Associate Welfare Officer (P-2) - short-term

The Associate Welfare Officer provides psychosocial support and assistance to victims and witnesses appearing before the International Criminal Court. The role involves implementing management plans, conducting psychosocial assessments, and coordinating protective and support measures for vulnerable persons in conflict or post-conflict contexts.

Responsibilities

• Provides psychosocial support to protection programme participants in a fully-coordinated manner within the framework of the management plan.
• Implements, monitors and reports on management plans created for each participant, takes coordinated measures to prepare participants for permanent relocation in third countries and ensures the completeness of case records.
• Transfers ICCPP participants to the place of permanent relocation, liaises with the relevant authorities in the receiving countries and takes coordinated measures involving training, skills development, formal education and other forms of practical assistance to prepare participants for their permanent relocation.
• Conducts, under the guidance of the Psychologist at the Headquarters, psychosocial assessments on persons referred to the ICCPP, completes respective reports on and makes recommendations to the management plans for such persons.
• Conducts psychosocial, vulnerability and needs assessments relating to support referrals received by the Team Leader and ensures implementation of subsequent support measures approved by the Senior Manager.
• Provides psychosocial preparation and practical assistance necessary to facilitate the testimony of witnesses who either travel to the Court or appear via video link in the field.
• Establishes a network of service providers including national, international and civil society service providers in the medical, health care, mental health and social fields in the operational areas.
• Provides training and advice to VWS and Court staff on trauma, sexual and gender based violence, vulnerable witnesses and psychosocial support required by witnesses.
• Protects the safety, physical and psychological wellbeing, dignity and privacy of all victims and witnesses with regard to all relevant factors including age, health, and nature of the crime, in particular, but not limited to, where the crime involves sexual or gender violence or violence against children.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times, respects the interests of the witness and acts impartially when cooperating with all parties.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Clinical/ Forensic Psychology or other related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience is accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible work experience (four years with a first-level university degree) in counselling and support of victims of crime and vulnerable persons including assessment and diagnostic skills.
• Proven expertise and experience to assess specific vulnerabilities and distress, make appropriate referrals and to work with clients from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds including vulnerable persons such as victims of sexual violence, children, the elderly and the disabled.
• Work experience in a conflict or post conflict context and/or criminal courts is desirable.
• Expertise in assessing the suitability of persons for inclusion in a witness protection programme is desirable.
• Experience in the administration, implementation and management of support programmes is desirable.
• Understanding and exposure to witness protection programmes is desirable.
• Ability to deal effectively with victims and witnesses in stressful situations, particularly with those who have suffered trauma.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and organisational skills.
• Ability to maintain both internal and external relationships at operational level in matters relevant to the victims/witnesses support and other assistance.
• Knowledge of the legal framework of the Court.
• Cultural and gender sensitivity.
• Ability to work and operate in a multicultural environment.
• Absolute integrity, tact, sensitivity, discretion and good judgment, including particular sensitivity to the needs of victims of sexual violence, children, the elderly and the disabled.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a keen attention to operational details.
• Proficiency in one of the working languages of the Court, English or French, is required. Working knowledge of the other is an asset.
• Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Chinese, Spanish) would be considered an asset.
• Knowledge of Russian and Ukrainian will be considered an asset.

Skills

• Clinical Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Counselling Victims
• Psychosocial Assessments
• Diagnostic Skills
• Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
• Referrals Management
• Support Programmes Management
• Witness Protection Assessment
• Trauma Support Services
• Conflict Context Experience
• Criminal Courts Experience
• Legal Frameworks Knowledge
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Gender Sensitivity
• Multicultural Environment Experience
• Interpersonal Skills
• Negotiation Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Written Communication
• Verbal Communication

Languages

English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian