwork with good communication skills; Ability to exercise sound judgment, to remain flexible to a changing environment, and to make decisions independently.

How to Apply:

All candidates should send their applications online at the link below addressed to;

Office of Human Resources,

Lutheran World Federation,

Plot 1401 Gaba Road, Nsambya,

P.O. Box 5827 Kampala Uganda.

Click Here

NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Deadline: 17^th February 2023

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