HI has been supporting the Afghan people since 1987, starting its operations in Pakistan. Since 1996, HI has been operating across Afghanistan in order to launch victim assistance interventions, working at different levels of the society and adopting a cross-sectoral approach. While present on the ground to directly support victims of the conflict through the provision of a range of services – from physical rehabilitation, to mine risk education and inclusive livelihoods – HI has been continuously advocating to increase the rights of victims and other people with disabilities in the country. In particular, and in line with its global strategy and priorities, HI has been advocating to reduce the use of landmines and conventional weapons. Acknowledging the need to respond to the urgent emergency crises combined with longer term, chronic gaps in the provision of services, HI has steadily expanded its range of activities and services in order to support the most vulnerable people, enhancing their resilience while strengthening participation and inclusion of all individuals.

Job Purpose:

The Mobile Team (MT) addresses the urgent need for functional and physical rehabilitation, psychosocial support and mine risk education (MRE) in Afghanistan particularly in provinces with acute needs due to new shocks or returnees’ movement, through a mobile and flexible response. Treatments for people with physical disabilities usually focus on physical aspects. However, psychological aspects play an integral part in patient’s recovery. The action will then target the most vulnerable persons at risk of exclusion (including People with Special Needs (PwSN), people with disabilities (PwD), people with injuries, people experimenting psychosocial distress and/or mental health problems), who are often invisible to mainstream relief organizations due to the specificity of their needs. The mobile teams will identify specific vulnerabilities and provide targeted assistance to these vulnerable groups through the provision of rehabilitation, psychosocial and MRE services with a complementary support to the Emergency Response Mechanism (ERM) actors; the action will reduce vulnerability and mitigate the impact of the conflict by facilitating access to lifesaving services, improving functional capacities and independence, strengthening positive coping mechanisms, promoting wellbeing, mitigating psychological distress, and improving the dignity of the targeted beneficiaries.

The MT will be deployed in underserved areas, out of the Provincial Capital, to reach out communities who do not have access to health facilities and protection assistance.

The Duties and responsibilities may include but not limited to:

GLOBALOBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION:

Under the supervision of the project manager, with strong functional links with the PSS Technical Advisor, the psychosocial worker (PSW) will provide community-based services to individuals, families and groups affected by the conflict upsurge in Nimroz province through mobile team intervention outside of the provincial capitals.

 The PSW will:

• Provide quality assessment of specific psychological and psychosocial needs of persons with disabilities and of vulnerable persons experiencing psychological distress and/or mental health issues,) including children and their caregivers, in close coordination and collaboration with the Physiotherapist.
• Support persons with psychological distress by providing a quality direct response to the psychosocial and psychological needs identified, through individual, family or group interventions within the Handicap International comprehensive approach.
• Provide indirect response through referrals to stakeholders working in social, protection, psychosocial and mental health sectors or any other relevant sectors according to the needs of the beneficiaries

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS DESCRIPTION:

1. In order to improve the rehabilitation process, assess the psychosocial issues and capacities of the beneficiaries and identify their needs in terms of psychological and psychosocial support in close collaboration with the PTs and P&Os:

• • Conduct visits to individuals and families, including children, in the community and/or in hospital or other service facilities if required.

• During the visits, handle a first identification (screening) of PSS and Rehab needs
• Identify the nature and severity of psychosocial/psychological needs through the MHPSS assessment
• Fill the different assessments and referral forms, when required,  according to the assessment’s criteria
• According to the outcomes of the assessment of the beneficiaries’ needs, elaborate an appropriate action plan and, when required, ensure a proper coordination with the project’s Physiotherapist.

2. Offer secure and appropriate psychosocial support

• Provide psychosocial services based on the informed consent of the beneficiary and adapted to her/his needs, taking into account the limitations of the emergency responses.
• Actively involve the beneficiaries at all stages of the assessment and response, in order to ensure the relevance and sustainability of the intervention.
• Detect any evolution of the cases and modify the action plan accordingly or refer to a relevant colleague or another stakeholder
• Use secure , respectful and ethical methods when working with any beneficiary
• Ensure a proper follow up of the cases
• Engage your responsibility when you provide any service to the beneficiary
• Provide appropriate psychosocial sessions to identified persons or households in need, including children, through family, groups and individual based approaches in coordination, when required, with the Physiotherapist and the Social Workers
• Use various communication means (written, spoken, etc.) during activities to ensure the self-expression of the beneficiaries
• Facilitate inclusive activities
• Identify his/her own limits and ask for support before any acts that could cause harm to beneficiary

3. Refer beneficiary to other services when needed:

• Identify needs for referrals to other relevant stakeholders and monitor referrals conducted in coordination with the Social Workers, the Physiotherapist and/or the Project Manager.
• Recognize emergency situation or situations that need immediate medical care or protection measure and react in consequence making efforts to ensure that beneficiary get the appropriate services

