Mental Health & Psycho-social Support Consultant
UNICEF
Total years of experience :16 years, 7 Months
Provide individual & Group wellbeing and Psychosocial support consultation for UNICEF staff
• The main role of the department is to lead and manage UOSSM’s response to humanitarian crises in the field, including all program activities and advocacy (advocacy up to a country level)
• Line management responsibilities for Country Managers and other direct reports such as HO Managers
• Budget responsibility for Program department
• Define, follow up and report on Program department strategy / plan of action in line with overall UOSSM strategic direction
• Head of HO Crises Management Team
• Coordinate UOSSM’s crisis management response in critical incidents
• Represent Program department in UOSSM partnerships in Turkey and internationally
• Hold Country Managers accountable for results according to country strategy and plans, and for compliance with UOSSM policies and guidelines
• Hold HO Technical Manager(s) and MEAL manager(s) accountable for results according to strategies and plans, and for compliance with UOSSM policies and guidelines
• Develop and manage policies, guidelines and tools for technical sectors, Project Cycle Management and Learning / monitoring / evaluation
• Hold Country Managers accountable for compliance with donor rules & regulations
• Participate in discussions on allocation and reallocation of framework / other funds across departments
• Drive policy for sectors on a global level
• Drive program innovation and development
• Manage and follow up on external and internal evaluations
• Be a Center of Excellence on technical support and provide sector-related advice to all UOSSM units
• Improve and implement emergency response and preparedness
• Initiate start-up new country programs, to be approved by CEO/Board
• Initiate and support country exits, to be approved by CEO/Board
• Conduct continuous monitoring and quality assurance of program activities
- Supervising all of MHPSS activates in Syria and Turkey.
- Trainer for psychologists & social workers in the team.
- Strategy maker, project analyzer.
- Representing UOSSM -MHPSS Directorate in all of UN agencies and INGOs meetings.
- Clinical doctor in the psychiatry clinic.
- Promoting for MHPSS to all NGOs working with Syrian refugees.
- Trainer of medical field workers for mh-GAP.
Responsibilities:
• Assumed responsibilities for the care, consultation and treatment of outpatients with psychotropic medication as per the unique symptoms presented.
• Undertook multiple sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy and psychiatric consulting as well as training for clinical psychologists under supervision.
• Initiated psychiatric rehabilitation programs for addiction patients with a defined methodology for de-addiction, coaching and possible re-integration into society.
• Served as an in house expert in cognitive behavioral therapy, addiction psychotropic and psychological rehabilitation treatment.
• Performed assessment of children suffering from psychiatric disabilities including comprehensive developmental disorders and mental retardation with behavioral rehabilitation sessions to integrate the child with family.
The entity is a renowned institution for mental health rehabilitation in Syria.
Achievements:
• Served as a member of the 3rd Committee to assess disabilities.
• Rendered know-how as a member of the 3rd Committee for psychological expertise.
• Nominated as the Head of Training for the hospital and ensured that the best of practical know-how and scientific developments in the field were imparted to staff at the hospital.
Responsibilities:
• Managing psychiatric treatment, advisory and welfare of over 100 inpatients with concurrent charge of outpatients treatment and supervising residents.
• Promoting health and well being of patients by performing periodic and routine physical examinations, consultations and physiological testing to adults as part of their treatment.
• Demonstrating sound clinical judgement by formulating informed diagnoses, interpreting investigation results and prescribing and administering medications accurately.
• Governing matters pertinent to admissions at the hospital and ensuring that the best of candidates only are enrolled, as a member of the Admissions Office.
• Ensuring that all clinical information is available when required by maintaining timely, accurate and confidential medical records.
• Keeping abreast of current clinical practice by demonstrating commitment to, gaining qualifications in and participating in appropriate continuous medical education activities.
• Promoting confidence and trust in the psychiatric services available by interacting professionally, effectively and with sensitivity with all patients under purview.
Responsibilities:
• Assumed the responsibility of treating all psychiatric disorders and psychotropic medication of addiction related problems.
• Oversaw the delivery of psychological assessment and treatment to patients, performed assessment of new patients, formulated patient treatment needs and facilitated the provision of psychological treatment programmes.
• Provided timely reports for patient reviews to all referring psychiatrists and GP’s.
• Participated in regular peer supervision sessions and contributed to the in-house training programme from time to time.
• Undertook research relevant to the assessment of patients needs and the development and evaluation of interventions when needed.
Previous Professional Experience:
May '04 - Apr '10: Resident, Ibn Khaldoon Hospital, Syria
Highlight:
• Tasked to supervise the psychiatric clinic in Aleppo Central Prison for a period of one year.
• Apr '06 - Oct '06: Resident, Almarsad Alwatany Leraayet Alshbab (De-addiction Center)
Courses Completed: • Six-month Training in Neurology Section • Six-month Training in Addiction Center in Damascus • Three-year training in Ibn Khaldoon Hospital