Fadel Afana

Psychiatrist, Clinical Service Director at Community Mental Health Centre, MOH

• Palestine - Gaza Strip
• My current job since November 2008

Supervising a multidisciplinary team of 18 psychologists, social workers and nurses, in a Community Mental Health Center, Providing Services for more Than 200, 000 Population.

Provided Mental Health Services:
1. Acute Services
community based program for individuals of all age groups who present a mental or emotional problem that interferes with their psycho social functioning that they cannot overcome adequately without professional intervention.

The objectives of Acute Services are:
- To provide screening, assessment, crisis intervention, short-term therapy, prevention, consultation and service delivery coordination.
- To direct clients to the mental health programs and/or community services appropriate to their needs.

2. Child and Adolescent Services
We provide mental health services to children and adolescents from birth to eighteen years inclusive. Mental health services are designed to support the promotion, enhancement, and protection of mental health within the context of environmental factors; and the prevention, treatment, and recovery from mental health problems in relation to mental disorders, emotional disturbances and/or severe adjustment problems.

The objectives of Child and Adolescent Services are:
- To provide individualized assessment, treatment and evaluation services in accordance with the unique needs and potentials of each child.
- To provide crisis services as needed.
- To provide consultation and education to partners in the provision of services to children and adolescents, including the family.
- To take a leadership role in promotion of resiliency and good mental health in children and adolescents, as well as prevention of mental illness.

3. Adult Long Term Services
For individuals in need of treatment and rehabilitative mental health services and who present a combination of factors relating to diagnosis, duration of illness and level of disability.

The objectives of Adult Long Term Services are to:
- Provide treatment and monitoring services.
- Provide psycho social rehabilitation services and supports.
- Facilitate community integration and the achievement of an optimal quality of life, material well being and self-fulfillment.
- Maximize client potential and resources.
- Facilitate the participation of clients in their community and the development of their own social network.
- Support client advocacy and rights protection.
- Support client recovery by increasing his/her capability to manage stress and difficulties related to the chronic mental illness and loss of functionality.
- Ensure client participation in all phases of service planning and delivery.

Job Specifications:
• Provide psychiatric and administrative direction and supervision to subordinate professional, technical and clerical staff.
• Perform psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.
• Evaluate and review the work of subordinate or other service providers for appropriate diagnosis, treatment and chart documentation.
• Plan and prepare protocols and standardized procedures.
• Work effectively with departmental staff, private physicians, clients and others contracted in the course of work.
• Maintain effective relationships with other County Departments, County policy makers and community health stakeholders
• Participate in the analysis, evaluation and planning of mental health programs.
• Prepare clear and concise written and oral reports.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Conduct in-service training programs.
• Provide mental health court testimony on conservatorship if specializing in psychiatry.
• Review appropriate paperwork for documentation of clinical services and psychiatric assessments.
• Work nights and weekends, on call.