Médecins Sans Frontières, founded in 1971, is an international medical humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from health care. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of medical professionals, logistics, administrative and various other professions, all guided by our medical ethics and our principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.
MSF WaCA, created in 2019, is the first MSF headquarters in Africa, and responds to the desire to reinvent the MSF movement after 50 years of humanitarian actions in the world, for more access to care, more reactivity and proactivity for greater medical coverage of affected populations in the world.
Why join us?
You are preparing to become a member of the MSF family, with over 50 years of emergency medical action that earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.
We are an inclusive organization that considers social and professional well-being a right for all and provides an environment that takes into account the diversity of each member.
MSF WaCA claims an African anchorage that considers the local expertise with which it contributes in the implementation of its activities and makes each member, a key actor of the new dynamics of the humanitarian action in the world.
We Are Looking for: PSYCHOLOGIST
Department: Ressources humaines
Direct Manager: Staff Health Unit Manager
Functional Manager: Staff Health Unit Manager
Working %: 100%
Position Based in: Abidjan
Mobility: All WaCA’s Interventions Zones
Type of Contract: Fixed-Term Contract Renewable
Position to be filled: As Soon As Possible
Objectives
The psychosocial component of the Staff Health Unit (SHU) is responsible for defining and implementing the psychosocial support required by staff working for MSF (international and national staff).
The psychosocial support offered is a set of preventive measures aimed at reducing the risks to the well-being and mental health of MSF workers.
The psychologist in the SHU works within this prevention framework, providing individual or group support activities.
Main responsibilities
1. Takes part in the day-to-day activities related to psychosocial care:
1.1. Briefings
The Psychologist of the SHU systematically briefs:
– Heads of mission
– Project coordinators
– Medical coordinators (Medco)
– Medical referents (PMR/MTL)
– Human Resources Coordinators
– Human Resources Managers
– Psychologists (project and staff)
– Any international staff who so request
1.2 Individual field support
The SHU’s Psychologist responds to requests for individual support from the field through the following activities:
– Answering calls from medical coordinators (technical support)
– Answering individual calls (personal support)
– Case follow-up
1.3 Individual post-mission interviews
S/He organizes individual interviews on return from mission for international staff who do not receive this type of support within their contracting section and who meet the following criteria:
– First mission
– Early return
– Mission in a high-risk context
– Spontaneous request from staff
In addition to the interview, S/He must record the support given and ensure follow-up if an external referral has been proposed.
1.4. Network of reference psychologists in Côte d’Ivoire and in WaCA countries of operation with the support of mission teams
The Psychologist in the SHU is involved in compiling a list of Psychologists, mainly in Côte d’Ivoire, who will be able to take charge of referred personnel. But also, in the countries where WaCA operates to ensure the care of referred colleagues.
1.5. Responses to general support requests
S/He receives and analyses requests for general and structural support for a project, a group of staff or even a complete assignment.
Provides support by giving advice, sending tools and suggesting actions to be taken.
As part of this general support, carries out field visits to analyse and/or respond to the specific needs of a project or assignment.
All field visits require:
– Preparation and drafting of Terms of Reference
– Planning the visit with the assignment.
– The visit itself
– Drafting a visit report
1.6. Field visit as part of a Stress Management Support (SMS) intervention
The Psychologist from the SHU may be asked to carry out a field visit as part of the follow-up to a critical incident and the dispatch of an SMS team in collaboration with other Operational Centers or external psychologists contracted to manage the incident.
The decision to send an SMS team is taken by the SHU manager in consultation with operations Direction.
A visit report is drawn up at the end of the visit and a debriefing meeting is organized with the entire SHU team.
1.7 Drafts reference documents
S/He participates in the drafting of documents useful for the smooth running of the department and the development of mission support:
– Stress management tools
– Briefing documents
– Policies
– Specific guidelines on a subject, etc.
Documents are approved by the Deputy Medical Director.
2. Management of the psychosocial related diary
S/He is on the front line in receiving requests for briefings, individual post-mission interviews and projects support.
3. «Training» manager within the SHU’s for psychosocial related topics
S/He works towards a coherent vision of stress management modules throughout the MSF WaCA training curriculum:
– Establishes regular contact with the Learning and Development Unit (L&D unit) within the movement.
– Drafts a general action plan to achieve the objective of consistency of stress management modules within MSF WaCA training courses.
– Clarifies priority actions and training each year.
4. Modelling psychosocial support in the field
Collects and compiles the different types of support given to the different staff (national and international) in WaCA projects.
Analyses the different types of support already deployed, their advantages and constraints.
Identifies new types of support of potential interest and to be tested in the field.
Compiles all support requests from WaCA projects as part of an exhaustive periodic report.
Together with the SHU Medical Doctor and the SHU Manager, identifies priority projects for field visits and draws up a realistic visit schedule.
Prepares the visits with the mission concerned and the Operations Department drafts the terms of reference, plans the dates of the visit and how it will be conducted.
Draws up or receives a final report from the psychologist who carried out the visit. Analyses this report and draws positive and negative lessons from it. Uses its findings to inform the modelling of psychosocial support for WaCA missions.
5.Network of psychologists in WaCA countries of operations
In collaboration with the psychologists of the other Operational Centers (OC) and the country coordinators, ensures a good network of psychologists in the WaCA countries of operation (Nigeria, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Ghana, DRC, etc.), who can cover the needs of the personnel.
6.Statistics and activities reports
Collects statistics on the psychosocial related activities by regularly recording its activities.
Prepares a quarterly report on his/her activities.
Participates in the analysis of SHU data and activities during quarterly review meetings.
7. Representation
At the request of the SHU Manager, the psychologist takes part in internal or external meetings representing the SHU.
Job requirements
Education
- Diploma/Master in Psychology.
Competencies
- Rigor, clarity and ability to adapt to an environment requiring urgent psychological support.
- Research, analytical and writing skills.
Professional experience required
- Professional experience of at least five (5) years is required as a psychologist.
- Professional experience with MSF or other humanitarian NGOs is an asset.
- Experience working in developing countries desirable.
Languages Skills
- Working proficiency in English and French
Computer Skills
- MS Office suite (mainly MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint)
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MSF offers equal recruitment and development opportunities without any form of discrimination based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, geographical origin, physical disability or any other discriminatory ground.
Female candidates who meet the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.
N.B.: This job description provides a framework for the main responsibilities and primary activities of the position. It is not exhaustive. Therefore, the responsibilities and activities of the position may differ from those described in this job description due to organizational and operational needs.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
How to apply
Kindly Apply via this link: PSYCHOLOGIST (RE-OPENING) (recruitee.com)