MHPPS OFFICER (Ukrainian Nationals Only)

About the job

Project HOPE is an international NGO of more than 900 engaged employees and hundreds of volunteers who work in more than 25 countries, responding to the world’s most pressing global health challenges. Throughout our 60-year legacy, Project HOPE has treated millions of patients and provided more than $3 billion worth of medicines to local healthcare organizations around the world. We have helped build hundreds of health programs from the ground up and responded to humanitarian crises worldwide.

Job Purpose:

In charge of supervising and providing guidance to the team of Mental Health workers and Social Workers in the following activities:

• On-the-ground implementation of mental health-related activities in the assigned oblast(s);
• Carrying out all activities related to social support services to individual patients/survivors and linking them via supervised referrals with other relevant government-provided support services and community organizations;
• Developing mental health outreach initiatives and awareness-raising activities and both in the targeted communities; and
• Ensuring the quality of care and analyzing statistics and delivering reporting; Management of psychologists and volunteer staff.

Key Activities and responsibilities:

The MHPSS Officer would implement, monitor and report on all activities related to MHPPS and SGBV defined in the BHA-funded Protection strategy in locations assigned, insuring quality of care aligned with Project Hope standards, meaning:

• Supervising, in close coordination with the Protection/MHPSS Specialist, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, briefing/debriefing, evaluation, potential detection, development and internal communication) of the staff under his/her responsibility in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required.
• Coordinating and ensuring that Mental Health activities (in and outside health facilities), with the clients are performed with regular follow-up in order to provide the most appropriate treatment for clients with psychosocial problems.
• Support the development of in-house guidance and SOPs on case management services, referral pathway procedures, and other Protection-related activities.
• Mapping and regularly updating existing Mental Health and SGBV services in the operational oblasts in order to facilitate both program coordination and development of appropriate pathways. This includes developing relationships with other INGO’s, local NGO’s, community groups and governmental health services.
• Collecting data associated with Project HOPE’s MHPSS and SGBV work, drafting report language and support development of monthly reports according to donor requirements and intern guidelines.
• Under the guidance of the MHPSS Specialist and incoordination with the assigned Health Coordinator and within the scope of practice allowed for non-medical personnel, ensure that psychiatric patients receive proper support in their treatment including psychotropic medication and psychosocial support either directly within a Project HOPE managed program or through referral to an appropriate resource.
• Work with psychologists, volunteers and other MHPSS community actors to organize support groups in identified Social Centers and IDP sites to ensuring ongoing assessment of psychosocial, socio-economic, and administrative needs for patients, provide them with psychological first aid, self-care guidance, and relevant referral information.
• Maintaining a network of and cooperating closely with relevant medical facilities, local and regional officials, institutions, NGOs and indicating possible local actors or local NGOs which could be involved in awareness activities at the local and regional levels.

Context-Specific Accountabilities

The officer will be assigned to one of our operating offices in one of the following oblasts:

• Lviv
• Kyiv (with support to Chernihiv)
• Odesa (with Support to Mykolaiv)
• Dnipro (with support to Zaporizhia)

Some travel between offices and other locations will be required.

Educational Background

• Degree Social Work, Gender related studies, Psychosocial studies; candidate with degrees in Psychology/Clinical Psychology preferred.

Experience

• Understanding of mental health and protection sector program design in humanitarian environments.
• Community experience working with vulnerable populations on psychosocial interventions.
• Candidates with degrees in psychology: Experience in diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders in health care facilities highly preferred.
• Experience in social services departments (NGOs, Governmental organizations)

Technical Skills

• Fluency in Ukrainian/Russian and English is required.
• Diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.
• Psychosocial support techniques knowledge
• Knowledge of and ability to develop/adapt and deliver MHPSS/SGBV trainings and curriculum

Soft Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to humanitarian principles
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Adapts to changes in work environment
• Written communication
• Quality management
• Team work and cooperation

Code of Conduct

It is our shared responsibility and obligation to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Trafficking in Persons, Child Safeguarding and any suggested violation to our Code of Conduct, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any suggested activities then you have an obligation to report.

In addition to the responsibilities referenced above, candidates can expect to be living and working in austere conditions. Lifting moderately heavy objects from the ground, carrying a backpack for extended periods of time, and walking or hiking in remote locations may be necessary to perform these functions.

Physical Demands and the Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics 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.

• Project HOPE employees work in the global health field and may be required to travel or work in countries where working conditions are classified as “hardship”.
• Travel for extended periods by air and other modes of transportation.
• Must be mobile in an office environment and able to use standard office equipment and must be able to communicate in verbal and written form.
• Typical office environment with exposure to a minimal noise level.