Social Worker / Psychologist

Social Worker / Psychologist

Position for the post of Social Worker / Psychologist

Background

The Jamaican Red Cross (JRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) express their commitment to value their partnership in contributing to the strengthening of their mutual capacities in the field of reducing the impact of violence in urban contexts.

The JRC and the ICRC have identified the project ““Reducing the impact of violence and expanding opportunities for youth”” to be implemented. The project will strengthen community resilience by improving their capacities to cope with the impact of violence and expand the opportunities available to youth. The objective of the sports-based, behaviour change/development project is to reduce the incidence of of violent and delinquent behaviour among at-risk-children and youth in the selected violence prone communities of Central Village in St. Catherine and Canaan Heights in Clarendon.

Building on the positive impact of the existing Jamaica Red Cross School of Transformation which targets 1-19 year old youth who have either fallen through out of or never entered the formal school system, the after-school programme will focus on changing behaviour by translating sports skills to life skills through a methodology that emphasizes the six core skills: teamwork, communication, discipline, respect, a focus on results and continual self-improvement.

As part of regular after-school sporting activities, youth will be taught by trained coaches how to become problem solvers, how to resolve conflicts and express themselves without resorting to violence and how to build better relationships.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Directly supports the implementation of activities in the communities including recruitment and management of volunteers. Provide psychosocial support to the project team and stakeholders of the project. 

• Plan, organize and follow through with home and school visits
• Setting up a functional referral system
• Plan, organize and execute (in collaboration with the Project Manager) group and/or individual counselling.
• Plan, organize and execute (in collaboration with the Project Manager) psycho-educational sessions/workshops for participants to identify potential impacts of violence.
• Plan, organize and execute (in collaboration with the Project Manager and First Aid Coordinator) first aid course classes to be carried out by JRC volunteers.
• Utilize psychological and psychosocial theories and practices to implement sessions and workshops
• Provide sensitization on psychosocial issues to stakeholders.
• Act as a psychosocial reference point for target audience to benefit from the afterschool activities.
• Develop and execute protection strategies for the project team

The successful candidate must have a Diploma/ degree in any area related to the social sciences, such as Social Work and/or from a recognized University.

At least two years of work experience in performing duties related to social work and/or psychology.

Experience with Red Cross or any other NGO is an asset.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Superior oral and written communication.
• Highly organized and must be able to multi task 
• Excellent time management and planning skills
• Ability to solve practical problem and react quickly and calmly to changing circumstance demonstration discretion in all matters related to the assignment, including confidential information seen and heard. Good oral and written communication
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy in the performance of duties.
• Ability to observe and maintain confidentiality in the performance of duties
• Ability to cope with traumatic situations
• Ability to provide effective psychosocial support to target audience