MHPSS Officer

Position Title: MHPSS Officer

Duty Station: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P2

Type of Appointment: Special short-term graded, six months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 04 July 2023

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Context:

International Organization for Migration (IOM) is implementing a multi-sector response programs in the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. In Cox’s Bazar, IOM is providing lifesaving emergency Primary Health Care services across 23 primary health care facilities in Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazillas. In addition, IOM operates a large referral system for secondary medical services outside this two Upazillas. The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support projects aims to: 1) Strengthen the national system in the provision of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services through increased coordination and knowledge management, 2) Improve MHPSS coverage by adding and expanding outreach services and elements to the host community, as well as addressing the need to strengthen local capacity for adequately detecting and responding to mental health challenges, and 3) Strengthen the community-based and development approach of the MHPSS response. While implementing these services, IOM’s priority is to strengthen capacity of Government of Bangladesh, International and National Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with whom it partners closely.

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator (Emergency Health) and the direct supervision of the Project Officer (MHPSS) of IOM Cox’s Bazar-Bangladesh, the successful candidate will be responsible and accountable for the operational, implementation, and monitoring of the IOM MHPSS portfolio in Cox’s Bazar, according to relevant international guidelines and standards. The MHPSS programme includes promoting the psychosocial well-being of Rohingya and host community.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Support the MHPSS project officer to monitor the activities in the field to guarantee adherence to the work plan and compliance of indicators of achievement of the programme.
2. Provide technical oversight, supervision of the community based MHPSS programming.Focusing predominantly to scale up activities to improve MHPSS coverage by adding and expanding outreach services and elements beyond the Rohingya and to the host community, as well as addressing the need to strengthen capacity to adequately detect and respond to mental health challenges.
3. Contribute to the improvement of MHPSS services, through the route of primary healthcare response, it will be scaled up utilizing a systemic, family and group approach. This will help to manifest a relational impact that strengthens beneficiary support systems and increases programme efficacy in terms of mental ill-health prevention.
4. Facilitate establishment of MHPSS service delivery to beneficiaries at refugee health facilities and to improve host community access.
5. Establish a specialized core MHPSS team dedicated to strengthening outreach services for Rohingya and host community members to improve proximity to affected communities in the implementation of the programme.
6. Design an intervention with focus on bringing services closer to host communities and conducting awareness-raising campaigns and psychoeducational activities to reduce stigma around mental health conditions and psychosocial support.
7. Support the MHPSS Team in the field to develop and implement a holistic and systemic MHPSS strategy for IOM in Cox’s Bazar, in line with the scope areas of the programme. Core team will be supervised and trained regularly in order to reflect upon work practices and maintain a monitoring component for consistent assessment of programming standards. This technical supervision is aimed at improving the quality of available services and preventing harm to both affected individuals and communities receiving services.
8. Supervise and follow up trainings conducted under the agreements with local academia, to guarantee the programme will involve continuous supervision and mentoring sessions of the trainees to facilitate the improvement in the provision of direct services.
9. Oversee the capacity strengthening process to identify, refer, treat and follow up severe mental disorders amongst affected communities.
10. Support the implementation and operations of all MHPSS activities in the field.
11. Determine appropriate coordination and referral system with health actors providing MHPSS services.
12. Identify training needs, areas of improvement in the implementation of the activities to ensure adequate capacity building to IOM MHPSS staff and Health Unit, Psychosocial Support (PSS) mobile teams in the prioritise camp sites and other relevant actors, refugee population is provided with adequate interventions and training.
13. Contribute to build capacity of key actors in each IOM health centre at the main camp sites and ensure IOM services are included where relevant in the multidisciplinary response.
14. Ensure at any given time MHPSS program is driven by a sound Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) framework and qualitative and quantitative indicators are always relevant and updated.
15. Support to mentor IOM MHPSS team in the camps, including volunteers, and ensure IOM administrative procedures are always respected.
16. In collaboration with the MHPSS project officer establish comprehensive clear work-plans for staff and PSS teams and provide timely weekly and monthly reporting on IOM MHPSS activities.
17. Undertake field assignments and assessments as needed and requested by the MHPSS Project officer.
18. Provide MHPSS trainings out of duty stations as required.
19. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or
• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Experience in providing clinical and non-clinical instruction/training in a multi-disciplinaryMHPSS program with a community-based approach;
• Experiences in psychosocial and mental health interventions in emergencies at an international level;
• Experience in implementing MHPSS projects refugees or conflict affected populations, providing case management, coaching, and mentoring to both specialists and non-specialists;
• Proven experience in managing larger teams in field including follow up on a day-to-day basis;
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of United Nations (UN) and international agency structures;
• Operational and field experience in health-related issues of migrated and/or displaced persons,programme development, migration health, including conceptualization, analysis and implementation of programme, International public health and resource mobilization

Skills

• Skill in strengthening service delivery programs, training, performance and quality improvement and monitoring and evaluation
• The ability to provide technical training in a clear understandable way for the field staff taking into account cultural sensitivities

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of either French, Spanish and/or Bangla is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.