Psychosocial Program Supervisor (National Position)

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and currently provides assistance to displaced persons in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Mae Hong Son provinces.

Job Overview/Summary:

The IRC, together with Karenni Health Department (KnHD) re-established mental health and psychosocial program in 2010. The main goal is to ensure access to mental health and psychosocial services by camp residents who are suffering from mental health problems. The primary responsibility of the Psychosocial Program Supervisor would be to oversee case management of mental health disorders and to ensure standard psychosocial treatments and services at Ban Mai Nai Soi and Ban Mae Surin temporary shelters in Mae Hong Son Province. It will require to identify / access mental health and psychosocial training needs, develop training materials, and conduct training for the psychosocial workers under Karenni Health Department (KnHD). The Psychosocial Program Supervisor performs a key liaison role in establishing linkages between refugee families and camp-based organizations/ other NGOs on psychosocial needs and approaches. He/she will also be responsible for direct and indirect assistance for clients.

Major Responsibilities:

1.) Case Management
• Provide ongoing technical support and close guidance to Psychosocial Team in mental health assessment, diagnosis, and psychosocial treatment.
• Monitor case management and psychosocial service delivery to clients in both shelters.
• Provide direct assistance for complicated mental health disorder clients.
• Monitor quality of home visits conducted by KnHD Psychosocial Workers.
• Monitor accurate records of patient files with a confidential filing system.
• Support to ensure monthly case management meetings are carried out effectively and regularly.
• Coordinate and collaborate with Psychiatrist(s) from Mae Hong Son Sri Sang Wan Hospital for appropriate and required secondary and tertiary care for the patients in need.
• Ensure that antipsychotic medicines are properly and securely stored and handled at every level.

2.) Training & Capacity Building
• Conduct training on mental health knowledge and psychosocial treatment to KnHD Psychosocial Workers and KnHD Psychosocial Medic Focal Points.
• Develop and implement Psychosocial staff training plan and implement according to timeline and staff turn-over.

3.) Awareness raising and promotion of mental health and psychosocial well-being
• Produce and conduct field-test of psychosocial lEC materials targeted at camp communities.
• Proactively promote mental health and psychosocial awareness, well-being, and social cohesion.
• Promote community participation on mental health and psychosocial issues.

4.) Monitoring and Evaluation
• Collect, compile, and report the monthly psychosocial data.
• Develop data collection and analysis system for ongoing case monitoring and discuss with clinic team.
• Develop, implement, and monitor the project work plan, and notify any delays or barriers.

5.) Coordination
• Coordinate internally with IRC WPE and Protection Teams and externally with UNHCR, Thai Health Authorities and Camp Authorities when delivering the multidisciplinary care for the patients and families.

6.) Supportive role
• Monitor Psychosocial program budgets and spending plan to ensure expenditures are utilized according to donor requirements.
• Provide assistance in financial and logistics management related to psychosocial program.
• Perform other duties, as appropriate and requested by supervisor.

Key Working Relationships:

 Position reports to: Senior Health Manager
Position directly supervises: None
Indirect reporting: None
Other Internal and/external contacts: Regularly coordinate with Karenni Health Department (KnHD) and keep good relationship with Camp Committee, and relevant NGOs/CBOS
Internal: Other IRC Health Team Members, IRC Women Protection and Empowerment (WE) Team, IRC Legal Assistant Center (LAC) Team, IRC Operation Team
External: KnHD, KnHD Psychosocial Workers, Camp Committees, Psychiatrist and Psychologists from Sri Sang Wan Hospital, other INGOs, CBOs and UNHCR