Psychologist cum Social Case Worker - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

JOB PURPOSE 

Psychologists can play a crucial role in supporting children and families affected by abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This can be achieved through conducting comprehensive psychological assessments to identify emotional and behavioral needs, which in turn can inform the development of individualized treatment and case plans and counseling services tailored to each child's specific needs. In collaboration with social workers and Child Protection Officers, psychologists can provide comprehensive care to at-risk children and conduct crisis interventions to offer support in emergency situations. KPCPWC believe that the formation of multidisciplinary teams involving mental health professionals, such as Psychologists, Social Case Workers and Child Protection Officer, are considered to be effective in improving outcomes for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Following are the specific roles and responsibilities of the Psychologist-cum Social Case Worker, which he / she shall perform under the supervision of the Child Protection Officer:

1: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT: 

• Conducting comprehensive psychological assessments of children and families to identify emotional and behavioral needs.
• Developing individualized Case Plans and providing counseling services to children and families affected by abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Maintaining and providing effective case management and referral systems, including the cases referred through the Child Protection Helpline 1121.
• Collaborating with social workers and Child Protection Officers to provide comprehensive care to children at risk and making referrals for specialized services when required.
• Conducting crisis interventions and providing support to children and families in emergency situations.
• Providing consultation and training to Child Protection Unit staff on mental health issues and best practices in psychological intervention.
• Maintaining accurate and confidential records of all psychological assessments, treatment plans, and counseling sessions.
• Providing regular updates to the Child Protection Officer on the progress of cases.
• Participating in case conferencing, case review and multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure the best possible outcomes for children at risk.
• Advocating for the rights and well-being of children who are victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
• Providing training and education to other professionals involved in the care of children who are victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
• Conducting research and evaluation to inform best practices in the field of child protection and welfare.
• Facilitating Social Case Worker for timely entry of cases into the database and maintaining accurate records of cases in accordance with the protocols of the CP-IMS and the Case Management and Referral System/procedures.
• Assisting the Child Protection Unit in establishing Community-Based Child Protection Committees, and delivering essential training to committee members as needed.
• Maintaining the counseling room according to the standards to provide an appropriate and conducive environment for children in need of psychosocial support.
• Identifying children in need of psychosocial support and registering and receiving cases from social case workers and child protection officers for the provision of psychosocial support.
• Providing individual, family and group therapies to children and their families and caregivers.
• Consulting with medical personnel, legal authorities, and other support organizations to properly manage the cases in accordance with the defined Standard Operating Procedures of CMRS.
• Facilitating the CPO in court matters and cases, including appearing before the court and submitting comprehensive psychological reports to the court promptly as required.
• Collaborating with other professionals to provide psychological services to children and make interventions within the child\'s psychosocial environment.
• Performing any other professional task assigned by the CPO and the Commission, and reporting to the designated focal person as required, while ensuring compliance with the KP CP & W Act 2010, as well as the rules and regulations established therein.

2: STANDARDS SETTING AND APPLICATION:

• Non-Discrimination: Psychologists should not discriminate against any child on the basis of their gender, race, ethnicity, language, religion, national origin, or any other status.
• Best Interests of the Child: Psychologists should always act in the best interests of the child. This means that their decisions and actions should prioritize the child's well-being and take into account their individual needs and circumstances.
• Participation: Psychologists should involve children in the process of decision-making, and respect their views and opinions.
• Confidentiality: Psychologists should uphold the privacy and confidentiality of the child, while simultaneously ensuring the child\'s safety from harm. As part of their role through the CPO, they should obtain informed consent from the child, as well as their parents or guardians, prior to disclosing any information.
• Competence: Psychologists should have the necessary qualifications, training, and experience to provide effective and appropriate services to children. They should also engage in ongoing professional development to stay up-to-date with best practices and emerging research.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Psychologists should be sensitive to the cultural and linguistic diversity of children and their families. They should respect their values and beliefs, and be aware of how these may impact the child's mental health and well-being.
• Prevention: Psychologists should work to prevent mental health problems in children by promoting positive mental health, resilience, and well-being. They should also be aware of risk factors that may contribute to mental health problems and take steps to mitigate these.
• Intervention: When mental health problems do arise, psychologists should provide evidence-based interventions that are appropriate to the child's age, developmental level, and cultural background. They should also work collaboratively with the child and their family, and with other professionals involved in the child's care.
• Court Testimony: Psychologists may be required to provide testimony in court cases to support the work of the Child Protection Officer. They should possess the necessary skills and expertise to effectively communicate their professional opinions and recommendations.

3: MONITORING, DOCUMENTATION, REPORTING AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT: 

• Monitoring: Psychologist will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the children under his/her care, including their mental and emotional well-being. This may involve conducting regular psychological assessments, tracking changes in their behavior or symptoms over time, and monitoring their physical health and safety through collaboration with Child Protection Officer, Social Case Worker, and healthcare professionals.
• Documentation: Psychologist will need to keep detailed records of interactions with the children, including any assessments, evaluations, or interventions that he/she This may include psychological assessments, treatment plans, and counseling sessions and should comply with all relevant laws and regulations related to data privacy and confidentiality of KPCPWC.
• Reporting: Psychologist will need to report any concerns or suspicions of abuse or neglect to the Child Protection Officer mandated under the KP Child Protection and Welfare Act 2010 including any changes in the children's mental or emotional well-being, as well as any progress they make during the course of their treatment and case management process.
• Information Management: Psychologists must ensure the secure management and storage of all information pertaining to the children under their care. This involves maintaining strict confidentiality of electronic and paper records, and refraining from sharing sensitive information with unauthorized individuals.

REQUIRED EDUCATION

• At least second-class masters or 4-year (post-intermediate) bachelor’s degree in Psychology from a recognized University.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• At least 2 years of experience in providing psychological and psychosocial services to children and families affected by abuse, neglect, and exploitation

REQUIRED SKILLS 

• Strong knowledge of psychological and psychosocial assessments and intervention techniques
• Ability to work effectively in a team and in a culturally diverse environment
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information
• Willingness to travel to various locations within the province as needed.

Disclaimer:

• MicroMerger reserves the right to reject any or all applications or change the number of positions at any stage without assigning any reason or as per requirements.
• Any Candidate/Applicant who attempts to or influences the recruitment process or the Selection Panel by any means shall be disqualified immediately.
• MicroMerger will not consider applicants not fulfilling the requirements/criteria mentioned above.
• Incomplete applications will not be entertained.
• MicroMerger reserves the right to cancel the whole hiring process at any stage without mentioning any reason.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for tests and/or interviews via call or Email.
• MicroMerger provides equal opportunity to all qualified Males & Females candidates. Females are encouraged to apply. 
• All jobs are of visual nature. Visually impaired applicants cannot be entertained.
• Recruitment will be made on a contract basis, extendable based on arising needs
• Shortlisted candidates will have to bring their CVs, attested copies of CNIC, certificates, experience certificates and educational qualifications at the time of the interview
• No TA/DA or any expense would be admissible during the whole hiring process including interviews, tests etc