Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
National Headquarters
684-686, Red Crescent Sarak, Bara Moghbazar, Dhaka-1217

Vacancy Announcement

Red Cross - Red Crescent movement is the largest volunteer organization in the world. Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) is a national society of the movement, constituted on 31 March 1973 by the President's Order No. 26 of 1973 with retrospective effect from 16 December 1971. This is the biggest humanitarian organization in Bangladesh. As an auxiliary to the government, the Society provides humanitarian assistance to the vulnerable people over the last 48 years and has undertaken a wide range of activities in humanitarian response, disaster management, health, capacity building and in promoting Red Cross/ Red Crescent ideals and principles.

Currently Bangladesh Red Crescent Society is looking for a suitable Bangladeshi national for the following position under Population Movement Operation (PMO), Cox’s Bazar:

Scope of the work:

This position will be working closely with medical teams in Primary Health Care centre with an aim to:

• Improve the mental health and psychosocial conditions of the beneficiaries
• Support health centre staff and volunteers take care of their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing
• Support community outreach volunteers provide quality psychosocial support to affected individuals and families.
• Strengthen the referral system between the health centre, specialized MHPSS service providers and the MHPSS focal point in the camp and host communities
• With overall guidance from Health & Environment Coordinator, the position will be directly supervised by PHC officer with technical support from the BDRCS PSS Focal point in PMO.

Objective 1: Improve the mental health and psychosocial conditions of affected individuals.

Responsibilities and tasks:

• Observe and identify individuals in distress who may require basic psychosocial support services at the health centre or at family level.
• Provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) to patients, care givers or children in distress at the health centre or in homes.
• Conduct play and recreational activities with children at the centre as part of their emotional support.
• Assess individuals who may present severe symptoms of distress and make safe referrals for specialized care and management
• Conduct follow up to the people supported to ensure their recovery and normal functioning.
• Document store beneficiary information in a safe and confidential manner

Objective 2: Support health centre staff and volunteers take care of their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Conduct basic training in Psychological First Aid skills for health centre staff and volunteers.
• Establish and support staff and volunteer care system through training in self-care and stress management skills
• Observe, identify, and provide individual or group psychological First Aid to health staff and volunteers in distress.
• Provide lay counselling and stress management to staff and volunteers with severe distress.
• Identify and refer staff and volunteers with severe mental health conditions to specialized service providers.

Objective 3: Support community outreach volunteers to provide quality psychosocial support to affected individuals and families.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Orient /train community outreach volunteers in psychological First Aid   and self-care skill
• Guide community outreach volunteers in observing and identifying individuals in distress at community level including recognizing people with severe distress for referral
• Guide community outreach volunteers to provide basic psychological first aid to individuals and family member through outreach
• Coach, mentor and supervise community outreach volunteers during the implementation of psychosocial activities at community level

Objective 4: Strengthen the referral system between the health centre, specialized MHPSS service providers and the MHPSS focal point in the camp and host communities.

Responsibilities & Tasks:

• Adapt and prepare referral guidelines, materials, and tools for use at the health centre and by the community outreach volunteers
• Collaborate with the camp MHPSS focal point and other specialized MHPSS service providers to develop and use referral pathways for severe mental health conditions
• Orient community outreach volunteers in the use of the referral tools and procedures for safe and dignified referrals and follow ups
• Document and store in a confidential manner, all referral cases being managed and or closed.
• Producing timely progress reports, including both quantitative and qualitative information, on MHPSS activities.
• Submitting relevant and timely MHPSS data to PHC Officer.
• manage and use the MHPSS materials, guideline, and tools in close coordination with the PSS focal point at PMO
• Prepare and submit monthly technical report to the PSS focal point at PMO detailing individual’s key issues and concerns for further action.

Others:

• To maintain good socio-professional relationships with national and international partners
• To attend trainings when required
• To attend team meetings and to give qualitative inputs
• Be flexible in performing his/her duties to ensure that beneficiaries are getting good quality services
• Strictly respect confidentiality of data, property of beneficiaries and respect confidentiality regarding the content of clinical interviews, except when exchanging information with the medical team in charge and within a professional frame

Qualification required:

• Minimum Graduate in psychology/counselling psychology/social works/behavioural sciences.
• Experience in Psychological First Aid activities in a camp setting
• Experience in basic/ lay counselling (individual or group) especially with adults
• MHPSS trainings and experience can be also considered if they are from different background. 

Skills required:

• Minimum one year of experience in similar position with National or International NGOs
• Training and facilitation skills

Personal skills required:

• With expertise and experience Mental Health and Psychosocial Support field
• Fluent in Bangla and basic English.
• Capacity to communicate in Rohingya/Chittagonian language is required.
• Confidence in case identification and communication with clients.
• Work as team player and has flexibility in his/her work.
• He/she can work independently and innovatively to develop and implement supervision and training activities that help expand community participation.
• Experience working in humanitarian emergency settings is an asset.
• An understanding of and commitment to BDRCS and RCRC movements mission and values.

Personal qualities:

• Adhere to the 7 fundamental principles of Red Cross and Red Crescent movement
• Act at all times in accordance with the Code of Conduct of RCRC Movement
• Honest and high level of integrity.

If you think you are competent enough for the position, please submit your application through BDJobs online system on or before 5:00 pm, 11 November 2021.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
BDRCS is an equal opportunity employer