Country: Egypt
Closing date: 05 Mar 2018
Program D**escr**i**pti**on**: Psychosocial Services**
StARS’ Psychosocial Services (PS) assist refugee adults and children to enhance their wellbeing through working to address basic needs, provide emotional support, and give opportunities to develop support networks. The psychosocial department focuses on health, mental health, and social needs, such as shelter, security, community support, and education. StARS PS provides support using eight programs:
The Drop In and Emergency Response Program (DIER) which oversees the StARS drop-in clinic, where refugees can approach StARS to access information and advice relating to psychosocial and legal needs, as well as getting immediate support in emergency situations;
Individual psychosocial support to adults and families (Adults and Families Psychosocial Program - AFP);
Support, signposting and advocacy to assist refugees with unmet medical needs (Medical Access Program – MAP)
The Groups and Activities Psychosocial Program (GAP) where people can find additional support, social connections, and access to relevant information for their psychosocial wellbeing;
Individual psychosocial support to unaccompanied children and youth (Unaccompanied Children and Youth Psychosocial Program - UCY);
A hybrid educational and psychosocial program for unaccompanied refugee children and youth who are unable to access formal education and other services (Unaccompanied Youth Bridging Program - UYBP);
Direct assistance through the provision of food and hygiene boxes to unaccompanied children, as well as other items to StARS’ clients (Direct Assistance Project – DAP);
The Early Childhood Well-Being Program (ECW), focused on developing sustainable models of early childhood development support in communities, with parental and community engagement at its core.
Role
Under the supervision of StARS’ Director of Psychosocial Services (hereafter PS Director), and in close cooperation with the Deputy Director of Psychosocial Services for Unaccompanied Children and Youth, the Deputy Director of Psychosocial Services for Adults and Families manages the implementation of StARS psychosocial programs that focus on services for adults and families (this may include some services that are also available to unaccompanied children and youth). The Deputy Director is responsible for overseeing matters relating to supervision, support, and day-to-day running of StARS psychosocial services for adults and families.
The programs that the Deputy Director manages are:
Adults and Families Psychosocial Program (AFP)
Medical Access Program (MAP)
Early Childhood Well-Being Program (ECW)
These programs comprise of approximately thirty staff, most of whom are refugees.
Responsibili**ties**
All duties are carried out under the supervision of the PS Director, who retains overall responsibility for the psychosocial department. Effective communication with the PS Director, and other members of the StARS’ management team, is essential to the success of this role.
Psychosocial and Technical
• To maintain oversight and monitoring of activities across PS programs for adults and families in close coordination with all PS program coordinators and the PS management team.
• To ensure that systems are in place for appropriate and fair response to clients at all stages of psychosocial services, with a particular focus on screening and drop-in support.
• To ensure high quality psychosocial support and other related services, and to ensure a refugee rights-based approach is followed within StARS' PS programs for adults and families.
• To ensure the delivery of quality group support services and activities for adults and families.
• To ensure that comprehensive case management practices are in place within the relevant PS programs, including maintaining and updating electronic databases and records, and keeping detailed notes of all casework activities.
• To maintain good working knowledge of the current political and social situations in the countries of origin of StARS’ clients and of the situation of refugee communities in Egypt.
• To maintain good working knowledge of UNHCR guidelines, processes, and procedures.
• To promote the sharing of relevant information with PS staff and other StARS' programs.
Programmatic
• To ensure accurate record keeping systems are in place for PS programs for adults and families and to provide case reporting data to the PS Director as requested in order to accurately report work to senior management, funders, and others.
• To ensure program monitoring and evaluation systems are in place and programming is reviewed based on results and emerging needs.
• To develop in-depth knowledge of the structure and systems in place within the psychosocial programs for adults and families, identifying gaps and aspects of programming that need to develop or adapt. Work closely with the PS Director and program coordinators to address programming needs.
• To build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with the other PS programs, and programs with other StARS departments.
• To actively search for services and alternative solutions in response to limitations in provision for refugees in Cairo.
• To communicate with refugee communities, liaise with other service providers and UNHCR to enhance services and opportunities for clients and communities.
• To revise the strategy of PS programs for adults and families in response to the changing needs of refugees and operational context, and participate in annual work planning and strategic planning.
Supervisory
• To provide leadership and support to staff across psychosocial programs for adults and families.
