Counselling Sessions for IOM Staff

Job Description

Nature of the consultancy:

Consultancy Contract – Category B

Group supervision sessions delivered to IOM staff on the MHPSS project.

Project Context and Scope:

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and nongovernmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM Ireland is currently working in consortium with NGO partners and in close coordination with local authorities to support Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP’s) in Ireland to move from emergency accommodation settings into transitional accommodation. IOM Ireland’s staff are based in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Galway and are providing support to individuals and families with a range of vulnerabilities.

The aim of supervision for staff is to help staff reflect on all dimensions of their interactions with beneficiaries and through that process develop within their role. It should provide a safe and confidential environment for staff to reflect on and discuss their work and their personal and professional responses to their work. The focus is on supporting staff in their personal and professional development and in reflecting on their practice. This is particularly relevant for staff who are working directly with vulnerable individuals, in order to identify and mitigate the potential consequences of vicarious trauma.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing:

Assistance with the transfer of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from short term to long term accommodation settings.

Responsibilities

Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

The supervision is to be delivered by a suitably qualified and experienced clinical supervisor who is not the staff members line manager and who is external to IOM.

It is anticipated that group sessions will take place in one hour sessions.

There will likely be four groups consisting of 8-10 staff members each.

It is expected that each group will undertake one session per month.

Payments will take place on a monthly basis, depending on the number of sessions delivered that month.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

Supervisors should be able to provide a safe and trusted space for IOM staff to be encouraged to reflect on their work and experience.

In this position, the supervisor should:

• Enable staff to explore and clarify their thinking by reflective practice and critical anaylsis within a framework of group peer supervision.
• Demonstrate respect for IOM staff and beneficiaries and enable each staff member of the supervision group to participate fully in sessions.
• Give clear and constructive feedback to staff.
• Have an in-depth understanding of group dynamics.
• Be able to encourage and motivate staff to improve their self-care and practice within the workplace.
• Be aware of the effect of vicarious trauma on staff and encourage practices and skills to navigate staff through this.
• Be able to maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Challenge behaviour that would cause concern about casework, development, or use of supervision.
• Be able to maintain strict confidentiality at all times and not disclose to any third party any personal information relating to IOM staff.
• The supervisor will ensure that disclosure of information to any person shall comply with the provisions of IOM’s data protection policy and safeguarding guidance.

Qualifications

Education, Experience and/or skills required

• Qualified Psychological Therapist / Clinical or Counselling Psychologist / Psychotherapist with supervision qualification and accredited to their professional body.
• The supervisor should be supervised in relation to their supervision practice and maintain their commitments to their own continuous professional development.
• The supervisor should be insured.
• Experience of working with vulnerable groups, particularly refugees or vulnerable migrants, is considered an advantage.

Travel required

Sessions will take place in Citywest/ online – travel required.

Competencies

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies - Behavioural Indicators

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Required Skills

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