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Job Title:   Psychosocial Support Officer  

Organisation: LWF World Service (LWF)

Duty Station: Palorinya, Moyo, Uganda

Reports to: Project Manager

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 guidance of the Project Manager and in liaison with the Protection Coordinator, the PSS Officer is responsible for the overall supervision management of LWF PSS activities in the Sub-Program.  The PSS Officer will work closely with other staff to improve the proper operations and management of the social, protection and development programs in the settlements and host communities.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

PSS Portfolio coordination

• Directly responsible for the planning, implementation, coordination and monitoring of the Community based MHPSS activities of the project
• Works in close collaboration with project team and sector heads responsible for SGBV, Child protection, education and other staff in the overall planning, management and monitoring of PSS activities and considerations under the sub program and with the project team.
• Actively participates in Mental Health and Psychosocial needs assessments among the affected populations. This will include assessments consistent with IASC guidelines and Mental Health Psychosocial WHO assessment toolkit, at different stages of program planning and implementation
• Join relevant stake holders or initiate settlement interagency coordination mechanisms for the provision of mental health and psychosocial support and share relevant information.
• Directly Coordinates the implementation of Multi-layered MHPSS activities within the settlement, and liaises with the project team in the 3 other subprograms for harmonized approach and aligned implementation schedule
• Liaises and consults regularly with the relevant local authorities, community leaders, civil society/non-governmental organizations, collaborating partners and other stakeholders where appropriate, in conjunction with the Project Manager, Protection Coordinator, Team Leader, in relation to the planning, designing and implementation of the community-based Psychosocial project activities.
• Lead an ambitious process to help the sub program network to operationalize community Psychosocial and mental health care services for refugees and host community within the area of operation including the PSS referral pathways, peaceful coexistence and livelihoods interventions.
• Contextualize intervention approaches and training/ capacity-building curriculums to guide PSS teams on how they can provide community based mental health and Psychosocial care services in accordance with their mandate and auxiliary role.
• Participate in the strategic MHPSS discussions and planning processes to drive this portfolio of work forward within the LWF-ACT networks.
• Support the field-based teams in planning, conducting and capacity building of PoCs in individual and group counseling / psychosocial first aid (PFA) remotely and in person where possible.
• Support with establishing formalized referral pathways within the communities of work to available services. Ensure follow up of cases in a timely manner;
• Support the field-based teams in planning, developing, facilitating and providing children, youth and adults with a focus on youth, women and girls with culturally and age appropriate, safe and stimulating non-structured as well-structured PSS activities such as recreational sports and games, PSS retreats, life skills and positive coping mechanisms activities
• Support in activating social networks through engaging with community to support traditional community structures and peer to peer support groups;
• Promote positive mental health and wellbeing through provision of key messages on constructive coping mechanisms and Psychoeducational sessions.
• Identify and refer cases for more specialized case management services.
• Support the supervisor in developing work-schedule for the activities and ensure the schedule is followed by the field-based MHPSS teams through regular follow up.
• Support the supervisor in compiling weekly, monthly and quarterly reports to provide information on activities conducted, topics discussed, challenges faced.
• Develop/contribute in developing and continuously update a service mapping system detailing available services and assistance in our areas of operation

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Gathers and compiles data from the field and classifies MHPSS issues from a variety of prepared and original source documents, forms, and records; identifies and corrects errors; performs clerical and related office tasks as assigned, such as maintaining records of work received and work performed; verifies data input;
• Ensure MHPSS staff maintain and complete and confidential case files to document client interaction and interventions using the relevant tools.
• Regularly check with the field-based teams to ensure that materials and facilities (such as Women and Girls Safe Spaces, CFS) are fully functioning to provide PSS activities an capturing data correctly
• Reviews intake assessments, evaluations, treatment recommendations, reviews, and other documentation as necessary.
• In charge of developing and identifying necessary measuring tools to assess success in accordance to indicators of program, and in collaboration with the project team across 4 subprograms.
• Contribute to and oversee data entry and analysis of gathered information.
• Implementing and coordinating measurement tools in the field and across the project to ensure harmonized approach in all 4 subprograms where project is carried out in sync.
• Prepares minimum of 2 success/ human interest stories/quarter for the donor in collaboration with the communications office in Kampala.
• Any other assignments as requested by the project manager and grants manager for donor compliance.

Reporting

• Keeps track of beneficiaries through therapeutic attendance records, to be submitted at the end of every month. Reports to include gender, age, vulnerability, refugee/host disaggregated data of women, youth and/or other vulnerable groups partaking in LWF MHPSS activities.
• Diligent data collection, collation and analysis, with up-to-date records maintained and readily available for reporting purposes.
• Program documentation, data collection, analysis, and final outcomes report for donor reports.
• Documentation of all activities and outcomes. Submit regular reports (weekly activity, monthly, quarterly).
• Office documentation and other duties as required by supervisor.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal candidate should possess a Degree in Community/ Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry, Public health or social sciences
• Three years of extensive Community based psychosocial support programming and implementation experience in a humanitarian field.
• Previous experience implementing & mainstreaming MHPSS considerations in other protection sub clusters of child protection and SGBV;
• Familiarity with IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings;
• Broad understanding and knowledge of (scalable) psychological interventions and other mental healthcare activities conducted by community volunteers, and the interconnectedness with other sectors (especially GBV, CP, livelihoods and peace building) for more comprehensive support package.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation for community MHPSS programs and approaches.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively, in higher level forum, including the ability to advocate for and explain complex mental health and psychosocial issues in non-technical ways.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office packages.
• Experience with other digital tools such as survey CTO, MURAL boards

NB: LWF/WS is an equal opportunity employer, irrespective of gender, race or religious affiliation. LWF/WS is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for humanitarian agencies. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect the organization’s commitment to the prevention of abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries.

Only Shortlisted Applicants will be contacted!

How to Apply:

All candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 18^th July 2023

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