PSS Facilitator

About SEED Foundation: The SEED Foundation is a registered NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. SEED’s mission is to protect, empower, and support the recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk. SEED is committed to delivering high quality, holistic approaches, which combine international expertise and local know-how to achieve results for the people of Iraq and Kurdistan Region. SEED’s programming focuses on three key objectives: 1) the delivery of transformational, comprehensive services including case management, mental health, and legal services, as well as psychosocial support activities; 2) strengthening the capacity of service providers through education, training, and capacity-development programs; and 3) ​promoting policy and social change to strengthen the rights of, and protections for, vulnerable groups and individuals through public awareness, technical assistance, and advocacy.

Role of the PSS Facilitator: 

The Psychosocial Support (PSS) Facilitator will be responsible for facilitating and leading structured PSS activities for women, men, youth, and children. These activities include the delivery of structured PSS manuals, awareness-raising sessions, Psychological First Aid (PFA), psychoeducation, skill-building, emotional support, and structured recreational sessions in locations throughout Sulaymaniyah and Halabja governorates and surrounding areas. The PSS Facilitator will also support with awareness raising initiatives to raise awareness about trafficking in persons and will provide PSS sessions to survivors of human trafficking, as appropriate. The PSS Facilitator will be responsible for implementing and delivering established PSS materials and assisting with the preparation of new PSS materials that are suitable for the targeted community, age, and gender group. Furthermore, the PSS Facilitator will be responsible for creating a safe environment for participants, respecting confidentiality, communicating with all beneficiaries and community members with  respect and following a survivor centered, trauma-informed care approach, ensuring regular attendance, and prioritizing beneficiaries’ personal resilience and psychosocial wellbeing. The PSS Facilitator reports to the Psychosocial Support Coordinator (PSS Coordinator). 

Specific Tasks:

Facilitation of PSS activities: 70%

• Coordinate, facilitate, and implement individual or group psychosocial support activities in camp and non-camp locations.
• Provide PSS sessions focused on: structured curricula/manuals about topics such as MHPSS, GBV, child protection, parenting skills, and anti-trafficking. 
• Provide psychoeducation, skill building, awareness raising, and structured recreational activities to groups and communities based on needs. 
• Support with conducting awareness raising campaigns, including providing in-person awareness raising sessions in the community related to the prevention of trafficking in persons 

• Prepare monthly and weekly schedules, as well as daily plans prior to every PSS session in line with the existing PSS curriculum and activity bank; prepare appropriate materials and/or visual aids in advance of the session.

• Utilize appropriate PSS and recreational kit materials, subjects, teaching methods, stationery, and furniture for the respective community, gender, and age group.

• Identify and strengthen community structures through engaging community leaders as well as other stakeholders to ensure that beneficiaries receive adequate support.
• Ensure that sessions are appropriately adapted to beneficiaries’ needs.
• Identify other areas of need and ensure that referrals for additional support are taken forward including case management, legal support, cash assistance and mental health services.
• Ensure the inclusive, age and gender-sensitive participation of beneficiaries. 
• Follow up on beneficiaries’ wellbeing, attendance, and specific needs.  
• Contact beneficiaries regarding any updates and changes in PSS schedules and their implementation.
• Support with conducting needs assessments, focus group discussions, and/or key informant interviews to understand community needs and/or receptivity to program implementation. 
• Support with the planning and implementation of international event days. 
• Attend all necessary trainings to be equipped to carry out the tasks of this role including trainings in other parts of the KRI, in collaboration with the supervisor’s request  
• Document and share feedback provided by beneficiaries/community members about the delivered activities, and identify gaps in the delivery of PSS activities. 
• Update the Service Delivery Coordinator, Protection and Service Delivery Manager, PSS Coordinator/Manager and if needed technical advisors on any issues, challenges or gaps in PSS implementation.

  Reporting, Coordination and Representation: 20%

• Maintain and strengthen existing networks with other service providers at the community level, to ensure that beneficiaries receive quality services and support.
• Report to the PSS Coordinator on a daily or weekly basis and share observed trends, challenges, and recommendations as well as positive or negative feedback from participants.
• Compile all data on a weekly basis to ensure all reports are completed in a timely manner and reflect achievements, challenges, and gaps in implementation.  
• Contribute to daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, progress notes, and treatment plans, if requested. 
• Identify new networks, service providers, and actors to collaborate with to ensure beneficiaries’ needs are met.
• Work in close collaboration with volunteers and community leaders to ensure that needs of at-risk groups, women, girls, and other community individuals are met.
• Assist in the development of referral networks between partners implementing similar programs.

M&E: 10%

• Ensure adequate reporting of data, including the accurate collection of participants’ contact details,  number of PSS sessions attended, and new registration requests.
• Collaborate closely with the MEAL team to monitor activities with existing PSS monitoring tools. 
• Collect monitoring and evaluation (M&E) data associated with PSS activities and share regular updates with the PSS coordinator. 
• Use appropriate data collection tools and submit assessments and updates  in a timely and accurate manner.  

Essential criteria:

• Minimum 2 years of professional experience as a group Facilitator, Case Manager, Psychologist or similar role in an NGO.
• University degree in a relevant field, in lieu of a degree, 3 years of experience in a relevant field is accepted. 
• Work experience with humanitarian agencies.
• Familiar with Humanitarian Principles and standards.
• Excellent communication skills with adolescents and adults (staff and community members).
• Previous work on gender and/or trafficking in persons will be considered an asset. 
• Full adherence to PSEA, Child Safeguarding, Code of Conduct, and Conflict of Interest policies.
• Well-organized, self-motivated and ability to work in a team.
• Fluent Kurdish and Arabic language skills (writing and speaking) with English as an asset. 
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office packages.
• Good interpersonal skills and cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to cope and work under pressure.

• Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via this LINK.
• Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.