Psycho-social Worker  

Terms of Reference (ToR) of Psycho-social Worker

 

Post Title:	Psycho-social Worker
Post Level:	Officer
AGENCY:	Ministry of Women, Family Affairs and Human Rights Development, UNDP Somalia
PROJECT NAME:	Joint Programme on Women Peace and Security
Reporting To:	Project Coordinator
Duration of the Contract:	12 Months

 

Background

For over the last three decenniums, Somalia has experienced raging civil war, rise in violent extremism and devastating humanitarian crisis, which led to the collapse of institutional and bureaucratic infrastructure and has greatly damaged social cohesion and unity. The country attained a level of stability while redeveloping its institutions, with the establishment of a new federal government in 2012 and after the indirect elections in 2016-2017, which, jointly with other milestones, led to the formulation of the National Reconciliation Framework (NRF). Somalia has established numerous infrastructures for peace (I4P) including institutions, mechanisms, resources, and skills that had to address the root cause of conflicts and support the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Southwest state has seen numerous challenges in the face of the collapse of the government and had since been working to push through and continuously raise the standard of living of its constituency. Southwest state of Somalia has seen its share of atrocities perpetrated against the most vulnerable members of its community – the women and children as well as other groups of vulnerable individuals, such as cases of rape, attempted rape, sexual assaults, as well as other GBV and SGBV cases.

The UN Security Council resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), unanimously adopted in October 2000, stressed the importance of the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security. In the years since, seven additional resolutions on women, peace and security (WPS) have been adopted. The Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development (MoWHRD) and the CSOs have taken several initiatives to operationalize the WPS agenda.

With the rise in the displaced persons population in southwest state as a result of the ongoing conflict between the terrorists groups in the region, mainly the Al-Shabab militia and the government, as well as the subsequent plans for a full-blown engagement of the military to eradicate the group in the region and state as a whole, is expected to lead to a rise in the number of IDPs and consequently the rise in street children and vulnerable groups whom include,  the women, children and/or the disabled, who as a result of the displacement, lack of a reliable home security and the accessibility to water and livelihood had seen a rise in SGBV cases previously, and it is expected to proceed further with the planned operations on the terrorist groups. In the increase of GBV as well as SGBV, it was found that challenges in regard to reporting and due to the stigma that may follow, are not reported and the necessary care and services the victim could get are not fulfilled and there exist

Therefore, the Ministry together with its partners, saw fit to prepare and cater for the victims of such atrocities be it the IDPs or the host communities, and for those who find it difficult to come forward and provide support for them in the forms of counselling and other necessary services that are needed to aid in the recovery of the victims and later reintegration to the society, while addressing the stigma that may follow, these services shall be focused in the One Stop Centre to be established in Baidoa – who houses one of the largest if not the largest IDP settlement in the region/state.

With the lack of understanding of the new arrivals in the IDPs of the services available and the politics and complications that may ensue, the Ministry shall provide the victims and families with the backbone needed to seek services of great importance and seek redress if needed for the victims, it is expected that the psycho-social personnel would provide the necessary healing both physically and mentally in the One Stop Centre.  As well as raising the awareness of the community of the availability of services in the One Stop centre and work towards affecting change towards the perception of SGBV and the stigma that usually follows. The One Stop Centre being the focal point for the positions.

 Job Description

The purpose of this post/position is to provide overall management and coordination of the One Stop Centre, psychosocial support, and counselling to individuals and/or groups of individuals affected by violence and SGBV. The psycho-social worker shall be responsible for providing counselling services to as appropriate, case management and prepare discharge plans as well as refer and accompany clients to other resources and services where needed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Centre Coordination

• Support the management of GBV hotline.
• Prepare and submit monthly reports as required, including information related to survivor non-identifying data, treatment provided, follow up visits, referrals to other service providers and awareness activities conducted etc., as provided.
• Liaise with the hospital administration on medical service provision for survivors

GBV Case Management

• Provide age-appropriate support and care focused on the survivor centered case management including counselling and case management.
• Provide assessment and counseling both at individual and group level as the situation
• Ensure all work with SGBV survivors is confidential and that ethical practices are observed.
• Document client data accurately in the intake forms and ensure they are under lock and
• Participate in the development of the case management monitoring tools and systems and ensure that all staffs that are required to utilize it are trained on the correct way of managing the
• Participate in the preparation of accurate reports for all Psycho-social related activities.
• Recommend referrals as appropriate.

Coordination and networking

 Work with service providers and community stakeholders to develop and strengthen referral networks and monitor the implementation of the referral pathway to improve survivors’ access to confidential, safe GBV services in a timely manner to meet their needs.

• Monitor how the GBV referral pathway is working through making direct follow ups with other organizations that are providing services to survivors.
• Actively participate in scheduled meetings such as the Case Conferences and SGBV inter-agency
• Recommendation of steps to take to address cases.
• Work in close collaboration with the Community liaison to ensure ongoing needs of at-risk groups, women and girls are being met in the prevention related activities and Advice the GBV outreach officer on programming areas that require targeted interventions and campaigns based on trends
• In collaboration with other partners, design psychosocial interventions within the IDPs and Host community focusing on the psychosocial needs of adults, youth and
• Participate in conducting trainings for partners on relevant organizational development areas and support peer learning.

  Competencies Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge in Women, Peace, and Security.
• Proven ability to advocate and provide policy, substantive, and strategic advice in SGBV
• Ability to develop and maintain strong Leadership.
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills required.
• Strong knowledge of UN programme management systems and Government institutions.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Graduate degree in Social Sciences with a focus on counseling and/or psychology or any other relevant field
• At least 3 years working experience in social work and/or counseling.
• Experience collaborating with survivors of violence, in-depth knowledge on GBV can demonstrate understanding of a survivor-centered approach.
• Proven experience in working closely with children.
• Experience in case management is an added advantage.
• Ability to use a wide range of counseling methodologies.
• Effective communication skills with fluency in written and spoken English and Somali (Mahaa and Maay)
• Ability to adapt to different cultures.
• Good IT skills including the use of Word and database software.

Skills required.

• BA or equivalent in Social Science, Social Work, Psychology, Counselling, Sexual Reproductive Health, Nursing or Gender related programs
• 1 to 2 years of experience in SGBV case management including providing psychosocial counselling for survivors of Gender Based Violence
• Background and understanding of adolescent reproductive sexual health and previous experience working with adolescents on Sexual Reproductive Health issues
• Clear understanding of gender, abuse of power, and issues surrounding violence against women and girls.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, medical ethics, and respect for clients at all times.
• Experience in participatory techniques and community mobilization
• Knowledge and ability to speak the language of the local community preferred.
• Experience working with SGBV case files providing regular documentation preferred.

How to Apply:

Qualified persons with required skills qualification are invited to submit their cover letter and CV with detailed work-related referees through   info@mwhrd.sw.so to be reached

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Deadline for the position is 20^th December 2023.

MOWFAHRD is an Equal Opportunity employer.