Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Advisor

Responsible for the strategic design, planning and technical supervision of all mental health and psychosocial support programming at the regional level including Ukraine and Moldova. Takes the lead in representing the organization technically in national and sub-national MHPSS technical working groups, coordinates with MHPSS technical stakeholders and donors, identifies areas of improvement in quality or expansion of programming to address critical MHPSS needs in targeted communities.

Medical Teams International Calling:

Daring to love like Jesus, we boldly break barriers to health and restore wholeness in a hurting world.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development of country level MHPSS strategies, methods, and standards for the implementing field teams in close collaboration with the Health Advisor to ensure integration
• Ensure programs and projects are aligned with Medical Teams strategy, core service package, and interventions are based on best available evidence and international standards.
• Work closely with the Country Director, Field coordinators, Health Advisor, Medical Coordinators, and field teams to identify strategic MHPSS needs in targeted communities or gaps in country level MHPSS response
• Develop supervision model for MHPSS programming, including any clinical support necessary, if MHPSS program includes direct provision of counselling or individual therapy
• Work closely with Medical Coordinators to support and advocate for operational needs of the MHPSS programs
• Contextualize and adapt global guidelines, tools, and protocols to meet local identified needs for program implementation and training with support of the HQ Health Advisor; collate and store all documents appropriately in Sharepoint
• Monitor the MHPSS specific health information systems and data management as carried out by the implementing field teams and M&E teams to ensure it is regularly analysed and meeting the needs of MHPSS teams and donor requirements
• Support Medical Coordinators and MHPSS staff to troubleshoot challenges and respond to emerging needs within the MHPSS
• Monitor and evaluate MHPSS interventions against accepted international humanitarian standards and ensure application of evidenced based practices to deliver high quality services to the targeted communities
• Assist in MHPSS staff recruitment along with senior management, program manager/field coordinators and medical coordinators and ensure training and capacity building of the MHPSS technical staff based on assessed needs in line with planned interventions
• Liaise with Health Advisor, Medical Coordinators, and logistics teams to support pharmaceutical supply chains for mhGAP medications including forecasting, procurement, warehousing, consumption tracking where relevant
• Represent Medical Teams at national MHPSS technical working group meetings and in sub-national meetings in coordination with the MHPSS managers communicating the work of Medical Teams to other partners and ensuring relevant information is shared back to country office team and HQ technical team
• Provide technical contributions to health cluster plans, tools and reports as a representative of Medical Teams in the focal area of MHPSS
• Maintain relationships as first point of contact with the MHPSS focal points within the Ministry of Health and local health authorities, donor technical teams and partners
• Act as last line clinical consultation for individual counselling and therapy and make recommendations for referrals for specialized care; Support MHPSS manager(s) to establish and keep updated MHPSS referral pathways for all program locations.
• Support production of situational and donor reports leading on analysis of data and response to achievements or shortfalls within the MHPSS activities
• Serve as technical lead for all MHPSS aspects of assessment planning, implementation, and reporting
• Lead MHPSS sub-sector strategy and project design development for new donor proposals and budgeting processes including support for logframes and monitoring and evaluation plans along with M&E team with support from the HQ Health Advisor
• Provide direct line management of MHPSS Managers if required due to staffing fluctuations; ensuring direct reports have clear objectives, receive mentorship and participate in capacity building opportunities
• Conduct performance evaluations and enforce disciplinary procedures as per Medical Teams policy based on any direct line management responsibilities alongside field coordinators
• Ensure the Safeguarding of program participants and employees through promoting an environment of awareness and upholding the code of conduct provisions of Medical Teams Protection from Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Child & Vulnerable Adult protection, and harassment-free workplace policies
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION, LICENSES, & CERTIFICATIONS

• Psychologist, Licensed counsellor, Marriage and Family Therapist, Social Worker or other relevant clinical degree is required; Masters degree preferred
• Certified trainer in Psychological First Aid, mhGap, and/or Problem Management + desirable
• Postgraduate training in Public Health is an added advantage

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 2 years progressive responsibility in international humanitarian programs
• Minimum 2 years senior management related to MHPSS in an international setting with at least one year in a humanitarian context at an NGO.
• Experience in MHPSS program design and implementation preferably in community-based work
• Experience with an international NGO or UN agency is required
• Experience outside of home country is desirable

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of humanitarian principles and operations and project cycle management
• Knowledge of WHO and UN health systems and policies as related to MHPSS
• Strong knowledge of evidenced based practices in MHPSS particularly in humanitarian settings
• Basic knowledge of principles and current approaches to monitoring and evaluation in relief and development programs
• Knowledge of Ukraine conflict situation and current humanitarian response
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and working with conflict affected populations

Skills

• Skilled in communications using email, applications including teams, and whatsapp
• Skilled in project cycle management
• Skilled in capacity building and mobilizing staff to achieve a common goal
• Skilled in relationship building with the ability to liaise with multiple partner agencies
• Skilled in data analysis and writing proposals and reports
• Skilled at using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Abilities:

• Strategic thinker with analytical skills and ability to think outside of the box
• Keen interest to mentor others
• Ability to travel to field locations including health facilities and social centers to support activities
• Ability to exercise considerable initiative to plan, organize and follow through to meet deadlines
• Ability to support Medical Teams Calling and adhere to the Medical Teams Code of Conduct

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee must be able to:

• Frequent use of a personal computer, database and digital platforms, and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and computer printer.
• Frequently uses hands, fingers, and arms to reach, handle, touch or feel equipment, medical instruments, materials, computer.
• Frequent communication and exchange of information among colleagues and persons of concern which requires the ability to speak, hear, convey and express oneself.
• Frequent close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally ascends/descends stairs, steps, or ladder
• Occasionally move about inside an office to access file cabinets, office machinery, meet with colleagues, etc.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Seldom to occasionally positions self to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• If in travel status, occasional to frequent traversing over rough or steep terrain in either a motor vehicle or on foot.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.
• The employee may be required to travel to remote areas of the world where there are potential health hazards and risks, limited hygiene facilities, extreme weather, and very basic living conditions.