*Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. We work in over 60 countries, offering assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. The Brussel Migration Project of MSF Operational Centre Brussels is looking for a: Psychologist (m/f/x)*
CONTEXT
Since September 2017 a stable number of +/- 700 irregular migrants stay around in the Maximilian Park in Brussels. Most are waiting to cross to the UK. Although we are dealing with a moving population, the demographics of the people in Brussels stay more or less the same. Most of the people come from Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
These people are in need of shelter, food, medical and psychological care. They also need to have access to objective information about asylum procedures and their rights.
Several Belgian NGO's and civil society actors have put their efforts together and are providing a series of humanitarian services in a common project, the humanitarian hub (HUB), with the objective of responding in a comprehensive manner to the needs of these people. The hub offers medical care, mental health care, family tracing services, clothes distribution, social and legal assistance, phone charging and phone call possibilities. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is providing mental health care in this set-up and participates actively in the management of the project.
Project Presentation
MSF is one of the partners in the humanitarian HUB (building where services are grouped and coordinated) managed as a consortium between different organizations to respond to the needs of this specific migrant population.
Activities are provided by partners in the HUB as follow:
- Primary health care and midwives’ consultations: Médecins du Monde
- Mental health: MSF (1st line consultation)
- Non-Food distribution (clothes, hygiene products,…): Plateforme Citoyenne
- Family link maintenance/research: Red Cross
- Social services : Plateforme Citoyenne (SISA)
- MENA: SOS Jeunes
MSF also has a 2nd line structure (the MSF clinic) where specialized metal health care is provided. In this structure, MSF aims to provide patients’ psychological follow up, psychiatric consultations, medication prescription and adherence support.
The MSF team consists of 1 Field Coordinator, 1 Project Mental Health Referent, 1 Mental Health Activity Manager, 1 HR manager, 3 psychologists, 2 psychiatrists (volunteer or detached), 1 psychiatric nurse, 4 Cultural mediators. MSF is looking for a full-time psychologist for 6 months, from January till June 2020.
MISSION
Providing first and second line psychological support to patients according to MSF principles, standards and procedures in order to improve the patients’ mental health.
JOB PROFILE
- Essential Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology
- Essential 2 years’ experience minimum as a Psychologist
- Essential experience with the psychosocial network in Brussels for referrals
- Strong asset: experience with patient in need of psychiatric treatment, living in precarious conditions and from various cultural backgrounds
- Desirable previous experience with MSF or others NGO’s
- Languages: French and English mandatory. Arabic is a strong asset and Dutch is also an asset.
- Computer: good skills using outlook, word, excel and internet
- Team player, able to work in a multicultural environment
- Autonomous and flexible
- Active listener, patient and calm
- Adherence to MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust, Empowerment.
- Adherence to the MSF Behavioural Commitments.
MAIN ACTIVITIES
- Carrying out evaluation of mental health needs of patients and establishing a diagnosis and a plan of treatment.
- Provide follow-up consultations to beneficiaries in need for on-going mental health support
- Collaborate with team members in providing patient centered multidisciplinary and culturally adapted care and refer adequately to psychiatric sessions based on needs.
- Referring patients to other mental health professionals or other services whenever necessary, in order to provide the most appropriate treatment and improve the patient's condition.
- Closely collaborate with the services in HUB, promoting a multidisciplinary approach, in order to obtain the best possible result according the patient‘s needs.
- Providing psychological support to patients according to MSF protocols in order to improve their mental health condition through individual consultations, co-consultations, group sessions
- Assisting and training staff members, and partner organizations whenever necessary in order to enhance the scope of MH activities and strengthen collaborations.
- Working in close collaboration with cultural mediators in order to ensure appropriate terminology and behavior during sessions.
- Facilitating group activities related to mental health (e.g. psychoeducation, therapeutic groups, etc.)
- Collecting statistical and monitoring data about mental health activities.
- Informing the supervisor and the medical team about any issues or problems that may arise related to patients’ treatment in order to provide the best possible solution from a medical perspective.
- Ensuring that all patient information is kept confidential.
- Participate actively to team meetings, clinical meetings and supervisions in a constructive and respectful manner.
CONDITIONS
- Contract type: CDD, Full time, 6 months (replacement)
- Location: Brussels, Belgium (Humanitarian HUB, MSF Clinic, shelters)
- Salary Package: Hospital insurance (DKV) - Pension plan - 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
- Starting date: 11th of January 2021
Deadline for applications: 30/12/2020