Adolescent Psychologist

Overall Objective

JASL's psychological programme is part of a wider Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) programme aimed at improving the health outcomes of its adolescent clients by designing psychological interventions to help with the management of their condition.  The programme seeks to:

1. Provide psychological support services for adolescents living with and affected by HIV and AIDS
2. Maintain hope in the context of HIV infection
3. Respond to psychological emergencies associated with HIV and AIDS

Qualifications

• At least a Master’s degree in Psychology
• Bachelor of Arts in Adolescent and Child Psychology

Experience

• At least three (3) years' experience working in Psychology, HIV care and management
• Experience working with children, adolescents and key populations
• Comprehensive knowledge of the scope and methods of social work

Summary of Duties

The Adolescent Psychologist will:

• Help the clients with issues (experimentation with drugs and alcohol, depression and anxiety, sexuality concerns, schoolwork and self-discipline, time management issues and family crises such as divorce or death). The Adolescent Psychologist will assess the depth of these problems with the adolescent clients and work with them to develop coping skills and solutions
• Work with adolescents to promote optimum mental health as a means of reducing their risk and vulnerabilities to contracting HIV or to live positively with HIV and AIDS
• Help adolescents deal with behavioural issues: suicide, stress management, problems with self-esteem, and issues associated with HIV and AIDS, sexual orientation and identity
• Conduct counselling, psychological assessment, follow-up, care and support

Specific Duties

• Provide assessment and treatment of children and adolescents aged 17 and younger as individuals or in a groups

• Undertake initial counselling session and psychological assessment with newly diagnosed clients when they first attend clinic
• Develop and implement treatment plans for children aged 17 and younger with mental, behavioural or emotional problems
• Conduct counselling sessions with children and adolescents living with HIV, individually and in groups as well as with their families, to assist with issues around youth, gender, sexuality and HIV status

• Counsel family members, assist them in giving support and understanding the issues facing their relatives
• Provide crisis counselling/intervention to adolescent clients and their family members 
• Provide on-going counselling sessions, psychological and risk assessment
• Provide short-term and long-term interventions with children, young people and/or parents
• Working alongside other professionals in planning how best to help a child and the child's family, for example in schools, hospitals, children's services and child protection agencies
• Establish a collaborative working relationship with adolescent clients based on trust and respect

• Collect information about adolescent clients through interviews, observational techniques, tests and other assessment methods

• Develop and implement treatment plans based on clients' needs and clinical knowledge and experience
• Guide adolescent clients in the development of skills and strategies for coping with their problems
• Evaluate the effectiveness of therapy and clients' progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives
• Monitor and modify treatment strategies as needed in order to match the needs of the clients

• Ensure psychological follow-up, including referral to psychiatric assessment and follow-up when necessary
• Recommend to JASL adolescents in need of school attendance support
• Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports
• Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment
• Facilitate monthly support group sessions with adolescents living with HIV
• Prepare and submit monthly report to Supervisor
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Required Competencies

• Strong communication and analytical skills 
• Confidential, open-minded, dependable, non-judgmental
• Good listening skills
• Ability to analyse and solve problems
• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work professionally and cooperate with team members and representatives of other agencies
• Strong team player
• Willing to work beyond the call of duty
• Proficiency in the use of relevant computer applications

Note

Flexible working hours (including some Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays)

Location(s):  Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios

Reports to:  Regional Programme Manager

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Contact

The Executive Director
Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL)

3 Hendon Drive, 
Kingston 20
Jamaica

Email: infojasl2010@gmail.com

Base Salary: Undisclosed