This position is being filled on a rolling basis.

SECOURS ISLAMIQUE FRANCE (SIF) is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance and development aid worldwide. Since 1991, SIF has been working across more than 20 countries.

In Pakistan, we have been actively serving vulnerable communities & marginalized groups since 2010 by providing them humanitarian assistance during emergencies and also support them through the implementing of sustainable development programs in the areas of Child Protection & child Wellbeing, WASH, Food Security & Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Education during both early recovery and development phases.

SIF is currently providing its services in all provinces of Pakistan, including; Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, KPK, and has a presence in 33 most vulnerable districts. In light of increasing challenges ‘such as’ inflation, illiteracy, poverty, and climate change, as well as their association with limited and shrinking resources like; water, food, and livelihood opportunities, SIF believes that there is a high need for enhanced collaboration between NGOs and government institutions. SIF is fully confident that by sharing experiences, innovations, and lessons learned under such coordination, we can collectively improve the well-being of children and alleviate the miseries of the communities across Pakistan.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING

As part of the implementation of the Child Safeguarding Policy (CSP), specify here the level of risk associated with child safeguarding (0, 1 or 2) depending on whether or not the position involves contact with children (in particular access to children and/or personal data) and, if so, specify the type of interaction. 

Reminder:

- Level 0: no contact with children

- Level 1: access to children and/or personal data about children

- Level 2: access to children and/or personal data about children and other risk factors such as frequent direct contact with children, contact in isolated locations/without direct supervision, contact with particularly vulnerable children (disability, children without parental protection, etc.).

Job Description:

SIF plans to implement a Child Protection Project across urban, semi-urban, and rural areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Tharparkar, where differing socio-economic dynamics significantly shape child protection risks. In target areas heighten children’s vulnerability to neglect, child labor, absence of civic rights, and early marriage as families adopt negative coping strategies. In contrast, urban and semi-urban settings indicate various threats to children however, this often results in reduced parental supervision, leaving children exposed to protection risks such as exploitation, abuse, and harmful peer influences. These contrasting contexts underline the need for a tailored child protection approach that addresses both protection and caregiving gaps to ensure children’s safety, well-being, and development.

Lack of access to child protection service places vulnerable children at significant risk of manipulation, exploitation, and harmful coping mechanisms. In urban and peri-urban areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, children particularly those who have lost one or both parents face serious challenges in survival and protection, as many guardians lack the financial capacity to adequately support their well-being. This often leads to school dropout, neglect, and in some cases abandonment, while the high cost of education further limits access. Additionally, weak infrastructure and poor quality of public education reduce learning outcomes and retention. Gender-specific risks are also evident, with adolescent orphan girls being pushed into early and forced marriages due to socio-economic pressures, while boys are frequently engaged in hazardous and exploitative labor such as work in automobile workshops, markets, and transport sectors, exposing them to further protection risks including abuse and exploitation.

While working with Children in ICT/RWP, focus group discussions on child protection revealed a range of critical and interrelated risks affecting children and families. Serious protection concerns, including child sexual abuse, peer-to-peer violence, and cases of abduction, were also highlighted. These findings underscore the urgent need for strengthened child protection systems, psychosocial support, and community-based prevention and response mechanisms in the area.

Keeping in view the above context, the Case Management & Referral Officer / Psychologist will play a key role in supporting vulnerable children and families by strengthening their coping mechanisms, resilience, and overall well-being through the provision of appropriate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), particularly for those experiencing psychosocial distress and/or mental health conditions. The incumbent will be responsible for delivering direct mental health services, including individual counselling through home visits, as well as facilitating group sessions with children, caregivers, and community members to promote positive coping strategies and emotional well-being.

In addition, the Case Management & Referral Officer / Psychologist will process identified cases requiring specialized care and initiate referrals to qualified psychiatrists and relevant service providers. Case Management & Referral Officer / Psychiatrists will conduct comprehensive assessments, including medical and psychological evaluations where necessary, to better understand the individual’s mental and physical health status. Based on these assessments, they will diagnose conditions and develop appropriate treatment plans, ensuring a holistic approach that considers emotional well-being, medical history, and family dynamics. This integrated approach will ensure that vulnerable children receive timely, appropriate, and continuum of care within a strengthened child protection framework.

He/She will conduct comprehensive, age-appropriate assessments of orphan children and their families prior to initiating counselling services, ensuring that individual needs, risks, and vulnerabilities are clearly identified. Based on these assessments, the Psychologist will plan and implement tailored counselling interventions, including regular home visits, in close coordination with the Child Welfare Project Manager and relevant field staff. All counselling activities will be designed in consultation with the child and caregiver, ensuring a child-centered, participatory, and culturally sensitive approach within the broader child protection framework.

He/She will also ensure regular reporting on the progress of program implementation and maintenance of confidential information related to sponsored children’s/families.

The Case Management & Referral Officer / Psychologist will lead awareness raising activities linked to mental health, to conduct mental health assessment of children and their caregivers and capacity building on PSS” (including identification of psychological cases and psychological first aid as well as referral to relevant services providers etc).

