Psychosocial Support Officer

Job Title: Psychosocial Support Officer– Healing and Resilience Project (HEART Program) Location: Mukalla Reports To: Program Coordinator Duration: 3 Months Ref: HR26/4 Job Summary The Psychosocial Support Officer will provide comprehensive psychosocial support to children and their families enrolled in the HEART Program before, during, and after cardiac surgery. The role focuses on reducing anxiety, alleviating emotional distress, strengthening resilience, and preparing families psychologically for the surgical journey. In addition, the Psychosocial Support Officer will oversee non-medical program supplies, maintain updated records of monthly surgery cohorts, and support program engagement activities, including Hope Day celebrations. ________________________________________ Key Responsibilities 1. Psychosocial Support & Counseling Provide preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative psychosocial support to children and their families to prepare them emotionally for surgery. Offer psychological support to children during hospitalization and throughout post-operative recovery. Conduct individual and group counseling sessions focusing on stress management, coping strategies, and emotional resilience. Facilitate structured support group sessions for caregivers and families to share experiences and strengthen coping mechanisms. Develop and implement child-friendly psychological interventions (e.g., play therapy techniques, relaxation exercises, therapeutic communication) to ease hospital-related anxiety and fear. 2. Post-Operative Follow-Up & Monitoring Conduct post-surgery follow-up assessments to evaluate children’s emotional well-being and psychosocial adjustment. Support children’s reintegration into home and community environments after surgery. Provide guidance and counseling to families on long-term emotional support strategies. Document case progress, psychosocial challenges, and recommended actions to ensure continuity of care. Facilitate psychoeducation sessions to help families understand congenital heart disease and its psychological impact. Assist in organizing and participating in Hope Day celebrations, ensuring meaningful engagement with SPRY, families, and children. 3. Program Management & Coordination Maintain and regularly update the list of children scheduled for surgery in monthly cohorts. Compile and submit monthly psychosocial support reports, highlighting key cases, trends, challenges, and achievements. Manage the program’s non-medical supplies, ensuring timely availability of materials needed for psychosocial support. Support coordination of patient follow-ups and communication with family’s post-surgery and after discharge. Maintain accurate, confidential records and documentation for each child and family receiving psychosocial support. Contribute to project evaluations by assessing the psychosocial impact of the HEART Program. Coordinate and ensure timely booking of ground transportation and hotel accommodation for children and caregivers traveling for Hope day, in close collaboration with the logistics and program teams. 4. Management of Non-Medical Supplies Oversee inventory management and distribution of non-medical supplies for children enrolled in the program. Ensure psychosocial support materials (e.g., shoe box- play therapy items, educational materials, comfort kits) are available and properly maintained. Coordinate logistics for child- and family-centered support activities. 5. Team Collaboration & Capacity Building Work closely with medical teams and program staff to ensure a holistic and integrated approach to patient care. Train colleagues on basic Psychological First Aid (PFA) and child-friendly communication techniques. Provide technical input into program development to ensure psychosocial components are effectively integrated into the HEART Program. Participate in coordination meetings and case discussions as required. Qualifications & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling, or a related field (Master’s degree is an added advantage). Minimum 3–5 years of experience providing psychosocial support, preferably in healthcare or humanitarian settings. Experience working with children and families facing medical or emotional trauma. Strong counseling, assessment, and emotional support skills. Ability to handle sensitive cases with professionalism, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity. Experience in report writing, case documentation, and program reporting. Preferred Skills Familiarity with trauma-informed care and child psychology approaches. Experience working within healthcare or humanitarian programs. Proficiency in English (preferred) and Arabic (required). Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.