Lay Counselor Educator - Survivors Of Torture Project - Palermo | Part-Time Position

MSF Italy has identified migrant and refugee survivors of torture and other forms of intentional violence (SoT) among the most vulnerable and neglected people.

For this reason, since 2020, MSF has developed in the Palermo metropolitan area a program specifically aimed at this target population through a multidisciplinary model of care (medical, psychological, and socio-legal support); until March 2023, the program has been implemented in collaboration with the Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale (ASP) of Palermo and the PROMISE department Forensic Medicine; the socio-legal assistance is strengthened through- the collaboration with the association CLEDU.

From October 2023 two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) have been signed with the Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico (AOUP) "Paolo Giaccone" and the University of Palermo with the aim of strengthening the SoT program in both clinical and research components. The Project also aims to identify SoTs through outreach activities both in formal migrants/refugees' reception centers and informal settlements in the Palermo metropolitan area and beyond, to become a center of referral and provision of specific care for SoT.

• Performs educational activities to patients, families, communities, in collaboration with other team members and partners
• Provides information to patients on existing social and health care services at local level
• Visits hospitalized beneficiaries who are taken in charge or evacuated from Lampedusa to inform on socio-legal/health rights services
• Supports the rapid and safe transfer of beneficiaries to reception facilities, in Palermo or other places
• Supports beneficiaries for: i) follow up of all registrations and integration documentation (STP/SSN instriction; TEAM; residence; etc); ii) housing options; iii) enrolment in Italian language courses, public (CPIA, main option) or private; iv) job search; v) access to other services for authonomy; etc.
• Refers beneficiaries in need of accommodation, vocational training courses and employment to local stakeholders with specific mandate
• Organizes appropriate referral and follow-up of beneficiaries with social needs discharged from the SoT Service or not taken in charge by the Service after the First Assessment, according to the SoT Project guidelines
• Supports group activities and survivors engagement activities