Back Psychologist

Background: The mental health and psycho social support (MHPSS) program aims to ensure that crisis-affected populations have access to high quality humanitarian services focusing on the first psychological aid and referral to existing mental health, child protection and GBV services. The project will address the mental health needs of the population currently residing outside of the official reception system in Una Sana canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Job Overview/Summary: The psychologist will be responsible for providing evidence based preventative services to people suffering with mental health concerns, as well as refer to other actors through the established referral pathway system. The psychologist will also be responsible for managing cases, conducting appropriate referrals to a psychiatrist if needed and protection services. The psychologist will provide psychological interventions based on the client’s needs and presenting complaints. There will be a focus on vulnerable populations, specifically, but not limited to separated and unaccompanied children, separated families, survivors of gender based violence, and people with serious security and medical concerns.

Reports to: The position will report to Project Manager of IRC and will receive additional technical support from the Mental Health Technical Adviser of IRC.

Major Responsibilities:

• Adhere to internationally recognized best practices for evidence based psychological interventions and the management of clients with mental health concerns. This includes ensuring the confidentiality of clients and respecting their decisions

• Establish a safe space to conduct private and confidential sessions acceptable to those on the site and safely accessible by women and children

• Assess the client’s needs and presenting complaints and develop a care plan with the client based on those needs, including referrals to other services

• Provide age-appropriate culturally relevant individual and/or group psychological counselling for population at risk including but not limited to survivors of torture, asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors

• Support the client(s) coping process and mobilize their internal and external resources for processing extreme adversity

• Conduct follow-up sessions as needed and decide with the client when to close the case

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

• Identify concerns related to and support adherence to referral protocols and guiding principles for gender based violence and child protection, and bring these concerns to the Project Manager

• Maintain an effective working relationship and regular communication with other mental health care providers

• Maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders including referral organizations community groups and other implementing partners

• Complete daily case reports and data collection according to guidance provided by the Mental Health Technical Adviser

• Collaborate with the rest of the team to exchange information and ensure that IRC programs are responding to the evolving needs of refugees and migrants

• Refer patients to other health professionals whenever necessary

• Provide psycho-education sessions to the family members of clients when needed

Job Requirements:

• Licensed psychologist in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• Minimum two year professional experience providing psychological interventions to vulnerable populations;
• Knowledge of different culturally relevant therapeutic techniques;
• Experience conducting assessments, using screening tools and creating individual care plans for clients seeking mental health services;
• INGO experience preferred;
• Knowledge of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) MHPSS in emergencies guidelines;
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for beneficiaries;
• Positive and professional attitude, including ability to work well in a team setting;
• Strong ability to maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, and work in a difficult environment;
• Ability to conduct counselling sessions via interpreters/cultural mediators, whenever necessary;
• Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well;
• Knowledge of self-care practices for mental health providers;
• Fluency in English. Preferable knowledge of the following languages: Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Kurdish, Urdu, French.

International Rescue Committee, is committed to providing equal opportunities to all individuals without discrimination either directly or indirectly on any grounds or in each case as required by applicable law. IRC aims to ensure equal opportunity in employment to all qualified staff members and applicants in all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, selection, promotion, compensation and benefits.