Protection Officer

The Psychosocial Support Officer, under the direct supervision of Protection Team Leader in Kandahar, is primarily responsible for providing psychosocial counselling to the project beneficiaries and targeted communities, case management, referrals and follow-up, awareness raising, liaising with government and other key stakeholders, and conducting trainings.

Responsibilities:

• Provide individual and group psychosocial counselling to the project beneficiaries in Kandahar/Zabul targeted communities.
• Ensure professional psychological assessment and support for all beneficiary cases, and closely monitor and document the psychological recovery cases.
• Produce and maintain accurate records of the beneficiaries cases, keep all case documents locked/protected and confidential.
• Provide referral of beneficiaries for additional assistance, as needed, to internal and external service providers;
• Conduct psychosocial information awareness raising sessions in the targeted communities;
• Engage men and women of the community in discussions around women’s rights and gender-based violence.
• Identify problems with GBV and access to services and provide recommendation to mitigate them;
• Set up a monitoring system to evaluate the effectiveness and the impact of the planned individual and group psychological support on the beneficiaries.
• Support/give training to DRC-DDG staff on how to identify signs of possible abuse affecting the beneficiaries at the center and encountered through outreach and awareness raising activities
• Support/give training to other local actors and community members on psychological first aid (PFA), identification and referral of persons in need of psychosocial support, including principles of working with children and survivors.
• Provide support in needs assessment surveys for future protection programming;
• weekly progress reports of the activities to line manager;
• Perform other relevant duties, as needed or requested.

To be successful in this role you must have:

Experience and technical competencies: 

• University degree in Psychology or Social Work, and a valid certificate from the Ministry of Health certifying as professional psychosocial counsellor.
• An understanding of the basic principles of humanitarian work, human rights, protection, and the needs of internally displaced persons and refugees in Afghanistan.
• Interest in humanitarian work and human rights, ability and willingness to learn.
• Ability to clearly express one’s thoughts, to analyze and present information clearly and concisely.
• Ability to set priorities and show initiative, to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Education/qualifications:

• 3 years of work experience (with at least 2 years with an international organization) in psychological/psychosocial counseling, preferably with IDPs/refugees/returnees.
• Demonstrated strong experience working with vulnerable clients, including survivors of SGBV and victims of child abuse.
• Strong knowledge of child-friendly interviewing techniques and communicating with children.
• Familiarity with IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.
• Understanding the psychosocial support needs of IDPs/refugees in Afghanistan.

Languages:

• Good knowledge of English, fluency in Pashto and good knowledge of Dari

Source: https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1036&ProjectId=171185&DepartmentId=19150&MediaId=5