NATIONAL STRESS & RESILIENCE ADVISER - BASED IN ERBIL

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law.  We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Role description

In order to assist ICRC staff working in a volatile security environment, the ICRC has created a National Stress & Resilience Adviser position to be positioned in Erbil (Northern Iraq) in order to offer psychosocial and psychological support (pre and post-deployment) to staff deployed in Iraq at its Delegation, its four sub-delegations and seven offices.

Position within the delegation

Based in Erbil, Iraq, the National Stress & Resilience Adviser is under the responsibility of the HR Manager. He/she coordinates visits and activities in the various Iraqi locations with the Deputy Head of Delegation and the HR manager,

For confidentiality reasons, no medical information is shared with the hierarchical line. The technical line manager of this position is the HQ Stress & Resilience Adviser based in Geneva.

Main responsibilities

1. To assess the psychosocial needs of the ICRC staff in Iraq and the current relevant practices addressing workplace stress, traumatic stress and vicarious stress.
2. To set-up a psychosocial support system integrated in the general objectives of the Delegation and according to the ICRC stress policy for ICRC staff in Iraq, in coordination with the HQ Stress and Resilience Advisor.
3. To recommend organizational adjustments to support staff resilience eg:

• Advise Line Managers on adequate actions & attitudes
• Ensure organizational clarity of roles and responsibilities
• Promote conflict resolution techniques

      4.  To monitor and report on all matters related to the main responsibilities and other tasks.

Specific tasks

• Support integration of stress prevention and management in the Delegation and sub delegations yearly Planning for Results (PFR)
• Contribute to develop a culture of stress prevention and co-resilience among ICRC Irak operations and staff
• Develop and use tools to help staff understand and manage stress at the team/individual level.
• Provide group and/or individual "preparedness & support" sessions for new joiners
• Identify and train peer support volunteers (staff members trained to support their colleagues at times of adjustment and stress, to lend a listening ear with a role limited to basic help). Identify and train key persons within the team who would be able to provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) to their colleagues
• Give guidance / training to team leaders in the field on how to support their staff
• Organize specific support for detention teams
• Offer systematic support following security incidents
• Develop monitoring tools and monitor stress level of ICRC staff
• Identify and liaise with local professionals who are able to provide MHPSS services as needed
• Give direct support to ICRC staff if needed (group or/and individual support)
• Evaluate the possibility of a hotline in Arabic specifically dedicated to support national staff
• Assist, in case of need, on any medical evacuation of staff
• Report on activities and findings, statistics and tools developed

Selection requirements

Psychologist or stress counselor with the following competences:

• Supporting individuals working in a volatile security environment
• Counselling and support of individuals experiencing stress (including post-traumatic)
• Training of individuals and teams to work under conditions of duress
• Knowledgeable of Psychological First Aid
• Familiar with contemplative techniques
• Familiar with peer support system and guidance of team leaders in the field on how to support their staff
• Ability to facilitate group support for teams having gone through security incidents
• Ability to work in a multicultural team
• Ability to translate psychology into day-to-day language and practices
• Positive-constructive promotion of resilience and well being
• Familiar with humanitarian and/or emergency operations
• Background in HR and people management, or occupational psychology
• Excellent English is mandatory. Arabic and/or French is a strong asset

Our operational and field constraints

• In line with the principle of neutrality, the ICRC does not assign personnel to a country of which they are nationals
• Candidates must be in good health and will have to do a medical check-up prior to departure in the field
• Candidates must possess a driving licence (for manual transmission vehicles) with regular practice
• Candidates must be prepared to accept the posting as unaccompanied (i.e. no spouse, partner, children or dependents)

Length of assignment:  6 months, extendable

Application deadline:  31.05.2017

Position starting date:  01.07.2017