Psychosocial Support Officer- Dadaab

Line Manager: Child Protection Supervisor

Workplace:  Dadaab

Duration:  5 months 
 
 
 
 

 Context:

Terre des hommes Foundation is an independent, neutral, and impartial Swiss organization founded in 1960, dedicated to bringing about significant and lasting change in the lives of children and young people, especially those most at risk. Tdh ensures their well-being and the effective implementation of their rights as defined in the Convention on the Child's Rights and other human rights instruments. To make a difference, Tdh focus our efforts on maternal and child health, children and young people in migration situations, and access to justice. Tdh promotes the active participation of children and young people to empower them. We advocate for their rights and support them in expressing their needs and interests. Tdh works in fragile contexts and conflict zones, as well as in more stable environments.

Tdh is present in Kenya since 2011. Currently Tdh is providing protection services for children and families affected by migration, natural crises and poverty in Dadaab refugee camps, in Garissa County, and in Kakuma.

Overarching responsibilities “Main goals”

To promote the mental, emotional, and social well-being of children, families, and communities from both the refugee and host communities affected by displacement, enabling them to cope effectively with adversity and rebuild their lives with dignity.

Specific Responsibilities/Context of “tasks”

More specifically he/she has the following responsibilities:

Provision of Psychosocial support services

Aim: To ensure all psychosocial activities are timely conducted in Dadaab Refugee Camps.

Activities:

·      To provide psychosocial support to selected cases of high risk or cases in need of specialized psychosocial support or mental health interventions.

·      Participate in need assessments and project evaluations aiming at contributing to the development of the child protection programme strategy for the refugee community project in Dadaab Refugee Complex and in eight villages of the host communities.

·      To support in the development of intervention criteria for the psychosocial cases and design appropriate technical responses to psychosocial and mental health cases.

·      Provide training, on job mentorship and supervise the community-based structures on the management of children and families with basic psychosocial and mental concerns.

·      Train CP team members on the child friendly interviews techniques, Basic Counseling, self-care, Mental Health and Psychosocial support and Psychosocial First Aid (PFA).

·      Under the supervision of the Senior PSS Officer, coordinate with the Child Protection BID/ Case Management and Social-Empowerment field staff on assistance response to cases of children in need of psychosocial interventions.

Responsibility: Conduct monthly Mobile CFS and monitor the CFSs in Hagadera and one CFS  in Ifo2

Aim: Conduct mobile monthly CFSs.

Activities:

          ·       Ensure monthly mobile CFSs are conducted in the camps.

          ·       Train and monitors the Lay Counselors on age appropriate CFS activities.

          ·       Ensure that the CFS data collection tools are in good condition and that the CPVs sync data on a regular basis

          ·       Ensure children who can’t access the centers are reached through the monthly mobile CFSs.

          ·       Ensure the center activities are conducted.

          ·       Provide technical support to the center community staff.

          ·       Monitor the girl safe play area at Bidii Primary school.

          ·       Plan and manage the leave schedule for the community PSS staff.

          ·       Ensure that children living with disabilities are incorporated into center activities.

Responsibility: Ensure that the Child Friendly Spaces are well maintained and safe for play by children.

Aim: Conduct situational analysis on what the centers requires.

Activities:

          ·       In collaboration with the logistics department, conduct regular assessment of the CFSs and play areas to ensure they are safe, and all center needs are available.

          ·       Ensure that all child safeguarding measures are adhered to by the lay counsellors during CFS activities

          ·       Train the community members who are willing to volunteer on basic counselling skills and PFA.

          ·       Ensure all the activities including individual, group and play therapy session are carried out in the center.

Responsibility: Provide psychosocial support to host community children in Fafi Sub-County

Aim: Ensure children in the eight villages receive psychosocial  services.

    Activities:

       ·         Provide group and individual therapy.

       ·         Identify and screen children with psychosocial distress.

       ·         Work in close collaboration with other departments.

Responsibility: Report writing, collaboration and partnership

Activities:

       ·         Develop unit reports in collaboration with MEAL Officer.

       ·         Document case studies for donor reporting

       ·         Work closely with the Senior Officers for efficient documentation of psychosocial work.

       ·         Develop referrals for high-risk cases and ensure regular follow up of the cases.

       ·         Participate and represent Tdh in relevant working group meeting at the camp level.

Abuse Prevention Policy - Operational Risk Management

·         Terre des hommes expects that its staff professional conduct reflects proper behaviour in accordance with local culture and traditions. He/she assures the moral protection of the name of Terre des hommes and defends in all circumstances the interests of the movement.

