Psychologist

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organization providing assistance to people affected by armed conflicts, epidemics, natural or non-natural disasters, or persons excluded from access to health care. The organization has health projects in more than 68 countries.

MSF France Mathare project is looking to fill the position of a Psychologist. The successful candidate reports to the Mental Health Supervisor.

MSF France has had a significant presence in Kenya since 1996. In Mathare Lavender House Clinic, MSF runs a 24-hour SGBV Clinic for victims of sexual and gender-based violence and an emergency program that provides pre-hospital care and trauma/medical stabilization. We also have a clinic in Dandora offering youth-friendly services to those between the ages of 10 to 24 years. All our services are free including a toll-free hotline.

The objective of the Position:

Providing Mental Health and Psychological Support in accordance to MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) principles, standards, and procedures with an aim to improve mental health needs of patients and other beneficiaries.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Carrying out evaluation of mental health needs of patients and establishing a diagnosis and a plan of treatment. Informing the patient and his/her relatives about the possible consequences of the illness and the drug treatment to follow and referring patients to other health professionals whenever necessary, to provide the most appropriate treatment and improve the patient’s condition
• Sensitize the medical team to recognize psychological disorders and to refer patients to the psychologist for further assessment and management
• Implementing the Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) protocol, identifying survivors of SGBV and referring them to the medical team so that they receive the necessary treatment.
• Providing psychological support and psychotherapy sessions (individual, family, group) to patients according to MSF protocols to improve their mental health conditions.
• Assisting and training staff members and resource people whenever necessary to enhance the scope of MH activities. Working in close collaboration with translators to ensure appropriate terminology and behavior during sessions
• Collecting statistical and monitoring data about mental health activities in accordance to MSF guidelines.
• Informing the supervisor and the medical team about any issues or problems that may arise related to patients’ treatment to provide the best possible solution from a medical perspective
• Ensuring that all patient information is kept confidential.

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

RESPONSIBILITY 1: Organisation of counselling activities

Activity 1: Provision of counselling activities in the Trauma/SGBV/SRH clinics

• Liaise closely with other departments in the programme to enable open communication and ensure smooth referral of patients.
• Technically support counsellors providing counselling services to SGBV/ER patients.
• Attend supervisor meetings, discussing relevant issues concerning the counselling department.
• Reinforce confidentiality in the clinics.
• Order requests of commodities and stationery for the department activities.
• Conducting MHPSS activities including debriefings when need arises i.e. during and after MCIs.

Activity 2: Psychological care for SGBV/SRH/ER patients, Youths and other Mental health emergencies

• Provide patient centred psychological care for clients according to MSF guidelines.
• Sensitize the medical team to recognize psychological disorders and to refer patients to the psychologist for further assessment and management.
• Ensure the patients receive open-minded support regarding their right to choose, especially in delicate issues like TOP, desire for a child, marital discrepancy etc.
• Provide psychotherapy interventions for patients with complicated psychological diagnosis and evaluate the necessity of referral for internal & external support or for a 2nd opinion.
• Referral of acute mental health emergencies and follow up of the patients in referral facilities (together with MTL)
• Conduct group therapy and family therapy in Youth friendly centre.
• To participate in CMEs and on job training for staff on trauma cases, MH, SGBV cases, child development, counselling techniques etc. The counsellors should be encouraged to present with your support and input.
• Participate in training new Staff or other health workers from MOH/ other organisations on Mental Health Activities.

RESPONSIBILITY 2: Other

Activity 1: Continuous Medical Education (CME) presentations about psychological disorders

Activity 2: Patient Literacy

• Develop treatment literacy sessions and provide materials and tools.
• Train and supervise counsellors and expert patients, as needed, to conduct such sessions with the involvement of the medical team.
• Provide health education materials for patients in accordance to needs.

Activity 3: Mental Health Data Base

• Fill and update patient files, weekly activity forms, tracking of lost to follow ups and up to date with Mental Health Database Activities.

Working closely with data team and MH Supervisor in analysing trends including patient follow ups.

Activity 4: Conduct MHPSS in Dandora Youth friendly Center according to strategy

• Provide age-appropriate health education to the youths including art & group therapy services
• Mentor nurses, social worker and community health education team
• Support in development of literacy materials to be used for Health Education purposes.
• Take part in providing MHPSS to key populations
• Support in facilitating MH outreach activities i.e. MH mobile support through screening and patients’ management.

Activity 5: Other tasks

• Active participation in departmental meetings and offer support to MSF-MOH decentralised sites survivors
• Plan an organise for difficult case discussions with counsellors and follow up on the planning of Clinical Case discussions on Telemedicine platform monthly.
• Take part in Monthly MHPSS meetings across OCs as well as Technical Working Group Activities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education: – Degree in Medical Psychology from an accredited institution. (BA or Medical).

Master’s degree in clinical psychology is an added advantage.

Experience: – Psycho-social counselling experience of at least 2 years. Previous experience in other NGO’s/MSF is a plus.

Languages: – Fluency in English and Kiswahili is a must, other local language is a plus.

Knowledge: – Computer operation, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Competences: – Results, teamwork, flexibility, commitment, service

– Good communication skills both verbal and written

– Detail oriented and meticulous in all aspects of work

– Ability to work independently as well as within a team

– Ability to work in strenuous condition with minimal supervision

Applicants MUST be Kenyan nationals and have the necessary statutory documents (ID, NSSF, NHIF, and a PIN certificate).