The main role of the Clinical Psychologist is to provide psychological assessment and
psychotherapy services to service users presenting Mental Health conditions. Moreover, the clinical psychologist provides psychosocial support consultations based on the principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA) for individuals affected by displacement, conflict, or trauma. This is conducted in alignment with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) accreditation standards for Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs), adhering to community-based service provision guidelines. The clinical psychologist also follows the National Model for Mental Health Services developed by the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) at the MoPH, which is based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Optimal Mix of Services Pyramid.
Main Responsibilities
Assessment and diagnosis
• Conduct in-depth assessments and diagnosis of Mental Health conditions.
• Provide psychotherapy to service users with Mental Health conditions
• Conduct brief models of psychotherapy including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Trauma-Focused CBT (TFCBT), etc.
• Monitor response to psychotherapy and treatment plan.
• Assess for imminent suicide risk and initiates safety planning
• Conduct other clinical duties if required, to meet the mission and vision of HSM.
Referrals and Coordination
• Refer service users to other specialties and specific services when needed
• Coordinate with other care providers as needed and in line with national packages SOPs and Quality Rights principles
Reporting
• Report to the PHCC management.
• Filling all relevant reporting and documentation tools
Other Responsibilities
• Maintain accurate records and clinical files in-line with PHC requirements
• Participate in coordination and technical meetings
• Participate in regular monitoring and evaluation exercises to identify challenges and gaps and improve the quality of services
• Attend capacity building training workshops
Qualifications
Academic Degree and Experience
• Master’s degree or PhD in Clinical Psychology.
• License to practice the clinical psychology profession from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and being a member of the Lebanese order of psychologists
• 3 to 5 years of clinical experience, post MS.
• Specialization in trauma-informed therapies is a plus.
• Fluency in Arabic and English. French is a plus.
General Skills and Competencies
• Proficient in conducting clinical assessments and clear case formulations
• Ability to recognize mental health priority conditions as per the mhGAP
• Ability to use standardized assessment tools
• Ability to provide empathic, evidence-based, brief, psychotherapy to a culturally diverse
population.
• Ability to educate beneficiaries on behavioral tools such as relaxation & stress management techniques, and behavioral activation.
• Ability to develop a consistent treatment plan with clear objectives.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the psychological progress of the client.
• Ability to provide clinical supervision or leading trainings is a plus.
Skilled in or willing to build their capacity and knowledge in:
• Developing family-centred, goal and strength focused, recovery-oriented care plan.
• Mental health in complex emergencies (IASC guidelines, Psychological First Aid, mhGAP…).
• Biopsychosocial model in mental health.
• Community-based approach in mental health.
• Human rights-based approach in mental health.
• Evidence-based approach in mental health (e.g., IPT, CBT, TFCBT, EMDR)
• Knowledge about the predictable stresses of humanitarian aid work and the policies and practices needed to mitigate them.
Specific Competencies
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication, problem solving, interpersonal and conflict resolution
skills.
• High level of professionalism while providing services to beneficiaries or working
with internal support staff.
• Adherence to ethical considerations and principles about work with vulnerable populations.
• Demonstrates cultural sensitivity.