Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality. A worldwide movement MSF was founded in Paris, France in 1971. Its principles are described in the organisation’s founding charter. It is a non-profit, self-governed organisation. Today, MSF is a worldwide movement of 24 associations, bound together as MSF International, based in Switzerland. Thousands of health professionals, logistical and administrative staff – most of whom are hired locally – work on programmes in some 70 countries worldwide. Humanitarian action MSF’s work is based on humanitarian principles. We are committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. MSF operates independently. We conduct our own evaluations on the ground to determine people’s needs. More than 90 per cent of our overall funding comes from millions of private sources, not governments. MSF is neutral. We do not take sides in armed conflicts, we provide care on the basis of need, and we push for independent access to victims of conflict as required under international humanitarian law. Bearing witness and speaking out MSF medical teams often witness violence and neglect in the course of their work, largely in regions that receive scant international attention. At times, MSF may speak out publicly in an effort to bring a forgotten crisis to public attention, to alert the public to abuses occurring beyond the headlines, to criticise the inadequacies of the aid system, or to challenge the diversion of humanitarian aid for political interests. Quality medical care MSF rejects the idea that poor people deserve third-rate medical care and strives to provide high-quality care to patients. In 1999, when MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the organisation announced the money would go towards raising awareness of and fighting against neglected diseases. Through the Access Campaign, and in partnership with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, this work has helped lower the price of HIV/AIDS treatment and stimulated research and development for medicines to treat malaria and neglected diseases like sleeping sickness and kala azar.
- Experience 1 year
- Location Sokoto
Main Objective and Responsibility of the Position
- Perform counselling and/or education sessions to patients, following different medical and mental health MSF protocols and procedures, in order to improve their psychosocial condition.
Accountabilities
- Assess patient physical capacities, using different procedures (e.g. functional capacity tests) in order to set up treatment objectives with the patient and therefore improve patient’s health and wellbeing.
- Elaborate and implement physiotherapy programmes, including physiotherapy exercises, manipulations, massages, education, utilization of physiotherapy devices and orthopedic equipment, educating and advising patients and their careers on how to prevent and/or improve conditions, in order to accelerate and improve activity results.
- Train patients and caretakers on how to avoid injury in order to create preventive behaviors.
- Actively monitor and report physiotherapy activities (correctly filling in patient files, forms, statistics, and reports) and analyse these statistics in order to improve quality service, preserving patient’s data traceability.
- Take care of physiotherapy equipment, managing the stock, making orders according to activity and cleaning up the equipment, in order to ensure its continuous availability and quality of service.
- Report to the technical referent any problem arising in the service, especially the loss/ robbery/damage of medical equipment or medicines in order to implement the appropriate measures.
MSF Section / Context Specific Accountabilities
- Ensure individual and/or group counselling and psychosocial support (awareness, psychoeducation) to the patients and caregivers at Noma Children Hospital (Noma patients) and Specialist Hospital (ITFC unit patients and caregivers, if set by the project) and other MSF Sokoto project target populations. To identify the psychological, emotional and behavioural needs and develop a treatment plan, according to the universal survivor centred principles.
- Conduct in-take and psychosocial assessments of each client
- Provide PFA, one-on-one emotional support counselling and guidance to IDPs, survivors of SV and IPV (children, adolescents, adults and elders) and other vulnerable groups.
- Provide group counselling when needed
- Develop action plans to address patients’ physical, emotional, psychological, social, protection, and financial needs and provide follow up to ensure provision of needed services.
- Give survivors information (psychoeducation) and help them identify their needs and options (coping mechanisms).
- Participate in the setting, implementation and reporting of psychosocial activities and other group interventions with specific target population (Noma patients, noma caregivers, ITFC patients, ITFC caregivers, others).
- Seek out patients that have defaulted while on supportive management in collaboration with the outreach team.
- Participate fully during patients’ review for surgical intervention and multi-disciplinary team ward round.
- Collaboration with MOH and MSF medical team in the management of patient and other related hospital activities.
- Work in close collaboration with the other team members – health promotion (HP) team, medical team and other actors regarding community awareness raising about Noma and the importance of MHPSS component on ITFC interventions, stigma, health consequences, comprehensive medical support, including psychosocial needs and importance to access to care and assisting with sensitization of new staff on the importance of Mental Health in Sokoto MSF interventions.
- When possible, ensure the awareness raising activities in the community in conjunction with the HP team so that they can understand about the involvement of MH in Noma stigma, body image, self-steem and promote initiatives to get the support.
- Conduct focus group discussion with family members, community members and neighbours in the field or in the health care.
- Work in collaboration with the medical team (doctors, nurses and other actors) to ensure comprehensive support for the Noma patients and caregivers and Specialists Hospital ITFC unit patients and caregivers (based on MSF MHPSS intervention plan).
- Assist with initiation of culturally sensitive community support programs in collaboration with the outreach team.
- Take an active role in trainings/interventions and support others when necessary in doing sensitization for MSF staff or external partners about MHPSS.
Requirements (Qualifications / Experience / Knowledge)
To apply for this role applicants MUST meet the following criteria:
Education:
- University Degree in Counselling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, General Psychology, Gender Studies, Social Work, Guidance and Counselling or other similar degree/diploma. (Psychology background will be given priority). Certificate of training in SGBV desirable.
Experience:
- 12 months of relevant experience essential. Experience with NGO desirable.
- Previous experience working with children and families.
- A caring and warm manner and ability to work with children who are physically and emotionally in pain.
- Demonstrable experience in training community groups and/or psychoeducation.
- Good computer skills (Ms Excel, Word, Internet).
- Willingness and ability to train other medical staff in psychosocial support.
Languages:
- Fluent in Hausa and English (both spoken and written)
Knowledge:
- Essential computer literacy (word, excel)
Competencies:
- Results oriented, teamwork, flexibility, commitment, service oriented, stress management.
Others:
- Able to work in a multidisciplinary team.
- Good organizational skills and able to prioritize tasks.
- Able to handle information with discretion and confidentiality.
- Creativity, musical and/or artistic skills.
Method of Application
Note
- MSF is an equal opportunity employer, both men and women are encouraged to apply.
- Please note only short-listed candidates will be notified and invited for interview; MSF Belgium takes this opportunity to thank all potential candidates for their application.
- Dual Employment is considered gross misconduct as contained in MSF Belgium Internal Regulations (IR) guideline and hence not acceptable.
- Applications should be sent through the indicated channel else application will not be entertained.
- Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the next steps.
- MSF reserves the right to cancel any step or whole of the recruitment process at any stage.
