Egypt: Psychosocial Team Leader - AMERA

AMERA-Egypt is pleased to advertise the following vacancy:

Post Title: Psychosocial Team Leader

Starting Salary: To be determined relative to qualifications and experience

Contract Duration: Two years, renewable

Closing Date: The vacancy will remain open until filled by a qualified person

Starting Date: January 15, 2010

Background information: Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA), a UK-registered refugee rights organization assisting refugees who seek asylum in Egypt, is seeking a dynamic team-builder with a background in social or community health work to serve as Psychosocial Team Leader. AMERA requires an intelligent, hard-working person with a commitment to service for vulnerable people, and an interest in finding innovative ways to integrate psychosocial, community and legal aid approached to improving refugees’ access to human rights.

AMERA is one of the leading refugee rights NGOs in Egypt. We serve more than 1500 refugees each year, involving the efforts of more than 40 staff, interns, and interpreters from Egypt and other countries. AMERA provides legal aid to asylum seekers undergoing refugee status determination with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and it has specialized teams dealing with unaccompanied minors, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and community outreach.

Position Description

The job of Psychosocial Team Leader is full-time for 35 hours per week, and s/he works under the day-to-day supervision of the Deputy Country Director. Its purpose is to develop affective and adequate programming, manage the operation and effective delivery of the psychological and social services for refugees seeking asylum in Egypt.

The Psychosocial Team Leader is a member of the management team at AMERA-Egypt.

Requirements

1. English being the official language of the UNHCR Cairo as well as AMERA’s office, the Psychosocial Team Leader must be fluent in both oral and written English. Arabic is an advantage.

2. A background in psychology and/or social work and preferable experience working in human rights, with refugees, asylum seekers and/or migrants in a social or community service capacity.

3. A Bachelor's degree in psychology or social work, or other related field.
4. A Master’s degree – or demonstrated equivalence in Social Work, Psychology, or social sciences is an asset.
5. A documented track record of team building and good organisational, time management and public relations skills.
6. A demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, supervise, guide, support and discipline team members as well as cooperate with peers.

Responsibilities

1. To provide strategic leadership for the Psychosocial Team by developing a strategic plan for the psychosocial service, contributing to the development of AMERA’s overall strategic plan, monitoring the progress of these plans and continuing the development of detailed procedures and protocols to inform the work of the psychosocial team.
2. To recruit, train, supervise and support paid staff and volunteers, ensuring that the team operates effectively and efficiently and provides accurate and accessible information in accordance with the requirements of AMERA.
3. To supervise the Deputy Team Leader and assist him/her in their role as casework supervisor for the team, providing additional advice and supervision as required.
4. To ensure that clear, accurate and comprehensive records of all client contacts and interventions are maintained and that follow up work is carried out promptly and efficiently.
5. To ensure that client information and case records are reviewed regularly using the independent file review procedure.
6. To provide monthly statistics and reports to the Deputy Country Director relating to the activity of the team, any specific problems which have arisen with their possible solutions, opportunities taken to promote and develop the service and notes on the progress towards the implementation of the psychosocial strategic plan.
7. To ensure that the team members work effectively with other colleagues within AMERA and promote the integration of the psychosocial team within the AMERA’s human rights advocacy program.
8. To organise regular weekly team meetings and supervision sessions and to appraise, supervise and support staff and volunteers, develop their skills, and set up/access training to meet the identified needs of the individuals as well as the team as a whole.
9. To attend weekly staff meetings, regular team leader meetings and monthly individual supervision sessions with the Deputy Country Director.
10. To develop and monitor mechanisms to facilitate asylum seekers, refugees and migrants’ access to adequate psychosocial services and ensure that information about the available services and resources reaches those most in need.
11. To collate and communicate relevant, reliable data on psychosocial issues to those most able to influence policy and practise affecting the wellbeing of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.
12. To liaise and cooperate with the UNHCR, non-governmental organisations, community based organisations, schools, health care providers, religious and community groups regarding refugee issues and represent AMERA-Egypt in meetings and for a relating to psychosocial work.
13. To develop and maintain a comprehensive referral systems for all relevant external partners and to participate in community and UNHCR projects and committees in order to strengthen psychosocial services and increase public awareness of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.
14. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of developments and changes in practise, policy and law through participation in external training opportunities and individual study, ensuring that these changes are communicated to the team through team meetings and training, and incorporated into working practice.
15. To attend continuing education opportunities provided to all staff, to assist in the coordination and provision of the 60 hour intensive training for new volunteer psychosocial workers and legal advisor (three times per year), to organise training for the newly appointed psychosocial team members and to direct the provision of continuing education on psychosocial issues for the staff of other partner organisations.
16. To ensure that all members of the Psychosocial Team carry out tasks in accordance with AMERA-Egypt’s policies, procedures and standards, in particular ethics, health and safety, confidentiality, anti-discrimination, and sexual harassment.
17. To undertake any other duties commensurate with the role as may be required by the Deputy Country Director and Country Director.

If you are interested to apply, please submit your Cover letter and CV to

Contact person: Heba El Hossary – Programmes administrator
Email: [email][email protected]