Job Description: Social Worker – Community-Based Psychosocial Support (PSS)

 

Position Type: Full-time, exempt (not eligible to receive overtime pay).

Compensation: Commensurate with experience.

Location: Jerash Camp, UPA Community Center

Reports To: MHPSS Coordinator (technical supervision) and Jerash Center Manager (administrative supervision), with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Regional Director of Programs for program alignment and technical coordination.

 

United Palestinian Appeal (UPA) is committed to supporting the well-being, resilience, and long-term development of Palestinian communities through programs that respond to community priorities and strengthen existing capacities. As part of its continued commitment to Jerash Camp, UPA implements programs that support children, families, and the wider community through education, psychosocial support, and other community-based initiatives.

UPA recognizes that the well-being of children and families is strengthened through a holistic approach that values community participation, family engagement, and collaboration among different actors. Through community-based psychosocial support programming, UPA works alongside communities to create safe and supportive environments where children, youth, and caregivers can develop positive coping skills, strengthen relationships, and access appropriate support when needed.

 

The Social Worker will support the implementation of UPA’s community-based psychosocial support (PSS) program in Jerash Camp as part of UPA’s long-term commitment to strengthening the well-being, resilience, and social connectedness of Palestinian children, families, and the wider community.

 

The Social Worker will contribute to supporting the well-being, resilience, and aspirations of Palestinian children, families, and the wider community in Jerash Camp through the implementation of community-based psychosocial support (PSS) activities. Working closely with community members, project staff, and local partners, the Social Worker will facilitate safe, inclusive, and engaging group activities that strengthen social connectedness, promote positive well-being, and encourage meaningful participation.

 

The role will also contribute to a holistic approach to community support by strengthening connections between families and available services, providing follow-up where needed, and helping ensure that individuals receive appropriate support that builds on their strengths, responds to their needs, and promotes their dignity and well-being.

 

• Planning, Facilitating and Supporting PSS Activities: Plan, organize, facilitate and support UPA’s structured psychosocial support group-based and community-based activities for children, adolescents, caregivers, women, and other community members. These activities may include participatory activities that promote psychosocial well-being and resilience; as well as awareness-raising sessions on

 

positive parenting, child development, available services, and other topics relevant to psychosocial well-being and community needs.

• Creating Safe, Inclusive, and Supportive Spaces: Foster safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments where children, youth, caregivers, and community members feel respected, valued, and encouraged to participate. Facilitate activities that promote psychosocial well-being, resilience, positive coping, social connectedness, and a sense of belonging.

• Supporting Community Engagement: Participate in community events, dialogue sessions, and parent/community engagement activities to strengthen trust, encourage participation, and ensure programming remains responsive to community priorities.

• Strengthening Family and Caregiver Engagement: Engage caregivers and families as active partners in supporting children’s and community members’ well-being. Promote positive interactions, communication, and supportive relationships through PSS activities and community engagement approaches.

• Promoting Participation and Inclusion: Ensure all psychosocial activities are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs and abilities of participants.

• Building on Community Strengths and Resources: Support a strengths-based approach by recognizing existing family, community, and social support systems. Encourage participants and caregivers to actively engage in activities and contribute to creating supportive environments within the community.

• Adapting Activities to Context and Participant Needs: Adjust and tailor activities based on participants’ ages, abilities, interests, feedback, and evolving needs while ensuring activities remain culturally appropriate and relevant to the community context.

• Identifying Needs and Facilitating Appropriate Follow-Up: Observe participant well-being during activities and identify individuals who may benefit from additional support. Provide appropriate follow-up, conduct home visits when needed, and facilitate referrals through established pathways while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.

• Supporting Learning and Continuous Improvement: Document participant feedback, lessons learned, challenges, and emerging needs to contribute to the continuous improvement and adaptation of PSS activities.

 

• Ensure follow-up support and appropriate referral for children and families who may require additional attention or support.

• Conduct home visits when appropriate to better understand family circumstances, strengthen engagement, and support continued participation in program activities.

• Provide families with information and guidance and support linkages to relevant services based on identified needs.

 

• Build respectful and positive relationships with children, families, caregivers, community members, and local stakeholders.

• Work collaboratively with community center staff and project teams to strengthen community participation and program effectiveness.

• Contribute to community outreach and awareness activities that promote psychosocial well-being, inclusion, and positive community engagement.

• Support a collaborative approach where community members are recognized as active partners in strengthening their own well-being and resilience.

 

• Maintain accurate records of activities, attendance, participant engagement, referrals, and follow-up actions.

• Support project monitoring, reporting, and documentation requirements.

• Collect participant feedback and contribute to learning processes that strengthen program quality and relevance.

• Identify emerging needs, challenges, and opportunities to improve program implementation.

• Serve as the focal point for psychosocial support referrals identified through program activities, community center staff, teachers, facilitators, or other relevant channels.

• Support the identification of individuals who may require additional services and facilitate referrals through established referral pathways.

• Coordinate with relevant service providers, community organizations, and stakeholders to strengthen access to appropriate support.

• Maintain an up-to-date mapping of services available within and beyond Jerash Camp, including UNRWA services, Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), health providers, legal aid, livelihoods, education, disability support, and mental health services.

• Adhere to UPA policies, procedures, code of conduct, safeguarding standards, and professional requirements.

• Maintain respectful and professional relationships with colleagues, partners, and community members.

• Participate in supervision, team meetings, trainings, and organizational learning activities.

 

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Community

Development, or another relevant field.

• Minimum of six years of relevant experience implementing community-based psychosocial support, social work, community programming, or related interventions, preferably within an NGO or INGO setting.

• Experience facilitating group-based and participatory community-based psychosocial interventions.

• Experience working with children, youth, caregivers, families, and community members.

• Understanding of community-based psychosocial support principles and approaches.

• Prior experience working with Palestinian refugee communities, refugee populations, or within camp-based settings.

• Familiarity with the social and cultural dynamics of Jerash Camp and the local community context is highly desirable.

• Experience supporting referrals, conducting home visits, or providing follow-up support to children and families.

• Arabic (native or fluent) and working knowledge of English is required for coordination and reporting purposes.

 

• Experience working within community centers or through community-based programming approaches.

• Familiarity with available community resources and service providers in Jerash Governorate is an advantage.

 

• Strong communication, facilitation, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.

• Ability to establish respectful and trusting relationships with children, families, caregivers, and community members.

• Strong understanding of community-based, strengths-based, and participatory approaches.

• Ability to create inclusive environments that encourage participation and engagement.

• Ability to adapt activities based on participant needs, community feedback, and changing contexts.

• Strong active listening skills and ability to respond sensitively to individual and community needs.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team while also managing responsibilities independently.

• Cultural sensitivity and awareness of the social, economic, and contextual realities affecting Palestinian refugee communities.

• Commitment to confidentiality, ethical practice, safeguarding principles, and respectful engagement.

 

 

 

UPA empowers Palestinians to improve their lives and communities through socially responsible and sustainable programs in health, education, and community and economic development.

 

United Palestinian Appeal (UPA) www.upaconnect.org is a 501(c) (3) New York-registered non-profit organization, with headquarters in Washington, DC, and works in the occupied Palestinian territories and refugee camps in Amman and Lebanon. Established in 1978 by Palestinian-American professionals, UPA was conceived as a non-political, non-sectarian organization that would help Palestinians meet their relief and development needs.

 

 

To apply, please send your resume (C.V.) and cover letter to employment@upaconnect.org by 6 August 2026.