Essential Job Function:

MISSIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Integrated Child Protection and Psychosocial Support Intervention

o   Conduct initial mental health assessments and screenings of identified, suspected, or reported children and their families.

o   Carry out regular field monitoring through individual home visits to assess wellbeing, protection concerns, and case progress.

o   Conduct school visits, as required, to monitor children’s academic progress, behavior, and psychosocial wellbeing in coordination with teachers and school administration.

o   Contribute to the development and updating of individualized case management plans in collaboration with Child Protection Officers and Assistants.

o   Design and utilize standardized case management forms, ensuring accurate documentation in line with data protection protocols.

o   Support the implementation and follow-up of case management plans to ensure timely and effective service delivery.

o   Develop resource materials and design psychosocial awareness sessions based on the wellbeing model for targeted community groups.

o   Facilitate structured, activity-based psychosocial sessions (play, storytelling, games, drawing, and other child-friendly approaches) tailored to the interests and needs of children and women.

o   Provide individual and group counselling sessions to enhance children’s confidence, resilience, and positive coping mechanisms, and conduct psychosocial behavioral change sessions with families at community level.

o   Provide counselling and guidance to caregivers on psychosocial issues, including managing personal distress, supporting children’s emotional needs, promoting positive parenting practices, and raising awareness on harmful practices and constructive coping strategies.

o   Apply appropriate methodologies for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) counselling and provide emotional support to sponsored and vulnerable families.

o   Plan and deliver capacity-building sessions on Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Psychosocial Support (PSS).

o   Conduct Life Skills-Based Education (LSBE) sessions with adolescents in target communities to strengthen resilience, decision-making, and social skills.

Stakeholder Coordination and Referral Management

o   Develop and maintain an active coordination network with mental health and psychosocial service providers at local and district levels.

o   Coordinate closely with Logistics, Finance, and other relevant internal departments to ensure smooth and timely implementation of project activities.

o   Identify and map local partners and organizations operating in the same geographical areas to avoid duplication of services and promote complementarity and efficient resource utilization.

o   Support coordination efforts with INGOs, NGOs, clusters, and other relevant external stakeholders.

o   Establish and strengthen referral pathways with institutions and organizations providing mental health and psychosocial services to ensure timely and appropriate case referrals.

o   Coordinate with child protection actors, health workers, social workers, and other service providers to ensure integrated and comprehensive support for children and their families.

MHPSS Quality Assurance and Impact Monitoring

o   Monitor and evaluate mental health-related activities.

o   Monitor and evaluate the impact of its interventions at individual level and at group level (wellbeing monitoring, any decrease in symptoms associated with mental disorder and psychosocial distress) using quantitative and qualitative data.

o   Assist program team in conducting field assessments.

o   Develop weekly and monthly reports of mental health activities.

o   Hold monthly / quarterly meetings with clusters / committees.

o   Capitalize on lessons learnt and provide recommendations to improve MHPSS activities.

Reporting Documentation and Data Protection Management

o   Develop and submit monthly field activity plans and progress reports in a timely manner.

o   Prepare and submit individual case reports and counselling session reports to mental health services as required.

o   Document and submit minutes of stakeholders’, cluster, and coordination meetings.

o   Collect, document, and compile monthly impact highlights and success stories.

o   Maintain accurate and systematic records of all mental health-related activities, including home visits, LSBE sessions, cluster visits, and coordination meetings.

o   Maintain and regularly update a secure database of beneficiaries, families/guardians, and relevant stakeholders’ contacts.

o   Ensure strict protection of beneficiaries’ personal data in both hard copy and digital formats, maintaining confidentiality and high ethical standards.

o   Share only necessary information within the SIF mission, between the mission and Head Office, and with relevant services, strictly on a “need-to-know” basis.

Requirements:

Education: Masters in Psychology, Social Psychology, Clinical Psychology. 

Experience: 

-        Minimum of three to five years’ experience in humanitarian work with natinal and international NGOs providing counselling and/or psycho-social support to vulnerable groups such as children, women, and persons with disability, child related projects/program/social mobilization, field work as well as knowledge of local community.

-        Good knowledge of IASC Guidelines on mental health and psychosocial support

-        Strong working knowledge of diagnostic techniques and a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities.

Languages:  Fluency in spoken and written English and ability to speak local Language is required.

Technical Skills

- Ability to assess mental health status in children and to develop case management plans.
- Ability to observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress.
- Ability to evaluate the progress of MHPSS interventions and to provide recommendations for improvement.
- Good knowledge of referral SOPs and active referral pathways.
- Strong interpersonal and communications skills with children of different ages.
- Ability to analyze quickly and make decisions in tense situations.
- High emotional intelligence and resilience, empathic quality, and self- control in difficult situations.

Knowledge: - Essential computer literacy (MS Applications)

Competencies:

- Respect and promote SIF values and mandate, and report to the line manager any non-respect of SIF’s policies amongst the teams or partners.
- Address needs and requests in a Professional way.
- Always interact with children in presence of their parents or caregivers.
- Always respect beneficiaries’ confidentiality.
- Report any incident or act that causes harm to beneficiaries or to others.
- Aware of child protection/safeguarding concept.
- Excellent interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Able to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different cultural backgrounds.
- Strong cross-cultural communication skills.
- Rigorous and polite.