Clinical Psychologist for Children and their Caregivers - Bekaa

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 one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The consultant, a clinical psychologist for children and their caregivers will provide clinical supervision of high-risk cases mainly under the case management component or their caregivers as needed and indicated by the Field manager or case management officer. The psychologist will conduct face-to-face, one-on-one, and group sessions for children exposed to high risks, vulnerabilities, and distress. In addition, the consultant will support case workers through coaching sessions to build their capacity to deal with children with challenging behaviors when/if needed.

Deliverables

• Conduct one-on-one and group sessions for children exposed to high-risk vulnerabilities through home visits, or within the Case management room in the municipalities or at the IRC’s partner premises.

• Provide structured clinical assessments and clear case formulation: Assess the needs of the beneficiaries on the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional levels.

• Use standardized assessment tools.

• Develop a consistent and acceptable treatment plan with clear objectives in relevance to the need assessment with a logical and consistent timeframe that includes estimated dates for case evaluation, closure, and post-support check-up.

• Monitor and evaluate the psychological progress of the patient.

• Maintain irreproachable levels of confidentiality and privacy.

• Complete intake assessments, evaluations, treatment recommendations, reviews, follow-up, and other documentation for each consultation and as necessary in an organized and efficient manner.

• Ensure that emergency cases are properly managed, referred to, and followed.

• Submit reports and updates on the cases to the manager of the program, the Case management officer, and the designated case worker after every session or field visit, including feedback, concerns, and recommendations for the case of every child.

• If the child's assessment indicates that specialized psychological sessions are not required, one session shall be counted.

• If the specialized assessment indicates that the child does require psychological sessions, attendance shall be no fewer than three sessions and no more than eight, and the Consortium manager and Integrated Protection Officer shall be consulted before any case is closed.

Payment Mode

• Payments will be issued based on the number of days and sessions conducted during the month having one payment for each month covering the days completed during the respective month.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to:   Child Protection Quality and Implementation Manager and coordinates with the Case management officer

• Internal and/or external contacts: MHPSS Technical Advisor

Requirements

Education

• The qualified candidate must have a MA in clinical psychology.

• A completed clinical training/practicum in a university center consisting of at least 100 hours of training under supervision and 300 hours of applied training.

• Having:

• Lebanese colloquium certificate for clinical psychologists.

• License to practice the clinical psychology profession from the Ministry of Public Health.

• N.B: A letter of recommendation from a senior clinical psychologist supervisor (holder of a doctorate and/or a scholar) and membership in one of the registered psychological associations of Lebanon is preferable.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in MHPSS.

• Skilled and experienced in evidence-based approaches to mental health (e.g., IPT, CBT, TF-CBT, EMDR).

• Previous experience training MHPSS staff and supervising implementation is strongly preferred.

• Experience supporting children at a high-risk level.

• Knowledge of and experiences in using established inter-agency standards and guidelines in MHPSS and CP, such as the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, Setting the Standard – A Common Approach to Child Protection for International NGOs,  and Minimum Standards for Child Protection In Humanitarian Action.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, respect, non-discrimination, and safety of beneficiaries always.

• Excellent communication.

• Ability to develop a consistent and acceptable improvement plan with clear objectives.

• Ability to recognize mental health priority conditions as per the mhGAP.

• Skilled in at least one evidenced-based psychotherapy approach.

• Using different relaxation and stress management techniques.

• Ability to develop rapport with the patient.

• Interviewing skills.

• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, creativity, and flexibility.

• Experience providing clinical supervision or leading training is a plus.

• Ability to work autonomously, take initiative and responsibly escalate issues.

• Excellent coaching skills, including the capacity to provide structured feedback.

• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.

• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity, non-discrimination, and readiness to work with men, women, and girls and boys from diverse backgrounds, particularly the most marginalized segments of the community.

• Ability to adhere to ethical considerations and principles regarding work with vulnerable populations.

Candidate must be skilled in:

• Developing person-centered, goal and strength-focused, recovery-oriented care plans.

• Mental health in complex emergencies (IASC guidelines, Psychological First Aid, mhGAP…).

• Biopsychosocial model in mental health.

• Community-based approach in mental health.

• Human rights-based approach in mental health.

• Knowledge about the predictable stresses of humanitarian aid workers and the policies and practices needed to mitigate them.

• Good digital literacy and knowledge of Microsoft Office and internet use.

Language Skills

• Ability to fluently communicate, read, and write in Arabic and English.

Working Environment

The Consultant Clinical Psychologist for children and caregivers will not have dedicated office space at IRC but will have access to IRC premises for the purpose of meeting with relevant supervisees, when and as needed. The selected candidate must abide by the guidelines on delivering telepsychology interventions annexed to this ToR (Annex 1).

The consultant must be willing to travel to Tripoli and Minnieh to conduct home visits, as 90 % of the consultations shall be in-person, and online clinical intervention shall be conducted due to emergency situations (roadblocks, pandemic…. )

Annex 1

Guidelines on Delivering Telepsychology

Ethical Considerations

Humanitarian actors must abide by humanitarian principles and report any possible exploitation, abuse or degrading treatment, discrimination, harm, involuntary admission to institutions, forced medication, transgression of rights, and disregard to content being committed by family, community members, and other professionals.

Logistics Considerations

Each member of the MH staff (clinical psychologist, counselor…) must have a smartphone with a SIM card dedicated to the delivery of remote MH interventions. The smartphone and the application for telecommunication used (WhatsApp…