Specialist, MHPSS, LN

Job Description

Position Summary

The mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) specialist will be responsible for implementing and managing the technical components of a comprehensive MHPSS project. International Medical Corps’ approach to mental health is heavily based on training and developing the capacity of local partners and national staff; the successful candidate should therefore have experience in training, on the job supervision and mentoring, coordination and in building referral links to other formal service providers and informal community supports. The mental health specialist will train, supervise, coordinate and oversee a national team of mental health officers and a team of community outreach volunteers who will engage in outreach, follow-up and basic mental health and psychosocial support. The MHPSS specialist will closely work and coordinate with the project mental health and psychosocial coordinator (psychiatrist) who is tasked to oversee all MHPSS related activities including training and supervising general health care providers in mental health using mhGAP Intervention Guidelines

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation:

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively lead or participate in coordination mechanisms in the area (e.g. Health, general coordination, potential MHPSS coordination group) and advocate for principles of IASC MHPSS guidelines.
• Identify and train local mental health officers and refugee staff/volunteers in community outreach, mental health case management, follow-up and mental health promotion
• Provide training in the identification and non-pharmacological management of priority mental health condition to general health staff in line with WHO mhGAP Intervention Guidelines in coordination with project MHPSS coordinator (psychiatrist)
• Engage trained staff and volunteers in on the job mentoring and supervision
• Provide mental health and psychosocial support services along with health staff as needed
• Ensure completion and analysis of pre post knowledge tests and on the job supervision checklists.
• Support collection and reporting of mental health project data including HMIS reporting and patient outcomes (e.g. functioning, satisfaction with services)
• Provide training in other MHPSS topics as appropriate, depending on identified needs (e.g. key aspects of psychological first aid and relevant aspects of IASC guidelines) to IMC and staff from other agencies
• Implement social and recreational activities (e.g. youth friendly activities)
• Assist with the development of new proposals
• Assist with hiring of national staff as needed
• Implement the project in line with IMC and global MHPSS standards and guidelines and closely coordinate with IMC’s Technical Unit Global Mental Health Advisor for development and review of training materials and reports.
• Represent IMC in MHPSS related meetings and coordination groups

Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

Job Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Typically a 4-year University degree in related area. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate
• The qualified candidate will be a mental health professional (psychologist, clinical social worker, psychiatrist, or psychiatric nurse)
• Typically, 5+ years’ experience working on MHPSS programs, preferably in humanitarian settings
• Training and clinical supervision practice and experience required
• Knowledgeable in and experience following IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergencies and international best practices on the integration of MHPSS into primary health care settings
• Demonstrable technical expertise in the assessment, design, and delivery of responses to pre-existing and emergency-induced MHPSS needs
• Training experience required; capacity and proven track record in national staff and partner training and capacity-building
• Strong organizational and supervisory skills
• Honest, hardworking and self-motivated
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within different cultural environments
• Strong written and communication skills
• Ability to work within a team structure or independently, flexible, and can cope with stressful workload
• An excellent command of verbal and written English

Additional Technical or Language Requirements

International Medical Corps (IMC) delivers a comprehensive package of high-quality primary health care, reproductive health, maternal and newborn care, gender-based violence (GBV), and child protection (CP) services to children, women, and men affected by the protracted armed conflict in Yemen. The primary objective is to strengthen the capacity of local service providers, including the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP) and national implementing partners, and to reinforce community engagement to facilitate early recovery and ownership, thereby sustaining the impact of the intervention. Under the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) intervention, IMC provides prevention and response services across the three layers of the MHPSS intervention pyramid, with a focus on community and family support (layer 2) and focused non-specialized support (layer 3). The MHPSS specialist is expected to fulfill the following areas:

(1) Provide training and capacity building on Psychological First Aid (PFA), basic counseling skills, focused non-specialized interventions such as Problem Management Plus (PM+), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), mindfulness techniques, facilitating group psychosocial support (PSS) structured curriculums and awareness-raising activities for social and health workers.

(2) Provide supervision, mentorship, and support to social and health workers to ensure high-quality service provision.

(3) Update and maintain active referral pathways protocols to ensure seamless access to MHPSS services.

(4) Promote the integration of MHPSS principles and services across its sectors, including Protection, Nutrition, and Health.

(5) Actively participate in MHPSS coordination groups to ensure a cohesive and effective response. IMC is seeking a qualified MHPSS Specialist with a graduate degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, or a related field. Previous experience in providing WHO-guided individual interventions, such as PM+, Self-Help, IPT, and/or group interventions like Women Rise and Thinking Healthy Curriculum, is highly desirable.