4. Record, Report, develop the tools and planning

• Maintain complete individual files for each person, including detailed descriptions of services provided and evolution of the case
• Ensure that complete beneficiary pack is properly filled and signed
• Write case studies on beneficiaries and activities of the project
• Respect all guidelines and documentation within the project; keep data records for each individual and group sessions
• Document any protection concerns and report them to your line manager
• Ensure a daily quantitative and qualitative reporting through the tools (assessment form, follow up form, discharge and monitoring form, donation certificate) and system in place
• Provide any other reports to be made upon line manager request
• Participate to the improvement of the activities protocol, tools and guidelines to ensure a comprehensive intervention of quality
• Actively participate to all the project meeting, technical follow-up, internal and external trainings related to your position according to your line manager instructions
• Contribute to the organization of the weekly plan within the multidisciplinary team, with the support of the team leader

5. To build other team members’ and partners’ member’s capacities

• Work in a constructive way with the Physiotherapists.
• Provide technical advices for hospital or other humanitarian partners’ staffs as per request of your line manager
• Provide training or sensitization sessions on MHPSS issues (notably related to new physical disabilities)

6. Materials Management

• Identify material, equipment, recreational kit needed, timely formulate requests, and ensure appropriate use/distribution

7. Demonstrate willingness to improve professional competences and abilities to increase care quality:

• Demonstrate motivation at work.
• Demonstrate willingness to improve his/her own knowledge and skills by participating actively in any training sessions, capacity building activities…
• Participate in the different activities that are common to all team members (identification of needs of beneficiaries, internal and/or external referrals)
• Respect each team member’s positions, work, and specificity
• Adapt to special situations or demands from supervisor (reporting, etc.)

8. Respect hygiene and security rules

• The Psychosocial Worker respects and applies basic hygiene rules;
• He/she maintains equipment clean and secured.
• He/she observes at all times strict commitment to Handicap International Security & Safety regulations as per procedures in place at mission level
• He/she supports information internal dissemination to relevant focal persons at mission level aiming at reinforcing security and safety of Handicap International staff and assets

9. Demonstrate an ethics and professional practice:

• Show professional ethics, respect and promote Handicap International mandate
• Among others, he/she respects beneficiary’s privacy and confidentiality (he/she only share medical information with medical staff/persons directly involved in beneficiary’s care)
• Respect the Handicap International protection of children policy and protection of beneficiaries from sexual exploitation and abuse policyand report to your line manager any non-respect of HI’s policies amongst the teams or partners.
• Report any incident or act that causes any harm to beneficiary or to others.
• Always interact with children with the presence of their parents or caregivers
• Always respect a refusal of service.
• Work with the best of knowledge and abilities to offer a good quality psychosocial support
• Show abilities and competences to execute an efficient rehabilitation intervention.

Qualifications and Skills:

Essential

• Bachelor degree in psychology.
• At least three years of experience in psychosocial support with I/NGOs.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in Mental health and psychosocial support
• Strong understanding of the psychosocial issues of conflict-affected communities and persons with injuries and disabilities
• Excellent written & spoken in Dari and Pashto
• Written and spoken English is an asset
• Abilities to work within a team and collaborate
• Ability to work with diverse beneficiaries
• Strong interpersonal, communication skills and active listening skills
• Able to work both independently and in a multicultural team environment
• Able to work under pressure and in unstable environment
• Willing to learn and develop professionally

Desirable:

• Experience in hospital settings is an asset
• Familiar with MS Office (Word, Excel) and internet
• Open and interested in disability issues
• Capable of goodwill and humanity behaviors
• Good organization skills
• Abilities to properly communicate with patients, families/caretakers and medical staff

Application Process:

Applicants can login to the online application system by copying and pasting the following link https://airtable.com/applYF4rJ9FjHt99E/shr2mRCaz5sPLdEhI into their web browser to submit their details and upload their required documents prior to the deadline.

Important notes:

• Please note that only the applications received through the online platform will be considered for this position.
• It is important to note that applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Therefore, timely submission is crucial.
• After the review process, please be aware that only candidates who have been shortlisted will be contacted for the next stages of the recruitment process. If you do not hear from us, please consider that your application has not been selected for further consideration at this time.

– HI has got strong stand on protection of beneficiaries.

“The Role Holder will have to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of the code of conduct”

HI promotes and upholds the principles of equal opportunities and its policies (PSEAH, Child Protection etc). HI has a zero tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or a child by any of our staff, representatives or partners. Recruitment to all jobs in HI includes, in particular, criminal
record checks and the collection of relevant references. Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do.

Individuals with disabilities and female candidates are especially encouraged to apply. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly value the unique perspectives and contributions that you can bring to our team

https://airtable.com/applYF4rJ9FjHt99E/shr2mRCaz5sPLdEhI