Director of Psychosocial Department

St. Andrew s Refugee Services

Role
The Director of Psychosocial Department is responsible for the management of StARS Psychosocial Department programs and its staff in the provision of broad MHPSS services for refugee clients and staff. The Director of Psychosocial Department is responsible for all matters relating to program management, including development of projects, staffing, implementation of activities, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting. The Director of Psychosocial Department works alongside two Deputy Directors of Psychosocial Department and seven program coordinators to oversee the day-to-day running of StARS psychosocial services. The Director of Psychosocial Department leads a department of above 90 staff, mostly comprised of refugees.
The Director of Psychosocial Department is a central role in the Executive Leadership Team, working within the team of the Directors to oversee the effective management and the daily running of StARS and responsible for general support to its programs and staff.
For the first 6 - 12 months this role will be focused entirely on leading the Psychosocial Department. After 6 - 12 months, depending on performance, and in consultation with the postholder, a further process will
be held to integrate the postholder into the Executive Leadership Team.

Responsibilities
All duties are carried out in collaboration with StARS Directors, as part of the Executive Leadership Team of StARS. The Executive Leadership Team operates a model of peer supervision. An excellent collaborative working relationship with StARS directors are essential to the success of this role. The Director of Psychosocial Department performs a wide range of duties, including the following:
Programmatic and Technical
• To provide leadership to StARS' Psychosocial Department programs and staff.
• To maintain oversight and monitoring of activities across Psychosocial Department programs, in close coordination with the Deputy Directors of the Psychosocial Department and Program Coordinators.
• To ensure high quality psychosocial support and ensure a refugee rights-based approach is followed within StARS' Psychosocial Department services.
• To ensure that systems are in place for appropriate and fair response to clients.
• To ensure that comprehensive case management practices are in place within the relevant Psychosocial Department programs, including maintaining and updating electronic databases and records for each client.
• To ensure program monitoring and evaluation systems are in place and programming is reviewed based on results and emerging needs.
• To convene decision-making panels, and lead on decisions on the attribution of grants to assist clients with unmet medical needs, as well as those in need of emergency or ongoing cash assistance.
• To provide guidance to program staff on responding to emergency mental health and serious protection needs of clients, as well as recommendations for further action in response to cases and issues facing refugee communities.
• To ensure close coordination between the Psychosocial Department and Refugee Legal Aid Department, ensuring mental health and protection are adequately considered and addressed through collaborative psychosocial and legal programming.
• To ensure appropriate systems are in place for managing referrals from and to Refugee-Led Organizations for MHPSS and medical interventions, through close coordination with the Community Outreach Department.
• To maintain good working knowledge of the current political and social situations in the countries of origin of StARS clients and of the situation of refugee communities in Egypt.
• To maintain good working knowledge of relevant local and international guidelines, processes, and procedures.
• To develop program interventions and projects to meet developing needs among refugee communities in Egypt.
• To contribute towards the development of concept notes, full funding proposals and budgets for projects.
• To ensure accurate record keeping systems are in place for all Psychosocial Department Programs.
Supervisory
• To provide leadership and support to staff across Psychosocial Department programs.
• To provide direct supervision for Deputy Directors of Psychosocial Department, Program Coordinators, and cross programmatic staff and ensure supervision structures are in place for all Psychosocial Department staff.
• To lead on ensuring MHPSS interventions are available and implemented for StARS staff.
• To ensure training and professional development is provided for Psychosocial Department staff, for other StARS departments, and for psychosocial staff in refugee-led organizations.
• To ensure that all members of the Psychosocial Department carry out tasks in accordance with StARS policies, procedures, and standards, in particular ethics, conduct, confidentiality, anti-discrimination, and the prevention of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.
• To administer and support disciplinary procedures as needed, staff leave reimbursements, and other personnel management aspects.
• To participate in peer supervision among the Executive Leadership Team, providing supervision for at least one StARS director (once onboarded onto the Executive Leadership Team), and receiving individual supervision from a StARS director.
Policy and Advocacy
• To represent StARS in interagency coordination mechanisms, and provide direction for Psychosocial Department management in their participation.
• To lead in coordination with UNHCR Egypt, with other UN agencies, INGOs, and local organizations, to facilitate individual case-based and systemic advocacy, and to enhance referral mechanisms.
• To advocate with interested parties regarding the situation of refugees in Egypt.