Psychologist

Job Purpose:

To provide specialized psychological support to flood-affected communities, including individuals, families, and groups, addressing trauma, grief, and acute stress resulting from the disaster, while ensuring a culturally sensitive and ethical approach.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Direct Psychological Support

• Conduct psychological first aid (PFA) and crisis interventions for affected individuals.
• Provide individual and group counselling sessions for trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief.
• Identify and refer severe mental health cases (e.g., psychosis, severe PTSD) to clinical psychologists or psychiatric services.
• Use evidence-based techniques (e.g., CBT, trauma-focused interventions) adapted to the local context.

2. Capacity Building & Training

• Train community volunteers, field staff, and teachers on:
  ✓ Psychological First Aid (PFA)
  ✓ Basic listening skills
  ✓ Identification of common mental health issues
  ✓ Safe referral pathways
• Develop and disseminate MHPSS IEC materials in Pashto/Urdu.

3. Community Outreach & Awareness

• Conduct group psychoeducation sessions on coping mechanisms, stress management, and child emotional needs.
• Reduce stigma around mental health through community dialogues and engagement with local leaders.
• Ensure services are accessible to women, children, elderly, and persons with disabilities.

4. MHPSS Coordination & Reporting

• Liaise with Health Department, WHO, UNICEF, and other MHPSS actors to avoid duplication and ensure comprehensive care.
• Maintain detailed case records (while ensuring confidentiality) and contribute to MHPSS activity reports.
• Support needs assessments to identify MHPSS gaps in target areas.

5. Monitoring & Ethical Compliance

• Adhere to IASC MHPSS Guidelines, Do No Harm principles, and informed consent protocols.
• Ensure child safeguarding and GBV case management protocols are strictly followed.

Emergency-Specific Tasks:

• Deploy rapidly to conduct emergency PFA in newly accessible areas.
• Support the establishment of safe spaces for women and children.
• Participate in multi-sectoral assessments to integrate MHPSS with WASH, Shelter, and Protection.

Qualifications & Experience:

Essential:

• Education: Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology (must be licensed or license-eligible with Pakistan Psychological Association).
• Experience:
• Minimum 2 years of experience providing psychological services, preferably in humanitarian or emergency settings.
• Experience working with trauma-affected populations (conflict/disaster survivors).
• Skills & Competencies:
• Fluency in Pashto (mandatory) and Urdu.
• Knowledge of evidence-based trauma therapies.
• Strong ethical judgment and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work in high-stress, resource-limited environments.

Preferred:

• Training in MHGAP (WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme).
• Experience with community-based MHPSS approaches.
• Understanding of Islamic and Pakhtun cultural norms related to mental health.

Note: Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply to ensure access to female beneficiaries.

Purpose of this post is for CVs collection for Flood affected areas in KP.