Staff Welfare Officer - International Organization for Migration

OPEN TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CANDIDATES
Position Title
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Duty Station :
Classification :
Type of Appointment :
Estimated Start Date :
Staff Welfare Officer (SWO)
Geneva, Switzerland*
Professional Staff, Grade P4
Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension
As soon as possible
Closing Date
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January 29, 2016
Reference Code
:
VN2016/04(P)-EXT
Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of
migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental
partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all.
It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM has a proactive recruitment policy to increase the representation of nationals of nonrepresented member states. Qualified applicants from the following countries will be
favorably considered:
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Czech
Republic, Comoros, Djibouti, El Salvador, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guyana, Holy See,
Iceland, Israel, Lesotho, Libya, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Montenegro, Micronesia, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Republic of Congo, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Somalia,
Suriname, Swaziland, Timor Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen
Applications from qualified female candidates are especially encouraged.
Context:
Under the direct supervision of the Head Medical Officer of the Occupational Health Unit
(OHU) within the Human Resources Management (HRM) Division, the Staff Welfare Officer
(SWO) is expected to develop and strengthen mental health care strategies within the
Organization.
The successful candidate will be responsible and accountable for designing and
implementing a system and approach facilitating access to mental health care, counselling
of staff with specific needs and following up. S/he will develop policies and implement
strategies, as well as conduct training with OHU/Human Resources Management (HRM)
and other colleagues on staff welfare in IOM. The successful candidate will be required to
travel to different locations around the world.
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Core Functions / Responsibilities:
1. Develop and implement a staff welfare global strategy in line with international
standards including various types of psychological and social interventions for staff and
their family members, which should address:
 Occupational mental health risks including cumulative and traumatic stress,
substance abuse, interpersonal conflicts and others.
 Staff’s wellbeing specific needs arising from emergency operations and critical
incidents (security incidents). In particular, it should address the provision of
support, during deployment and perform as needed a psychological evaluation
upon return from hardship or highly insecure missions (with the help of modern
technologies).
 Team dynamics and team building, in particular through the development of a
global Peer Support Personnel Network.
 Various aspects of staff management processes (e.g. Recruitment, rotation,
career development, downsizing, retirement) taking into account the interest of the
Organization and of the staff through various stages of their professional life in
IOM.
 The orientation and adaptation to a new environment in non-family duty station
including social issues (such as work-life balance, family- work related limitations
etc.).
2. Provide assessments:
 Ensure that staff members who have a history of mental health illness are
assessed as fit to work in the assigned position and duty station and, if necessary,
share the relevant recommendation with the OHU/Health and Insurance Medical
Units (HIM) medical Officers
 Eventually refer the concerned staff for an independent psychiatric expertize in
coordination with the OHU Chief Medical Officer. Proceed accordingly with the
staff pre-deployment mental health preparedness protocol, in case of complex
emergencies.
 Undertake travel to missions, upon OHU‘s request, to assess the local mental
health care facilities and the mission's working environment in situations of crisis.
Identify possible partners in the Missions who can support the mental health of
staff locally and participate to the UN Counsellors Working Group, UN DSS Stress
Counsellors (CISMU) and set up a network of private psychologist and psychiatrist
of reference.
 Provide guidance to the OHU/Health Insurance Medical Unit (HIM) doctors on the
mental health cases requiring evacuation, on a 24/7 basis.
3. Provide counselling:
 In Headquarters, provide initial counselling services to staff. If therapy is
advisable, refer them to mental health specialists in Geneva.
 Counsel or contact by e–technologies staff upon request. Follow up with and
facilitate the access to mental health care worldwide of staff and family’s
dependents. Share staff’s reports with OHU/HIM doctors and advise them of
staff’s mental health implication in their daily work or location.
 Conduct trainings with OHU/ HRM on staff welfare issues.
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4. Maintain close collaboration with
 The HIM Medical Officers, to consistently implement across regions the staff
global wellbeing programs, in line with other similar programs in the UN system.
 The Staff Counsellors in UN agencies with similar programs, to share experiences
and resources to the extent possible. He/she will represent IOM at meetings of the
network of the UN DSS Stress Counsellors (CISMU) , Inter-Agency Working
Groups (UN Counsellors Working Group ) and International Conferences on
questions related to staff welfare issues (i.e.: Critical Incident Stress, Support to
Humanitarian Aid Workers).
5. Maintain a proper system of reporting and documentation management:
 Ensure that his/her filing of cases is confidentially and rigorously organized to
ensure a proper follow up.
 Analyse data and provide OHU/HRM with yearly statistics on staff's mental health
(i.e.: occupational & non occupational accidents mental health illnesses, sick
leave).
 Provide administrative recommendations relating to psychosocial situation of staff
during their career in IOM (i.e. transfer, rotation) to the Human Resources Division
and the ODG.
 Ensure that all required Section reporting and planning is timely and accurate.
6. Perform such other duties that may be assigned.
Required Competencies
Behavioural
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Takes responsibility and manages constructive criticism;
Works effectively with all clients and stakeholders;
Promotes continuous learning; communicates clearly;
Takes initiative and drives high levels of performance management;
Plans work, anticipates risks, and sets goals within area of responsibility;
Displays mastery of subject matter;
Contributes to a collegial team environment;
Creates a respectful office environment free of harassment and retaliation, and
promotes the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA);
Incorporates gender-related needs, perspectives, and concerns, and promotes equal
gender participation;
Displays awareness of relevant technological solutions;
Works with internal and external stakeholders to meet resource needs of IOM.
Technical
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Effectively applies knowledge of health issues in execution of responsibilities at
appropriate level;
Maintains confidentiality and discretion in appropriate areas of work.
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Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
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Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry or a related field from an
accredited academic institution with eight years of relevant professional experience;
or
University degree in the above fields with ten years of relevant professional
experience.
Experience
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Minimum 8 years of practical experience as a counselor advising staff and employers
on various aspects of social issues.
Minimum 5 years’ experience working in UN / humanitarian international
organizations. Demonstrated familiarity with the impact of working conditions of
humanitarian workers on their well-being.
Experience in the development of staff welfare programmes and policies are
desirable.
Experience of mental health risks related to civil unrest and terrorism context is
desirable.
Experience in liaising with international organizations and health care providers in
different countries is desirable.
Excellent communication and writing skills.
Familiarity with cross-cultural issues.
Familiarity with counselling and psycho-social interventions (team building; training
development and delivering).
Knowledge of team building and of conflict resolution techniques.
Knowledge of modern technologies (tele-psychiatry; online training).
Readiness to travel to emergency contexts.
Languages
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French or Spanish is an advantage.
Note:
1. Initial duty station will be Geneva, Switzerland and subsequently, to be delocalized to an
Administrative Centre.
How to apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via PRISM, IOM e-Recruitment
system, by January 29, 2016 at the latest, referring to this advertisement.
For further information, please refer to:
http://www.iom.int/how-apply
In order for an application to be considered valid, IOM only accepts online profiles duly filled
in and submitted with a cover letter not more than one page specifying the motivation for
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applications.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. You can track the progress of your application
in your personal application page in the IOM e-recruitment system.
Posting period:
From 13.01.2016 to 29.01.2016
Requisition: VN 2016/04 (P) - Staff Welfare Officer (SWO) (P4) - Geneva, Switzerland (54727426)
Released
Posting: VN 2016/04 (P) - Staff Welfare Officer (SWO) (P4) - Geneva, Switzerland (54727427)
Released
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