Position Title: Clinical Psychologist
Reporting To: Programme Manager, Mental Health and Psychosocial
Wellbeing
Location: Kampala, Uganda
Workstation: Refugee Law Project Office, Kampala
Role Purpose:
The Clinical Psychologist will be primarily responsible for conducting comprehensive
psychological assessments and diagnosing a range of mental health conditions among clients.
Based on these assessments, the role involves developing, implementing, and monitoring
individualized and/or group treatment plans, including the provision of evidence-based
psychotherapeutic interventions tailored to clients’ needs.
In addition, the Clinical Psychologist will play a key role in coordinating care by liaising with
other professionals and relevant mental health units or service providers to ensure a holistic and
integrated approach to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). This includes making
appropriate referrals, participating in multidisciplinary case management, and ensuring that clients
receive timely, high-quality, and ethically sound services.
Key Performance Areas
KPA 1: Direct Client Support
1. Conduct comprehensive psychological assessments to diagnose emotional, behavioural,
and mental health conditions using a combination of clinical interviews, direct observation,
and standardized psychometric tools.
2. Develop and implement individualized and/or group, evidence-based treatment plans that
are responsive to the specific needs, contexts, and vulnerabilities of clients.
3. Provide a range of psychotherapeutic and counselling services, including individual, group,
family, and household-based sessions, ensuring culturally sensitive and trauma-informed
care.
4. Monitor and evaluate client progress on an ongoing basis, adjusting treatment plans as
necessary, including through follow-up sessions and home visits where appropriate.
5. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including psychiatrists, social workers, and other
healthcare providers, to ensure coordinated and holistic care for clients.
6. Maintain accurate, up-to-date, and confidential client records in line with professional,
ethical, and legal standards.
Key Performance Area (KPA) 2: Interventions’ Documentation and Archiving
1. Maintain an up-to-date, accurate, and comprehensive client database, ensuring proper data
entry, management, and secure storage in line with confidentiality and data protection
standards.2. Support the adoption, adaptation, and/or development of appropriate psychosocial and
psychological assessment and intervention tools, ensuring they are contextually relevant
and evidence-based.
3. Lead and actively participate in the analysis of client data to generate insights that inform
programme design, service delivery, and continuous improvement of MHPSS
interventions.
4. Document significant change stories and case studies that effectively capture and
communicate the impact and transformation resulting from MHPSS services among
refugees and host communities.
5. Contribute to the development and piloting of innovative mental health and psychosocial
support approaches to enhance service delivery and respond to emerging needs.
6. Prepare and submit timely, high-quality, and evidence-based intervention reports,
including monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, in line with organizational and donor
requirements.
Key Performance Area (KPA) 3: Community-Related Engagements
1. Provide psychoeducation to clients, their families, and caregivers on mental health
conditions, treatment options, and effective coping strategies to promote recovery and
resilience.
2. Deliver timely and appropriate crisis intervention services, including psychological first
aid and stabilization support, for individuals experiencing acute distress or emergencies.
3. Lead and participate in the facilitation of review, supervision, and mentorship meetings
with community-based structures, including community workers and teachers, to
strengthen capacity in identifying and responding to mental health and psychosocial needs.
4. Plan, organize, and facilitate trainings, workshops, and continuous learning sessions for
staff to enhance their technical competencies and ensure alignment with current best
practices and emerging trends in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).
Key Performance Area (KPA) 4: Advancement of Knowledge through Research,
Documentation, and Advocacy
1. Contribute to and actively participate in research initiatives aimed at generating rigorous
evidence on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing among refugees, forcibly displaced
persons, and host communities. This includes supporting data collection, analysis, and the
development of evidence-based findings and recommendations to inform policy,
programming, and advocacy.
2. Undertake independent and collaborative research and contribute to the publication of
findings in peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, and other professional platforms.
3. Develop and maintain a robust documentation and archival system to systematically
capture, organize, and preserve research outputs, reports, and related materials, ensuring
institutional learning and continuity.
4. Participate in national, regional, and international forums addressing mental health and
psychosocial wellbeing as a cross-cutting issue, with the aim of promoting RLP’s work,
sharing knowledge, and advocating for the rights and wellbeing of marginalized and
displaced populations.5. Produce accessible knowledge products, including blogs, articles, and social media content
(e.g., Twitter/X and Facebook), to disseminate key insights and amplify the impact of
programme work.
6. Collaborate with other teams and programmes within RLP to ensure the integration of
mental health and psychosocial considerations across all areas of programming and
advocacy.
Key Performance Area (KPA) 5: Professional Development, Supervision, and Staff
Wellbeing
1. Provide psychological consultation services to MHPSS staff, multidisciplinary
professionals, and partners to strengthen clinical decision-making and ensure the delivery
of high-quality mental health and psychosocial support services.
2. Participate in and provide structured reports on workshops, webinars, conferences, and
other professional learning events related to mental health and psychosocial support,
ensuring continuous professional development and up-to-date practice.
3. Support the design, coordination, and delivery of trainings, seminars, and information
sessions on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, aimed at strengthening the capacity
of staff, partners, and community stakeholders to effectively respond to the psychosocial
needs of beneficiaries.
4. Lead the planning and coordination of support supervision processes for staff and partners,
with a focus on mitigating vicarious trauma, enhancing staff wellbeing, and maintaining
high standards of MHPSS service delivery.
5. Actively participate in internal and external support supervision sessions organized within
and outside the organization to promote reflective practice and continuous improvement.
6. In liaison with the Programme Manager, develop, implement, and periodically review a
personal self-care and wellbeing plan (quarterly) to ensure resilience, effectiveness, and
sustained professional performance.
Qualifications and Experience
• A Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from a recognised institution.
• Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology combined with a relevant postgraduate
diploma and specialised training in mental health, with a minimum of ten (10) years of
relevant professional experience.
• A Diploma in Psychiatry or Advanced Diploma in Psychology, with specialisation in Child
Psychology, Counselling Psychology, and/or Trauma-Informed Care, will be an added
advantage.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience working in humanitarian settings, or
equivalent experience in trauma-informed care and mental health and psychosocial support
(MHPSS) programming.