General Description of the Programme:

GOAL an International Humanitarian Organisation has had a presence in Turkey since 2013 and has been contributing to the migrant response since 2016 with a focus on responding to needs in health service delivery, social safety nets and the protection of vulnerable and marginalised migrants in southern Turkey.

GOAL has been working in Syria since 2013, responding to the acute needs of conflict-affected communities. GOAL is working in Idleb Governate, both through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, and provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) through support to Water units, as well as emergency support to recently displaced households.

Overview of the Link Program

GOAL seeks Community Access Officer (CAO) for its ECHO-funded LINK program. The program aims to connect vulnerable and marginalized communities to available state and non-state services in Ankara, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa and Adana using the outreach, advocacy and Individual Protection Assistance (IPA) approaches. Link will address and mitigate protection concerns of the vulnerable/marginalized refugees through provision of critical information and raising their awareness on their rights, obligations and services available in Turkey, by sensitization/advocacy (targeting key stakeholders and service providers, etc.) activities and Individual Protection Assistance (IPA) services to assist vulnerable individuals to access to basic, social and protective services available under the provisions of Temporary and International Protection regulations in Turkey. In Gaziantep and Sanliurfa the program will exclusively target the semi-nomadic groups including Dom and Abdal currently excluded from most services.

Position Summary

Based in either Gaziantep, Adana or Şanlıurfa and managed by the deputy program managers (DPMs), the position holders will be supporting and working in close collaboration with one of the Link teams operating in Adana, Urfa or Gaziantep. Overall, she/he will be responsible for planning and conducting regular group awareness and information session on stress management, basic psychosocial and emotional well-being, parenting and GBV, etc. related topics with appropriate objectives.

General Functions of the role

• Work with Link teams and other professionals from a range of organizations to develop services that deliver the best possible outcomes for vulnerable/marginalized individuals and their families.
• Work co-operatively with other agencies and stakeholders, particularly with the agencies specialized in PSS and MHPSS services.
• Contribute to forums, coordination and working groups meetings, as agreed upon with the line manager, to develop and nurture fruitful referral partnerships.
• Develop and sustain a functioning referral pathway with the local, national, international with the agencies specialized in PSS and MHPSS services in the southeast region.
• Collate information on needs and service gaps regarding PSS and MHPSS needs in the region to inform Link service development.
• At all times, be up-to-date on his/her knowledge on the local PSS and MHPSS service and assistances available in the southeast region for appropriate referrals.
• Ensure adherence to internationally recognized PSS and MHPSS principles, standards and relevant international and local regulations.
• Ensure adherence with GOAL’s code of conducts and other internal policies i.e. on confidentiality, safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion including the GOAL's commitments to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
• Work with supervisors and peers in harmony to achieve Link service plans, objectives and targets.
• Participate in one to one performance development reviews/appraisals and contribute to the identification of own development needs.
• Ensure full compliance with the GOAL’s health and safety policy and all locally agreed safe methods of work.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Actively introduce and promote the Link IPA services with service users, colleagues and others within and outside the organization, particularly, with the I/NGOs, UN agencies and other interagency partners.
• Provide appropriate information to clients, professionals, colleagues and others in order to maximize good decision-making processes.
• Develop curriculums and define specific didactic materials for basic group sessions on stress management, psychosocial and emotional well-being, etc.
• Revise and adapt existing Link Stress Management Curriculum to support children and adults in identifying, and learning techniques to deal with stress, emotions and expressing emotions and feelings though different mediums.
• Ensure that all group sessions curriculums are in line with ICRC`s Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.
• Ensure that design of group sessions and materials to be used during the sessions are age and gender appropriate and culturally sensitive.
• Plan and conduct regular group awareness/information session on stress management, basic psychosocial and emotional well-being, parenting and GBV, etc. related topics with appropriate objectives.
• Throughout the group sessions be vigilant and detect persons who may have serious forms of distress or mental health conditions and in need of (or can benefit) supports from specialist mental health services offered by other I/NGOs and to state services.
• Ensure that by design and environment of group sessions, psychosocial issues (serious or otherwise) are normalized (in terms of cultural norms, beliefs and stereotyping, etc.) and people are sensitized/encouraged to confidentiality seek help directly from specialist agencies themselves or through referral/accompaniment supports of Link staff.
• Throughout the group sessions appropriately encourage and inform beneficiaries that they can confidentiality approach to Link staff when and as they feel that they need individual counselling support for their (or someone they know) psychosocial issues.
• Ensure and maintain safe, comfortable, confidential and therapeutic space for stress management, PSS information and awareness group sessions.
• Conduct home visits when it is necessary and appropriate.
• Sensitize Link protection staff in recognizing common psychosocial issues and disorders in their works with refugees.
• Support capacity development of Link staff on basic counselling theory and technics.
• Represent Link Program in MHPSS and other related working groups as requested by the supervisor.
  Support Link social services officer in mapping of specialist PSS and MHPSS services in SE region.
• Keep a record of attendance and pre-post-test of all group sessions provided.
• Ensure that all activities are duly recorded in the database in respect to client confidentiality.

Referral Specific Responsibilities Duties

• In collaboration with the Link teams, interagency referral focal point and statutory services officer identify and map the organizations specialized in PSS and MHPSS services in the cities and districts where GOAL Link program is operational and ensure that information entered to the Link Services Map and regularly updated.
• In close coordination and collaboration with Link staff, particularly with social services officers, ensure that the target population has access to mental and psychosocial supports available from specialist agencies through the Link referral and accompaniment services.
• Through close communication with the Link interagency focal point, ensure proper follow-up, reporting and documentation of all PSS/MHPSS referral cases.
• Throughout the group sessions be vigilant and detect persons with protection concerns and inform the Link IPA team immediately, in consultation with the persons in question.

Requirements (essential)

• Turkish Citizenship
• Graduate/Certified psychologist.
• Have theoretical and practical knowledge and experiences in group dynamics, social and/or psychotherapeutic group work including designing age appropriate group information and awareness sessions.
• Familiarity/prior experience working with refugees would be a distinct advantage;
• At least 1 to 2 years’ work experience preferably in I/NGO environment.
• Prior experience in a similar role.
• Fluent English with either Arabic and/or Turkish language skills.
• Prior experiences in case management approach.
• A self-motivated person, prioritises well, works under pressure and manages time and tasks efficiently and effectively.
• Understands and is committed to diversity and equality and treats everyone with respect.
• Working knowledge and practices with Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.

General terms and conditions

GOAL has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Child Protection Policy, which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants and children from exploitation. GOAL also has a confidentiality policy ensuring the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of GOAL, acquired in the course of duty, to any other person or organisation without authority, except in the normal execution of duty. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to these policies any job offer made is also subject to police clearance. GOAL is an equal opportunities employer.

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document. Any published closing dates are estimated.  Due to the nature of GOAL’s work we aim to fill vacancies as quickly as possible. This means that we will close adverts as soon as we have found the right candidate and this may be before the published closing date.  We would therefore advise interested applicants to submit an application as early as possible.

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply now button and fill out the application form. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applications close 23 September 2019.

Thank you.