Egypt: Community Outreach Senior psychosocial Officer

Project Description: Community Outreach and Psychosocial Programs

The Community Outreach Program is StARS’ main point of contact with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in the Greater Cairo area. The Community Outreach team identifies CBOs, collects information on their services and needs, and works with the CBOs to improve refugees’ knowledge of UNHCR procedures and access to services. It also seeks to disseminate its findings with the broader StARS community to ensure that StARS is meeting refugees’ needs. The Psychosocial Program (PS) provides information, advice, and support to refugees. PS works closely with other service providers and communities to increase refugees’ access to services and psychosocial support for refugees in Cairo.

Role

The Community Outreach Senior Psychosocial Officer works under the supervision of the Community Outreach Deputy Director and in close coordination with other Community Outreach staff, the Psychosocial Director and relevant psychosocial programs coordinators. The Community Outreach Senior Psychosocial Officer is responsible for outreach to refugee communities regarding the work of StARS and specifically outreach on psychosocial issues relating to access to services for refugees and vulnerable migrants, mental health, and psychosocial support. The Community Outreach Senior Psychosocial Officer will be responsible for expanding psychosocial work in community outreach, as well as coordinating with other StARS programs as a part of the StARS Community Outreach Team. The Community Outreach Senior Psychosocial Officer is a member of a team of approximately tenCommunity Outreach staff, and is connected to staff from the psychosocial program.

Responsibilities

All duties are carried out under the supervision of the Community Outreach Deputy Director, with support and guidance provided by the Community Outreach Director and the Psychosocial Director.

Outreach and Programmatic

· To build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Cairo.

· To attend and contribute to Community Outreach meetings, Psychosocial Program meetings, and other staff meetings

· To help community members, leaders, and individuals/families/groups understand StARS’ psychosocial services.

· To work closely with the Community Outreach Deputy Director to improve the understanding of and disseminate the information aboutthe psychosocial services available for refugees in Cairo among refugee communities and CBOs.

· To communicate with refugee communities, other service providers, and UNHCR to facilitate the provision of accurate information and advice leading to the fulfillment of refugee rights.

· To provide reporting data tothe Community Outreach Deputy Director and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer periodically and per request to accurately report work to senior management, funders, and others.

· To provide regular feedback to the Community Outreach Deputy Director on visits, meetings, workshops, and trainings for refugee communities.

Psychosocial

· To maintain a good knowledge of StARS psychosocial services, psychosocial principles and procedures, psychosocial needs of refugees in Egypt, and criteria to access services in Cairo.

· To identify and respond to CBOs’ relevant psychosocial issues during the ongoing community mapping.

· In collaboration with StARS Psychosocial Program, to develop, facilitate, and conduct workshops, meetings, and training sessions for refugee communities

· To coordinate with StARS Psychosocial Program in the provision of psychosocial services for communities.

· To identify vulnerable clients during outreach activities and refer them to relevant service providers.

· To provide support to the different psychosocial programs in the scope of the Community Outreach approach and services provision.

Networking and Advocacy

· To monitor policies and external developments affecting refugees in Egypt, paying special attention to vulnerable or marginalized groups.

· To advocate on salient protection issues relating to urban refugees.

· Liaise with partner organizations and service providers to improve opportunities and services available to StARS clients and CBOs.

· Identify gaps and needs and suggest networking opportunities that can respond to refugees’ needs.

· Pro-actively identify networking and advocacy opportunities with partner organizations and service providers.

· To ensure a cooperative working relationship with other psychosocial programs and other programs at StARS, and developing and maintaining effective communication and considering ways to cooperate at all times.

· Maintain a cooperative working relationship with PS staff and volunteers.

Finance/Administration

· To maintain accurate financial records with respect to expenses, transportation used to facilitate outreach activities, as per StARS financial rules.

· To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.

· To record all work conducted in accordance with the Community Outreach Program’s administrative procedures.

· To attend internal and external Community Outreach meetings as appropriate.

Communication/Reporting

· To attend regular supervision meetings with the Community Outreach Deputy Director and outreach staff meetings and other required psychosocial staff meetings.

· To communicate regularly with theCommunity Outreach Deputy Director and reporton all major issues and developments in psychosocial outreach work.

· To submit activity reports as requested.

· To promote information sharing among Community Outreach staff on all issues affecting the populations we serve.

· To maintain strong communication and effective coordination with outreach coordinators and utilize their key understanding of target communities and regularly exchange information with them.

· Maintain strong communication with key CBOs’ staff, keeping in mind a necessary cultural sensitivity.

· Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

· English being the official language of StARS, the Community Outreach Psychosocial Officer must be fluent in oral and written English.

· Fluency in Arabic and / or a language spoken by refugee communities in Egypt is essential for this role.

· Strong communication skills across different cultural backgrounds.

· Demonstrated commitment to and sensitivity toward vulnerable or displaced people.

· Ability to work well independently and in a team.

· Ability to think creatively, take initiative, and be a problem-solver.

· Willingness to travel, at times, at night to/from community meetings in refugee communities.

· Ability to adapt to changed circumstances.

· Commitment to refugee rights.

· Ability to live and work in a fluid security environment.

· Diplomatic skills and sensitivity to perceived biases.

· Organized, self-motivated, and reliable.

· Punctual, able to prioritize work, multi-task, and meet deadlines.

· Interpersonal skills including conflict resolution, consensus building, and intuitive listening.

· University degree in a related field OR minimum two years working experience with refugee communities.

Working Hours: The Community Outreach Senior Psychosocial Officer is expected to be at work for 40 hours per week, between the hours from9am and 5pm, from Sunday to Thursday. Longer hours, evening and weekendwork are sometimes necessary. Work will be conducted both in StARS premises and also in refugee communities and centers.

Salary: 4,750EGP per month, rising to 5,250EGP per month following successful completion of a three-month probationary period, with 2,100 EGP/ Year medical allowance and 50 EGP/month pension contribution upon completion of probationary period.

Benefits: All StARS official benefit policies as stipulated in StARS Staff Handbook Guidelines.

Closing date for applications: 12 July 2018. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Anticipated Starting date: As soon as possible

This position is subject to a three-month probationary period, at which time the employee’s performance will be reviewed and probation may be extended.

To Apply: Send a Cover Letter and your CV to applications@stars-egypt.org using the subject line “**Community Outreach Psychosocial Officer**”**

Note: Only short listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.**