·         Tdh intervenes without any affiliation for politics, religion or financial profit. He/she will direct his or her activities and engagements without preoccupation of political, racial or religious affiliation.

·         He/she will conduct his or her duties in respect of the Charter of Terre des hommes and Commit to respect and implement Tdh Risk Management Policies including: Tdh Child Safeguarding Policy, Safety and Security Policy and Anti-Fraud/Corruption Policy, Code of Conduct, Whistle Blowing Policy.

·         Commit to inform supervisors and to deal with any cases, allegations, or possibility of transgression, even potential, of the Tdh Risk Management Policies.

Skills

This function requires possession of fundamental personal, social and leadership skills (CPSLs), technical and methodological skills (CTMs) and Managerial and strategic skills (CMSs)

In particular:

• 
  
• Ability to work in a team
  
• Good planning and organizational skills
  
• Ability to utilize child friendly interviewing skills
  
• Professionalism
  
• Respect for diverse cultural backgrounds
  

As well as the following specific “trade” skills

• 
  
• A collaborative attitude with colleagues in- and outside the team
  
• Management of time and priorities; meeting deadlines
  
• Experience in drafting project proposals and managing subsidies, fund-raising and a good knowledge of financial partners
  
• Good knowledge and experience of the project management cycle and M&E
  
• Excellent interpersonal qualities: integrity, a capacity to judge, diplomacy
  
• Proactive, creative and out-of-the-box thinking
  

Required conditions

Training/Qualifications

Degree in Counselling Psychology, Psychology

Experience

At least 2 years experience in providing psychosocial support services

Languages                                  

Fluency in English and Kiswahili

IT know-how

MS Office

General Code of of Conduct and Tdh’s Risk Management Policies

• 
  
• Commits to complying with the General Code of Conduct and systematically reports any breach of the Code through the Tdh warning procedure: raises the awareness within the Foundation on violence and abuse and the rights that derive from them regarding children, community members and our own employees.
  
• Commits to complying with the Risk Management Policies, including: Safeguard policies (the policy of Safeguarding Children, the Policy of Protecting against Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, the Guideline on Abusive Behavior at Work), the Safety/Security Policy and Anti-Fraud/Corruption Policies and the Prevention of Funding Criminal Acivities.
  
• Commits to reducing the risk of abuse by developing an open and informed culture of management within the organization and in our work with children and the communities where we work.
  

Tdh’s organizational values

• 
  
• Our organizational values guide us in our operational and strategic choices and are the foundation of all decisions made by us. Those five values are incorporated into each process connected to the staff. All collaborators are assessed according to the organization’s values.
  

PARTICIPATION AND EMPOWERMENT

• 
  
• We promote and enhance participation and empowerment.
  
• We create the space for active participation and embrace inputs from others.
  
• We are sensitive about others’ needs to influence.
  
• We share and delegate power and responsibilities.
  

PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION

• 
  
• We trust the capacities of our key actors as primary responders and agents of change. We build on their strengths and on their needs.
  
• We champion co-creation and value complementarity.
  
• We appreciate other points of view and seek collectively for pragmatic and innovative solutions.
  
• We manifest humility, respect, fairness and see others as equal partners.
  

 INNOVATION AND LEARNING

• 
  
• We promote a culture of innovation.
  
• We value curiosity, welcome new initiatives, and foster creativity.
  
• We embrace voluntary learning and are ready for trial and error.
  
• We foster knowledge sharing, learning and strive for sustainability.
  

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

• 
  
• We celebrate Diversity and Inclusion of people.
  
• We genuinely commit to diversity and inclusion and see it as a wealth in all our activities.
  
• We understand the cultural contexts and value differences.
  
• We are truly committed to an equal treatment.
  

LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE

• 
  
• We thrive to offer our best, we think ahead, and are ready and willing to go the extra mile for the well-being of children.
  
• We provide quality programming and support. We are accountable and transparent. We use power responsibly.
  
• We position ourselves through our expertise and savoir-faire.
  
• We advocate for the rights of children whenever possible and seek actively opportunities to do so.
  

Application modalities:

Interested candidates who meet the criteria above are encouraged to send their applications letter and detailed CVs to KEN.recruitment@tdh.ch Candidates are required to indicate the position title and location on the subject line of the email when applying.

Kindly note only applications sent to this email address will be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Due to the short nature of this engagement, this recruitment  will be done on a rolling basis. The closing date for the application of this position is 12 May 2026.

Tdh’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protect children’s rights, which includes the prevention of all forms of child abuse.

Tdh is an equal opportunity employer