Psychologist- Samos

The mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) program aims to ensure that crisis-affected populations have access to high quality humanitarian services focusing on the promotion and treatment of mental health concerns. The project will address the mental health needs of the population currently residing in the Reception Identification Center (RIC) in Vathy, Samos.

Job Overview/Summary:

The psychologist will be responsible for providing evidence based preventative and curative services to people suffering with mental health concerns currently living in Vial who are referred by other actors through the established referral pathway system. The psychologist will be responsible for providing both individual and group support, managing cases, conducting appropriate referrals to a psychiatrist if needed and protection services. The psychologist will provide psychological interventions based on the client’s needs and presenting complaints. There will be a focus on vulnerable populations, specifically, but not limited to, survivors of gender based violence and torture and people with severe psychopathology.

Reports to:The position will report to the senior MHPSS Manager and the senior psychologist, will receive clinical supervision from an external clinical supervisor and technical support from the IRC’s HQ-based Mental Health Technical Advisor.

Major Responsibilities:

• Adhere to internationally recognized best practices for evidence based psychological interventions and the management of clients with mental health concerns. This includes ensuring the confidentiality of clients and respecting their decisions;
• Establish a safe space to conduct private and confidential sessions acceptable to those on the site and safely accessible by women and children;
• Assess the client’s needs and presenting complaints and develop a care plan with the client based on those needs, including referrals to other services;
• Provide age-appropriate culturally relevant individual and/or group psychological counselling for population at risk including but not limited to survivors of torture, asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors;
• Support the client(s) coping process and mobilize their internal and external resources for processing extreme adversity;
• Conduct follow-up sessions as needed and decide with the client when to close the case;
• Identify concerns related to and support adherence to referral protocols and guiding principles for gender based violence and child protection, and bring these concerns to the senior psychologist and the senior MHPSS Manager;
• Maintain an effective working relationship and regular communication with other psychologists working on the same project;
• Provide psycho-education sessions and psycho-social support groups to asylum seekers;
• Maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders including referral organizations community groups and other implementing partners;
• Complete daily case reports and data collection according to guidance provided by the senior MHPSS Manager and the MH Technical Advisor;
• Collaborate with the rest of the team to exchange information and ensure that IRC programs are responding to the evolving needs of refugees;
• Attend regular 1:1 meetings with the senior MHPSS Manager and weekly team meetings;
• Refer clients to other health professionals whenever necessary;
  

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs; 
• Participate in weekly team meetings.