Psychologist

About GOAL:

GOAL is an international humanitarian aid agency with operations in 13 countries in The Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Last year it reached more than six million people in need in nutrition, health, livelihoods, and emergency response programmes.

GOAL in Turkey:

GOAL has been implementing programmes in Turkey since 2016 and has an open-ended registration to operate in the country. In addition to 62 dedicated staff members based in our field offices in Adana, Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa and in administrative offices in Ankara and Hatay, GOAL Turkey also benefits from administrative supports and technical expertise provided by GOAL Syria Response Programme’s Turkey-based staff members.

GOAL Turkey benefits from strong relationships with key stakeholders within the country’s national refugee response framework and has established trust within targeted communities. Our contribution to the national refugee response in Turkey has focused on addressing gaps and responding to identified needs in health service delivery, social security provision, and the protection of vulnerable and marginalized refugees in southern Turkey. Our current project targets nomadic and semi-nomadic refugee groups and seasonal agricultural workers in Adana, Şanlıurfa and Gaziantep. In 2020, GOAL reached over 25,000 refugees with targeted protection support activities.

GOAL is currently implementing two projects (ECHO funded LINK and PRM funded GREEN) in Turkey. The LINK program targets refugees from nomadic / semi-nomadic backgrounds and those engaged in seasonal agricultural labour. LINK has been designed to 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 enable highly vulnerable refugees to access to basic, social and protective services available under the provisions of Temporary and International Protection regulations in Turkey. The Green program aims to improve the socioeconomic inclusion, resilience and self-sufficiency of highly vulnerable/excluded women and girls from host and refugee communities (Syrians as well as those living in program locations under the international protection regulation) including nomadic communities and seasonal agriculture workers from both communities through integrated and market driven livelihood opportunities and protection services, including language courses and vocational skills training on greenhouse production and agriculture; case management (CM)/coaching services, establishment of a women cooperative, protection outreach, information provision and awareness raising; and provision of special needs and individual protection assistance services.

Purpose of the role

Based in either Gaziantep and managed by the Deputy Program Managers, the position holder will be supporting and working in close collaboration with one of the LINK team operating in Gaziantep. Overall, she/he will be responsible for planning and conducting regular group awareness and information sessions on stress management, basic psychosocial and emotional well-being, parenting and GBV, etc. related topics with appropriate objectives.

Duties and responsibilities

• Work with LINK team in Gaziantep and other professionals from a range of organizations to develop services that deliver the best possible outcomes for vulnerable/marginalized individuals and their
• Work co-operatively with other agencies and stakeholders, particularly with the agencies specialized in PSS and MHPSS
• Contribute to forums, coordination and working groups meetings, as agreed upon with the line manager, to develop and nurture fruitful referral
• Develop and sustain a functioning referral pathway with the local, national, international with the agencies specialized in PSS and MHPSS services in the southeast
• Collate information on needs and service gaps regarding PSS and MHPSS needs in the region to inform Link service
• 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
• Work with supervisors and peers in harmony to achieve LINK work plans, objectives, and targets.
• Participate in one-to-one performance development reviews/appraisals and contribute to the identification of own development
• Represent GOAL Turkey’s Protection Program when requested.
• Ensure impartiality, and confidentiality of beneficiaries, at all times.
• Ensure adherence to internationally recognized protection principles, standards, and relevant international and local regulations.
• Ensure adherence to internationally recognized PSS and MHPSS principles, standards, and relevant international and local
• 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).
• Ensure full compliance with the GOAL’s health and safety policy and all locally agreed safe methods of work.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Develop curriculums and define specific didactic materials for basic group sessions on stress management, psychosocial and emotional well-being,
• 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
• Ensure that all group sessions curriculums are in line with ICRCs Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency
• Ensure that design of group sessions and materials to be used during the sessions are age and gender appropriate and culturally
• Provide appropriate information to clients, professionals, colleagues, and others in order to maximize good decision-making
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Conduct home visits when it is necessary and
• Sensitize LINK protection staff in recognizing common psychosocial issues and disorders in their works with
• 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
• 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
• 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’s LINK program is operational and ensure that information entered to the Link Services Map and regularly
• 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
• Through close communication with the LINK interagency focal point, ensure proper follow-up, reporting and documentation of all PSS/MHPSS referral
• Throughout the group sessions be vigilant and identify persons with protection concerns and inform the Link IPA team immediately, in consultation with the persons in

Requirements (essential)

• Turkish Citizenship
• Graduate/certified
• Have theoretical and practical knowledge and experiences in group dynamics, social and/or psychotherapeutic group work including designing age-appropriate group information and awareness
• Familiarity/prior experience working with refugees would be a distinct
• At least 1 to 2 years’ work experience preferably in I/NGO
• Prior experience in a similar
• Fluent English with either Arabic and/or Turkish language
• Effectively understands and is committed to diversity and equality and treats everyone with respect.
• Competent at using Microsoft Office software such as Excel for data analysis and presentation, and PowerPoint for communicating findings in a clear and compelling way.
• Self-sufficient, proactive, self-motivating work style.
• Good team player, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work in cooperation and within different cultural environments.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to prioritize and cope with pressing timelines and capacity and willingness to be rather flexible in challenging working circumstances.

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 program 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 organization 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 offers 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 apply as early as possible.

Thank you.