Jesuit Refugee Service
Jesuit Refugee Service – South Sudan
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Coordinator
Location: Maban, South Sudan
Application Closing Date: 23rd November 2022
Position: MHPSS Coordinator
Reporting Line: Program Manager
Position opened to: Both Internationals andSouth Sudanese Nationals
Organizational Context:
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organization, with a mission to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. JRS has a priority to work wherever the needs of displaced people are urgent and unattended by others and offers a human service to refugees and the communities through a wide range of rehabilitation and relief activities, many of which centred around formal and informal education needs
JRS’ MHPSS Department offers a range of services to people who have been displaced in 4 refugee camps in Maban, the Upper Nile Region of South Sudan. JRS MHPSS services also reach the host community of the same location. The JRS MHPSS intervention in Maban uses a multi-layered response with focus on provision of basic services, re-establishing community networks and support systems and providing focused non-specialized as well as specialized services for most vulnerable groups. Services include home visits, groups, material support, individual counselling and psychotherapy, group therapy, family therapy, training in basic mental health and counselling, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and distribution of mobility assistive devices.
JRS Psychosocial Response:
In response to the needs of the communities in Maban, JRS is implementing a diverse suite of psychosocial programs. Healthy relationships are the foundation of safe, thriving communities and strong families. Bonds rooted in respect and understanding sustain peace at all levels of society and protect individuals from abuse, exploitation, and exclusion. JRS’ psychosocial activities aim to equip community members with tools to build and maintain such a foundation. Specifically, JRS’s work aims to strengthen the community’s capacity to:
- Remain resilient in managing the daily hardships and challenges of life
- Resolve conflicts
- Manage adversity and promote healing of trauma in healthy ways
- Sustain supportive and empathetic relationships
Acknowledging the unique challenges faced by people with special needs, women, and children, JRS employs a holistic approach inviting families, caregivers, and community leaders to participate in its activities. These activities are framed by the global organization’s values of Accompany, Serve, and Advocate.
Program activities include:
- Support Groups
- Individual Counselling
- Referrals for Additional Services
- Day Care for Children with Disabilities
- Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities
- Youth Sports & Recreation
- Trainings in Psychosocial Skills
- Physiotherapy
MHPSS Coordinator Role Includes
The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Coordinator oversees the MHPSS Department and is ultimately responsible for the successful implementation of all program activities within its purview. The successful candidate will have proven ability in leadership and management, experience in organizational and programmatic management, an ability to solve problems creatively with minimal resources, and technical expertise and recognized qualifications in MHPSS or related field.
MHPSS Coordinator Responsibilities & Activities
JRS Project Senior Management Team Leadership
- Serving as a member of the JRS Maban Senior Management Team (SMT) and providing support to Project Director as necessary
- Contributing to personal and professional development opportunities for the entire JRS team
- Fostering the JRS ethos in all team members
- Ensuring JRS Policies, including Child Safeguarding, are upheld to the highest standard across the entire JRS community
- Representing JRS at Camp Coordination and other partners’ meetings
- Collaborate with Program Manager on strategic program development and vision
MHPSS Department Staff Supervision
- Providing ongoing professional and technical support and supervision to 15-20 staff on the Psychosocial team and oversight of 50-60 community-based incentive workers in the field
- Facilitating capacity-building opportunities for JRS staff team in service of project sustainability and building professional skills of South Sudanese
Project Management
- Ensuring that budget and funded targets for PS department are achieved, and the work plan is successfully carried out in a timely manner
- Managing data collected by the team and using it to inform program decisions
- Serving as JRS focal point for all referrals to Psychosocial services and coordinating effectively with other humanitarian actors to deliver services to clients
- Completing accurate and timely reports for JRS and donors
- Monitoring budgets and resources allocated to the project
- Assuring high-quality service provision
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will have:
- A clear commitment to the mission and ethos of JRS and share its values of compassion, professionalism, and desire to be with those most in need.
- Master’s degree in social work, counselling, psychology, human services, or another related field
- Minimum 3 years’ professional experience in project management of a humanitarian services delivery project.
- Working and updated knowledge of MHPSS best practices and techniques, including Psychological First Aid (PFA), Mental Health Global Action Programme (mhGAP), IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings, Problem Management Plus (PM+), theories of community-based services
- Experience with service delivery to multicultural and diverse populations, particularly in international and emergency humanitarian settings
- Experience with data management and an ability to use data to inform program decisions
- Experience in program design, quality assurance, and monitoring/evaluation
- Demonstrated success supervising and leading teams
- Expertise in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
- Strong skills in thinking analytically and strategically
- Demonstrated ability to solve problems effectively and quickly with minimal resources available
- Demonstrated ability to work and live in a stressful environment with only basic amenities
- Commitment to working with marginalized and vulnerable communities
- Excellent skills in English (required), skills in oral Arabic desirable
Reports to: Program Manager
Supervises: Assistant MHPSS Coordinator for Counseling and Assistant MHPSS Coordinator for Rehabilitation and Inclusion.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit the following documents to [email protected] by November 23, 2022, with the subject of the email as ‘MHPSS Coordinator – Maban’.
- An updated cover letter demonstrating the candidate’s suitability against the Ideal Candidate Profile outlined above.
- A current Curriculum Vitae with three Professional References
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the urgent need to fill this vacant position, we will be reviewing the applications on a rolling basis. Only candidates who apply by the deadline and who demonstrate the required experience will be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and only candidates who progress to the final oral interview stage will be informed of the outcome. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Commitment to Child Safeguarding:
JRS is committed to the safeguarding of children (under 18 years) who encounter with JRS South Sudan personnel and volunteers in all JRS South Sudan works. All JRS-South Sudan staff are expected to comply with JRS Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures in this regard and to sign a declaration of commitment to this effect.
Commitment to Protection of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA):
JRS-South Sudan takes the protection of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) seriously and all the JRS-South Sudan personnel and volunteers are expected to comply with the JRS-PSEA policy and to sign a declaration of commitment.