Psychologist x2 – (1 for Azaz 1 for Afrin)

Are you aiming to work for an organization where it is worthwhile investing your personality, your skills and your time? Are you looking for a job that is exciting and has clear goals? Welcome to Welthungerhilfe! We are one of the largest and most respected private organizations for development cooperation and humanitarian aid in Germany. We are a politically independent and non-denominational organization, our value-oriented actions are always based on humanitarian principles. Our vision is a world in which everyone has the chance and the right to lead a self-determined life in dignity and justice, free from hunger and poverty.

Welthungerhilfe’s Head Office is in Bonn, Germany whilst the Syria Response is managed from our Country Office in Gaziantep. Welthungerhilfe was established in Turkey in 2013 specifically to help people who are affected by the Syria Crisis. Since then, the organisation has expanded its program scope and scale to make the greatest possible contribution to meeting humanitarian needs in Turkey and North West Syria. Welthungerhilfe has field offices in Azaz and Afrin, as well as Ankara, Istanbul, Hatay and Mardin. The Syria Response program includes food security, WASH services, Shelter and NFI services, protection, early recovery and livelihood.

If you want to become part of this joint mission in Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, we look forward to receiving your application as:

Psychologist x2 – (1 for Azaz 1 for Afrin)*

1 in Azaz 1 in Afrin

The position is to be filled by October 1, 2022, with a contract duration of 1 year. Service location will be in Azaz, Afrin Syria. The position is paid according to SG6.

Your responsibilities

Welthungerhilfe is a private, non-profit-making, politically independent and non-denominational organization that supports people living in deprivation and poverty, irrespective of the color of their skin, their religious beliefs or their worldview. WHH is working in the fields of development cooperation and humanitarian aid, relief aid, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.

Through direct implementation and local partners, Welthungerhilfe has been implementing protection integrated multi-cluster projects focusing on FSL, early recovery, agriculture, SNFI, WASH and Shelter in Idleb and Aleppo since 2017. The Psychologist will be based in A’zaz and Afrin and will be part of the mobile protection desk.

Reporting directly to Field Coordinator (Protection) based in A’zaz and Project Officer based in Gaziantep, the Psychologists are responsible for the MHPSS activities including the delivery of group PSS and psychoeducation sessions and individual psychological counseling.

Overall Roles:

• Provide assessment and recommendations for appropriate MHPSS interventions
• Establish a safe space to conduct private and confidential conversations acceptable to those one site and safely accessible by women and children
• Respond to the identified needs of clients by conducting specific psychosocial individual level interventions/activities adapted and appropriate to each client’s specific needs and capacities and lead group counseling sessions
• Collaboratively and closely work with the case management team to design and implement MHPSS interventions at the first three laters (e.g. social considerations in basic services and security, strengthening community and family supports, and focused/non-specialized supports).
• Revising and adapting of PSS curriculum for most vulnerable groups including but not limited to women at risk, people with disabilities, people facing extreme forms of deprivation, unaccompanied and separated children, elderly, etc.
• Act as a focal point for referral from case team including coaching and advising Care/PSS work on referral related questions and queries about specific cases
• Refer and follow-up patients to specialized mental health professional when necessary
• In close coordination with outreach workers, promote community-based PSS initiatives specific to the needs of girls, boys, women, and men, such as group and community oriented discussions, provide psychoeducation to the affected population on mental health issues and on the ways how to deal with mental health and psychosocial concerns
• Carry out focus group discussions and key informant interviews with the affected population
• Answer to the identified needs, by providing direct psychosocial support and refer internally and externally as needed, respecting confidentiality and the rights of the clients providing direct psychosocial support if necessary.
• Maintain accurate and confidential client records and providing regular and accurate reporting as required and coordinate work with Case Management Team and Outreach Workers
• Conduct individual psychological counseling sessions
• Conduct group psychosocial support sessions through group activities, workshops and psychoeducation sessions
• Providing psychosocial support service through individual and group sessions to people in need
• Direct work with conflict affected population including
• Taking part in the implementation at different levels such as carrying out the assessment during the intake process; scheduling the sessions/activities; evaluating the impact of the interventions; developing new activities
• Work closely with case management team
• Conduct awareness – raising group sessions to refugee groups on PSS and mental health
• Where needed and appropriate, assessing and providing online psychological counselling service to beneficiarie
• The Psychologist is expected to lead and support all efforts toward accountability to affected population, specifically to the clients and to Welthungerhilfe’s Policies Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
• The Psychologist must ensure all interventions adhere to Welthungerhilfe’s’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and AAP standards.
• Uphold and promote Welthungerhilfe’s commitment to ensuring the safeguarding and safety of the vulnerable communities we serve.
• Behaving in mutual respect to other team members as part of work friendly environment

Your profile

Required Qualifications:

• Position open to Syrian nationals only

• Education: University degree in psychology – clinical or counselling pschology.*

• Work Experience: Minimum two-years professional experience as a Pscyhologist*

• Skills/knowledge:

• In depth knowledge of psychosocial assistance in the humanitarian context and in depth understanding of the consequences of violence and displacement.*

• Experience in Applied Psychology in Trauma and Disaster

• Have theoretical and practical knowledge and experiences in group dynamics, social and/or psychotherapeutic group work including designing age-appropriate group information and awareness*

• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.*

• Excellent analytical, organizational and facilitation skills.*

• Strong problem solving and organizational skills.*

• Ability to summarize disparate information in a clear and concise manner.

• Prior work experience with international humanitarian organizations, non-government or government institutions/organization in a multi-cultural setting is an advantage.

• Being able to travel.

• Flexibility, proactivity, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn from others.

• Good level of knowledge and practice with Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.*

  • Social Skills;

• Ability to work in a team.

  • Language Skills:
    • Fluency in Arabic is required.*
    • Working knowledge of English is advantageous.
  • Familiarity with Local Context: Candidates who have work experience and knowledge of the local context in A’zaz and/or Afrin are preferred.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in using mobile data collection tools, and/or other smartphone applications*
• Experience working in insecure and remote locations and reporting to remotely located management
• Experience in working with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, victims of trafficking and other vulnerable groups

Our offer

We offer you the opportunity to work in a responsible and interesting field as part of an extremely dedicated team. Welthungerhilfe attaches great importance to the personal and professional development of its employees/consultant and the balance of their work and private life. Remuneration is based on our gender-independent salary scale. In addition, Welthungerhilfe offers numerous other benefits.

WHH receives funds from its donors for projects. If necessary funds are secured the duration of the announced post may be extended. If project funding is not secured the activities will stop completely and the employment/consultant contract shall be terminated.