• To provide direct supervision to the coordinators of psychosocial programs for adults and families.
• To provide regular program management supervision (at least on a monthly basis) for coordinators of psychosocial programs for adults and families, ensuring supervision systems are in place for all PS staff working under these programs.
• To collaborate with the Deputy Director of Psychosocial Services for Unaccompanied Children and Youth, and the Youth Staff Development Officer, to ensure that suitable supervision and structures for the professional development and support of youth staff are implemented.
• To carry out regular performance evaluation and annual appraisals for coordinators of psychosocial programs for adults and families.
• To assist in recruitment and training of coordinators and staff in psychosocial programs for adults and families.
• To provide guidance and recommendations for further action in response to cases and issues facing refugee communities.
• To ensure that all members of PS programs for adults and families carry out tasks in accordance with StARS’ policies, procedures, and standards, in particular ethics, conduct, confidentiality, anti-discrimination, and the prevention of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.
• To identify the need for disciplinary procedures, to refer these to the PS Director, and to support disciplinary procedures being administered as needed.
Policy/Advocacy
• To monitor policies and external developments affecting refugees in Egypt, paying special attention to particularly vulnerable or marginalized groups.
• To advocate on salient protection issues relating to urban refugees.
• To identify issues requiring advocacy and to raise these with the PS Director and other relevant staff.
Finance/Administration
• To ensure that program coordinators of programs for adults and families follow financial procedures as outlined by the PS Director and StARS management.
• To ensure systematic recording of program activities is in place in compliance with monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and reporting requirements.
• To ensure recording of personnel information and documents, leave, and work hours of PS staff in programs for adults and families.
Communication/Reporting
• To communicate regularly with the PS Director, reporting on all major issues and developments in the field and within PS programs for adults and families.
• To meet monthly with the PS Director, and at other times as needed, regarding the work of PS programs for adults and families.
• To seek guidance and supervision as necessary.
• To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.
• To be an active member of the leadership team and to provide all necessary support to program directors (and deputy directors) and to StARS.
• To provide monthly and quarterly reports to the PS Director, as requested, including on problems and solutions, supervision issues, case studies, statistics, and notes on progress towards implementation of the strategic plan.
• To contribute input on PS activities for adults and families to grant proposals and donor reports.
• To submit other activity reports as requested.
• To promote information sharing within PS and StARS on all issues affecting the populations we serve.
• Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Technical
• English being the official language of UNHCR Cairo as well as of StARS, the Deputy Director of Psychosocial Services for Adults and Families must have very good oral and written English. Arabic or a language spoken by refugee commuities is an advantage.
• Background in social work, psychology, or other relevant field.
• Three years’ experience in assisting refugees in roles relevant to this position.
• Experience in case management and the provision of mental health or psychosocial services to refugees or marginalized and vulnerable populations.
• Experience in project management and leadership of a team, including in recruitment, training, supervision, staff evaluation and feedback, results tracking, and reporting.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.
Personal
• A demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, supervise, guide, support, and discipline team members as well as cooperate with peers.
• Belief in and commitment to non-discrimination on the basis of gender, race, disability, religious belief, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
• Diplomacy and assertiveness; the ability to confront and discuss sensitive issues with respect and care.
• Skilled in obtaining information necessary to accomplish duties.
• Able to prioritize work, multi-task, and meet deadlines.
• Problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level.
• Able to express technical ideas and concerns in a non-technical environment.
• Understanding of human rights and client-centered approach.
• Ability to develop effective systems considering organizational effectiveness and impact on people.
• Strong organization and planning skills, detail-oriented.
• Ability to handle conflicting priorities in a fast-paced environment while working with limited resources.
• A positive attitude and collaborative approach to dealing with clients, volunteers, and staff.
Hours: 8 hours/day, 5 days/week (Sunday – Thursday), and other hours as required.
Supervised by: Director of Psychosocial Services
Salary: 10,025EGP/month rising to 11,025EGP/month after successfully competition of probation period, (plus EGP175 monthly medical allowance, and EGP 50 monthly pension contribution).
Benefits: All StARS official benefit policies as stipulated in StARS Staff Handbook Guidelines.
How to apply:
Send a Motivation Letter and CV to applications@stars-egypt.org, using the subject line “Deputy Director of Psychosocial Services for Adults and Families”
