MHPSS Cultural Mediation Associate (Georgian)

Applications are welcome from internal and external candidates. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process. For the purpose of this vacancy, internal candidates are considered first-tier candidates.
 Context 

IOM Ireland has been operating in Ireland since 2001, currently in following areas of migration management: Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration, Resettlement, Family Reunification, Counter-Trafficking, Protection, Integration Support to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, Integrated Immigration Governance and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).

 

IOM provides mental health and psychosocial support to international protection seekers residing in the Citywest accommodation facility with the aim to improve their psychosocial well-being and to strengthen their overall resilience.

 

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission in Ireland, the Head of MHPSS Unit, the Cultural Mediation and Community Engagement Coordinator and direct supervision of Senior Cultural Mediation Associate, the incumbent will support the implementation of activities related to community mobilization and pertinent activities for international protection applicants hosted in Citywest accommodation centre.

1. Provide cultural mediation and interpretation support by facilitating communication between service providers and migrants (from English into different migrants’ mother tongue and vice versa), while always respecting the principles of neutrality, accuracy, impartiality, confidentiality.

2. Provide verbal interpretation support to the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) staff in Citywest to support day-to-day communication with beneficiaries from English into different migrants’ languages.

3. Assist through interpretation during the collection of routine information and data and case identification and referrals.

4. Support the beneficiaries in contacting service providers within Citywest by providing interpretation and mediation support in an impartial and neutral manner.

5. Support the identification of vulnerabilities from the initial reception into the centre and throughout the continued communication with beneficiaries and refer them to the Senior Case Management Associate for case management.

6. Support IOM partners in the implementation of community engagement and awareness-raising activities by assisting with logistics, interpretation, and beneficiary outreach.

7. Conduct outreach activities to inform beneficiaries about available MHPSS services and scheduled activities, in coordination with MHPSS team.

8. Provide interpretation assistance to mental health professionals during scheduled group and individual counselling sessions, focus group discussions and psycho-education activities, including remote interpretation (phone or online), when required.

9. Prepare routine documentation related to the project and submit basic reports to the Project Management Team on activities performed in Citywest.

10. Any other related task, as required.

Education

• High school diploma with five years of relevant experience; or,
• Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Social Sciences, International relations or related fields from an accredited academic institution with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database. Experience

• Completion of trainings in cultural mediation for mental health settings, and competence in the MHPSS specialized vocabulary would be an asset.
• Experience in cultural mediation in the framework of migrants’ assistance.
• Previous experience with international organizations, NGOs, EU Agencies and/or Irish law enforcements or Government’s Departments would be an asset.

Skills

• Ability to work with migrants and asylum seekers.
• Interpersonal skills (i.e. empathy and emotional resilience)
• Intercultural competence and communication skills.
• Culture-specific knowledge.
• Capacity to prevent and mitigate misunderstandings due to language barriers by facilitating communication in an objective and impartial manner.
• Basic understanding in interpersonal communication and sensitivity in addressing the asylum-seekers’ claims.
• Knowledge of the procedures related to the asylum application in Ireland.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise routine reports and basic written summaries.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Languages

• For this position, fluency in English is required (