BACKGROUND
INARA provides life-altering medical care and reconstructive surgery for children (0-18 years) who have injuries or illnesses due to war or unsafe living conditions as refugees, and are unable to access or afford treatment. INARA’s work consists of filling the gap in access to free of charge medical and surgical treatment. INARA also supports ongoing cases with medication, medical equipment (such as prosthetic, eyeglasses, glass eyes, hearing aids), laboratory and diagnostic testing, transportation, accommodation prior/post-surgery, and other therapeutic regimens (speech therapy, physiotherapy, psychotherapy).
INARA launched a mental health program in Turkey and is thus looking for a Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychologist – Program Coordinator to join its program team in Turkey who will also lead and influence the mental health services provided by INARA’s psychiatrists and psychologists to the refugee children and their families as needed.
DESCRIPTION
INARA’s Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychologist – Program Coordinator is responsible to collaborate with the Case Management team and the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in the integration of mental health with basic healthcare services in order to ensure the treatment of children and adolescents suffering from severe and common psychiatric and mental health disorders.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Mental Health Program Coordination:
Direct provision of high-quality clinical services including initial intake, assessment and referral, evidence based counselling, case management and case coordination as required for the mental health program; this includes setting up processes and relevant systems
Set up processes and relevant systems to ensure all children of the medical/casework program are assessed by INARA’s mental health program staff, and that counseling plans are set up accordingly
Provide support in maintaining and developing the organization’s mental health, and humanitarian partnerships for enhanced collaborative work
Psychology:
Conduct initial assessments through psycho-diagnostic interviews with caregivers, children and adolescents, and using rating scales and standardized tools when needed, to provide diagnosis, case formulation, and treatment plan
Conduct brief models of counseling and psychotherapy including but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy, play-therapy, child-interaction therapy, and other evidence-based approaches for children and adolescents
Follow up on psychological progress of the patients and implement concrete treatment plans in collaboration with children/adolescents and their caregivers
Coordinate with school counselors and other service-providers, when required
Coordinate with interdisciplinary team, including the psychiatrist and the case management team, to provide holistic and multidisciplinary care
Conduct mental health awareness sessions or group support sessions as needed
Provide psychotherapy for emotional and behavioral difficulties for children and adolescents referred after assessment by the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Follow a CBT model for therapy including Trauma-focused CBT when needed
Provide caregivers with parenting guidance and coaching, and guidance on behavioral management when needed
Provide group therapy for children and adolescents that can benefit from sessions addressing certain skills, such as coping and relaxation techniques
Attend meetings with team members to discuss treatment plan and progress of therapy
Advocate for the best interest of children with other members of the interdisciplinary team and within the healthcare provision to ensure children’s and families’ informed decision-making, consent, concordance with plans of care, and quality of life
Ensure the implementation of common ethical and legal standards in mental health provision
Identify child protection and SGBV concerns
Address family systems issues, including the impact of healthcare concerns, illness, and disease on family relationships; life cycles; and caregiving roles and support models
Keep record of clinical encounters through various forms in accordance with using INARA’s digital platforms and tools to ensure proper documentation
Perform data collection and documentation for Monitoring & Evaluation and reporting purposes
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Based in Gaziantep, Turkey, the working environment will be a combination of both field and office-based work. Field work may be in various settings such as hospitals, primary healthcare centers, community health clinics, and non-profit social services organizations. There may be times when the position holder is required to work on the weekends or evenings and undertake other duties which are broadly in line with the above responsibilities.
REQUIREMENTS
Essential Requirements
Education: Bachelor Degree, Master or PhD in Psychology, Counseling Psychology, School/Educational Psychology, or Pediatric Neuropsychology; specialty in child psychology is preferred.
Previous experience working in nonprofit organizations and in programing
3 to 5 years of experience with children/adolescents
Native Arabic is a must.
English is essential. Turkish language is a plus
Cultural sensitivity and adaptability to different environments and audiences; caring and compassionate while being able to set clear boundaries with children, caregivers, and partners
Familiarity with administrative systems including Microsoft Office
Ability to work within INARA’s guiding principles.
Essential Skills and Knowledge: Assessment and Psychotherapy Skills:
Ability to provide semi-structured clinical assessments and clear case formulations
Ability to recognize mental health priority conditions as per the MhGAP
Ability to use standardized assessment tools, especially for school-related issues such as learning disabilities
Ability to provide empathic, evidence-based, brief psychotherapy to a culturally diverse population of children/adolescents aged between 5 and 18. Experience with children aged zero to five is a plus.
Ability to provide psycho-education to parents and children/adolescents on a variety of topics including parenting skills, stress-management, anti-bullying, and relaxation tools
Ability to develop a consistent treatment plan with clear objectives
Monitoring and evaluating the psychological progress of the patient
Experience providing clinical supervision or leading trainings is a plus
Skilled in or Willing to Build Capacity and Knowledge in:
Developing family-centered, goal and strength focused, recovery-oriented care plan
Mental health in complex emergencies (IASC guidelines, Psychological First Aid, mhGAP…)
Biopsychosocial model in mental health
Community-based approach in mental health
Human rights-based approach in mental health
Evidence-based approach in mental health
Knowledge about the predictable stresses of humanitarian aid work and of children in conflict areas, and the policies and practices needed to mitigate them
Desirable
Experience working with vulnerable children who have medical needs and corresponding knowledge of the principles and practices required when working with these children
An understanding of medical issues which arise out of conflict situations
A demonstrable understanding of the current socio-political and refugee contexts in Syria and Turkey.
Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team with ability to multitask and strong organizational skills
Excellent communication, problem solving, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
This vacancy is archived.