All God’s Children International’s (AGCI’s) Reunification Homes provide a safe and nurturing environment for children transitioning back to family or community care. The Psychologist will serve as an integral part of the AGCI Reunification Home Care team. The person will lead in the treatment of various mental, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral disorders, providing children with appropriate treatments and intervening in crisis.’ He/she is responsible for providing trauma informed individual and group therapeutic services to support children separated from family care who have experienced a variety of moderate to severe traumatic and/or stressful experiences. The Psychologist serves children with a variety of difficulties, from substance abuse and domestic violence to post-traumatic stress and disorders, facilitating in the development of case management plans and other tasks as needed.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct psychological screenings and baseline examinations on residents at time of admission, identifying individual needs and addressing any observed moderate to severe traumatic and/or stressful experiences
• Provide referral services to external therapists, clinics, and treatment facilities when necessary.
• Effectively coordinates client care with other service providers and community resources to assure continuity of care
• Providing individual counseling for residents based on needs and case planning discussions
• Provide appropriate management, follow up, and tracking of resident cases
• Create detailed psychological assessments of each resident and conduct baseline and follow up reports to track individual progress with various case management tools
• Supervise and facilitate group and individual therapy, observing and recording any progress, challenges, and follow up plans
• Provide various counseling techniques using a range of psychological concepts and psychotherapeutic techniques to help children heal from stressful experiences and rebuild secure attachment
• Help guide residents in developing positive health seeking behavior through various methods such counseling, group discussion, nurture groups, and other activities
• Facilitate activities for special mothers and residents to improve connection, identify self-regulation strategies, and increase felt safety
• Manage ongoing follow-up and counseling for residents who are reunified, reintegrated, or transfer to other stakeholders and develop progress reports including successes and challenges
• Provide any additional training related to residents and special mothers, develop training manuals and reports based on need
• Conduct timely data entry in AGCI’s case management system for all activities facilitated in the reunification home or during any field activities
• Develop monthly plan, weekly plan, monthly report, quarter report and biannual report in collaboration with different programs and departments
• Develop success stories of residents and families to assist AGCI in communicating the impact of its programs
• Follow a team approach in collaboration with each member of the care team, contributing to the best possible outcome for each resident
• Work collaboratively with the Reunification Home Manager, care team, and US team members to meet frequently on progress updates and goal setting for each child
• Consult with staff to make recommendations for developmentally appropriate services and strategies to assist in meeting children’s individual goals
• Complete data collection, data entry and required reports and other related administrative paperwork in accordance with program timelines and standards to track progress of each child
• Provide various life skills other training for residents, families, community members, or staff, as needed
• Support and supervise caregivers (‘Special Mothers’) daily by managing schedules, leading conflict resolution, conducting performance evaluations, leading training on proper utilization of case management tools, encouraging team members, and administering other support
• Protect children from physical and psychological injuries; ensure the safety of the child in compliance with AGCI’s Child Protection Policies
• Incorporate trauma-informed care practices and strategies in all activities
• Employ strategies of intervention that are consistent with supported treatments, are consistent with program expectations, and are culturally appropriate
• Become knowledgeable in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) skills and practices and utilize intervention methods daily with children
• Advise Social workers and nurses on management of complex cases and provide continues training on mental health
• Engagement in the Case Care Reviews of children with complex psychological and mental health needs, advising social workers/staff on ongoing care and management of these children.
• Facilitate formal training with staff in skills around counselling approaches; trauma debriefing; de-escalation; counselling following play, art, drama and dance therapy approaches
• Organize formal training with staff in self-care using holistic principles and techniques such as reflection or journaling to mitigate against secondary trauma.
• Organisation of a regular group support sessions and training for support staff on skills for listening, de-escalation techniques, managing children’s challenging behaviours and non-violent discipline techniques, as well as managing the staffs’ own stress and wellbeing.
• Perform other tasks within the scope of his/her work, assigned by Reunification Home Manager

General Administration: 

• Maintain positive relationships with local administration offices, communities, and beneficiaries
• Attend and represent the organization in different meetings organized by AGCI or stakeholders, as directed
• Ensure the protection of all children and families served by AGCI’s programs
• Work with AGCI Headquarters to highlight the impact of AGCI’s reunification home program in Ethiopia with individual sponsors, donors, and foundations, as requested
• Collaborates with the Country Director, Africa Programs Director and AGCI headquarters to report program activities as requested
• Provides administrative and/or hosting support for AGCI vision trips including assisting in the organizing of site visits, engaging in conversation with AGCI major donors during the trip to help them understand AGCI’s work and programs in Ethiopia as requested
• Maintain high standard of services to beneficiaries, partners, and external guests
• Participate in reunification care planning meetings or report outs
• Maintain punctual, regular, and predictable attendance; can work evenings and weekends, as required
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and training courses as required
• Exemplify a collaborative, trust-based and relational team environment with a spirit of cooperation and humility. Leads by example by being open to all levels of work and support for the organization.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Working Conditions:

• The role requires working flexible hours, including weekends, and holidays, as necessary to meet the needs of the reunification home.
• The role requires ability to handle physically and emotionally challenging situations, including travels and providing direct care to children and families.

Reports To: AGCI Reunification Home Manager

Status: Full-Time Staff

Position requires the successful completion of an extensive criminal background check.

About You

Qualifications and Experience 

• Master’s degree in psychology with minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field, preferably at an international NGO
• Experience in childcare centers and working experience with children in street situation is required and ability to work with children of all ages including teenagers
• Extensive knowledge of developmental stages, psychological treatment practices and standards, and experience using evidence-based models of therapy
• Ability to address conflict and contribute alternative solutions in a direct, constructive, and positive manner
• Experience working with clients that are affected by issues including neglect, child abuse domestic violence, mental health, and substance abuse
• Exemplify a collaborative, trust-based and relational team environment with a spirit of cooperation and humility. Leads by example by being open to all levels of work and support for the organization.
• Extensive experience in entering data in case management software in English
• TBRI® Practitioners will be given preference.

Skills:

• Ability to thrive and work effectively in a fast paced and rapidly growing program in addition to remaining self-motivated and goal oriented
• Experience in creatively advocating and providing support to families
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and listening skills
• Ability to address conflict and offer alternative solutions in a direct, constructive, and positive manner
• Ability to participate in collective, non-hierarchical decision making within all staff environments
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Ability to speak and write report in both Amharic and English
• Excellent interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills
• Experience and ability to work with children of all ages including teenagers
• Ability to maintain reliable transportation

Language Skills 

• Ability to read, write, analyze, and interpret general business correspondence, reports and inquiries in English and Amharic. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from supervisors, donors/sponsors, clients, vendors, organization partners, and the public in English or Amharic.

Computer Skills 

• Job requires intermediate computer skills including logging into systems, word processing, spreadsheet, report writing, project management, presentation creation/editing, database utilization, use of internet and communication by e-mail. Requires learning and ongoing use of AGCI’s case management.

Reasoning Ability 

• Ability to work with and protect extremely confidential files and information and have the appropriate discernment regarding handling issues of varying complexity and sensitivity. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions and can deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables. Has the discretion to weigh the levity of an issue and pass along to the appropriate party/leader within the organization, as needed.