Background/Context:
The IRC has operated in Syria since 2012, providing protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs in Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with new programs expanding into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a team of over 700 members, the IRC has established trust and strong community relationships, ensuring access and effective service delivery. It plays a significant role in Syriaโs NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and adapting to the evolving context.
With the new realities under the new government, as of December 2024, the IRC has deployed a team to Damascus to set up operations and engage in coordination structures for newly accessible areas across Syriaโincluding parts of NES, NWS, and other previously unreachable locations in South and Central Syria, adjusting operations to maximize coverage and efficiency.
Healthcare
Since 2012, the IRC has provided comprehensive primary and secondary healthcare through hospitals, clinics, and mobile medical units (MMUs). Ensuring access to vital services like sexual and reproductive health, clinical psychosocial support, and other specialized care. Working alongside our partners, weโve helped secure a steady supply of medicines and medical equipment into the country, trained healthcare providers, and deployed health personnel to maintain services in even the most challenging conditions.
Job overview:
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the MHPSS Snr Officer, the MHPSS Counselor Assistant supports the beneficiaries, individuals, families and communities at the IRC health facility site. He will enhance the individual and collective wellbeing and ensure that vulnerable people, including children and adults, are safeguarded from harm. MHPSS counselor will work closely with MHPSS Officer to ensure implementation of Mental Health activities in an effective and proper way in line with MH GAP guidance and facilitate all operational needs in the field through close coordination with other team members at the clinic.
Responsibilities:
Under supervision of Snr. MHPSS Officer and extended supervision of MHPSS Manager, the MHPSS counselor will undertake following responsibilities:
Conduct mental health assessments of individuals and families in covered areas by Medical Unit, or referred by other agencies, develop care plans, deliver psychological intervention, and follow ups in close cooperation with trained General Practitioners (GPs) and Psychiatrist. Conduct group psychoeducation & Psychosocial support (PSS) sessions for men and women to raise awareness about Mental Health aspects and symptoms of Mental Health disorders. Contribute and support in conducting awareness sessions on several mental health and psychosocial support topics by CHWs. Ensure all client files are kept in safe, privet and appropriately way by regularly data audit. Facilitate Protection clientsโ access to mental health services. Submit regular feedback report to the MHPSS Officer, MHPSS Snr. officer, Health Information System (HIS) team and follow up the progress against targets, all implementation details, and challenges. Offering information, support and advocacy to individuals and families, including escorting them, if necessary, to relevant services. Work with the referring case manager/social worker from Protection to streamline service provision and follow-up, including referrals to other PSS activities, (working in close collaboration IRC Protection colleagues). Liaising with and making referrals to other agencies and conducting follow ups to assess progress. Develop services mapping for targeted area and update it regularly and share with the supervisor. Participating in multidisciplinary teams, case conferences, working groups, ad hoc workshops and thematic trainings when required. Maintaining accurate and secured records and updating them in a timely manner. Participating in MHPSS trainings, Peer Support sessions, bi-weekly supervision sessions and team meetings. Contributing to the development of and participation in proposed activities in relation to psychosocial support and increased well-being of the targeted population. Contribute to raise the capacity building needs regarding the Mental Health. Raising field needs to Administrative Officers through monthly procurement plans. Other duties assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:
Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies. Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths the teams in Syria. Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews. Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions. Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews. Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis. Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths. As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies. Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions. Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff. Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.Job Requirements:
Education ,Work Experience:
Institutional Degree in psychology or counselling with psychotherapy, clinical and or counselling psychology work experience, or any relevant certificate like Sociology, Education, Approximately one years of relevant work experience in psychosocial support/psychological consultation, in clinical and/or direct practice settings, preferably working with conflict-affected people. Knowledgeable in and has used the IASC MHPSS guidelines and best practices as part of their previous work experience. Experience and demonstrated understanding of working with a refugee or internally displaced communities. Understanding of mental health and psychosocial issues. Knowledge of standard legal procedures. Experience in PSS sessions with children, women. Personal qualities: Team player, flexible, well organized, network-builder, able to handle pressure well and work in cross-cultural setting. The ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure. High level of communication skills. Skills with good level at Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel and Outlook).Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
A commitment to IRCโs mission, vision, values and IRC Way โ Professional Code of Conduct. Strong communication skills demonstrated ability to liaise with Mental Health beneficiaries, partner organizations strong written and oral communication skills, with ability to communicate effectively with different types of people. Demonstrated organizational, management and reporting skills. Works well in teams and promotes teamwork, flexible and able to handle pressure and conflict well in a calm and constructive manner. Ability to work under pressure with competing priorities and deadlines. Strong problem-solving skills with ability to be flexible, adaptable, and creative in a challenging and fast-moving multicultural environment. A commitment to the IRCโs mission, vision, values and IRC Way โ Professional Code of Conduct. Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution. Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context. Demonstrated belief in gender equality and enthusiastic commitment to the safety and empowerment of women and children. Comfortable speaking about sensitive topics in an honest, professional, and thoughtful manner. Always maintain confidentiality and respect for clients. Demonstrated capacity to perform well under pressure with overlapping deadlines in a challenging environment.Language/Travel:
Fluency in Arabic. Travel: 100% in the field sites (Raqqa โ Jdeda ), as well as attending all workshops and meetings, if requiredKey Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Snr. MHPSS Officer
Position directly supervises:
Indirect Reporting: MHPSS Manager, Snr. Health Officer, Snr. MHPSS Officer
Key Internal Contacts:
Key External Contacts:
Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way โ Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the country where this position is based and are currently residing outside of your home country, you may be eligible for an attractive relocation package. Eligibility is determined based on IRC's operational needs and specific role requirements. IRC strives to attract, motivate, and retain qualified national staff in our programs.
Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.