MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT OFFICER

Medicos del Mundo (MdM) is an independent international movement of active campaigners, who provide care, bear witness, and support social change. MdM campaigns for a world without any barriers to healthcare, a world in which health is recognized as a fundamental right.  Medicos del Mundo is the Spanish division of the international MdM Network implementing emergency response and development programmes in Ukraine.  MdM Mission in Ukraine was established following the emergency assessment conducted in April 2015 and focused on changes in the availability of and access to healthcare, particularly for the most vulnerable groups of the population, including the elderly and people with chronic diseases.  One of the main goals of MdM is ensuring and extending the access of the Ukrainian population to timely and quality primary healthcare (PHC), Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services, and Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention. In Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts MdM is targeting the most vulnerable communities through the mobile outreach unit approach, covering locations that have been affected by the hostilities or hosting large numbers of Internally Displaced People in the situation when the health system has been severely disrupted and overloaded during the war.

 GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE OF INTERVENTION:

 The incumbent is based in Zaporizhzhia 

 ORGANIZATION CHART

 Working under the direct line management of the MHPSS Manager

 JOB SUMMARY

 Under the direct supervision of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Manager, the MHPSS Officer organizes, implements and follows up the project in Kyiv and Chernihiv region. 

The MHPSS Officer is responsible for implementing capacity building activities on evidence-based scalable MHPSS interventions aimed to build the capacity of helping professionals identified as a target audience in the MHPSS project(s) (including but not limited to primary health care staff; social workers, and community health focal points) under direct supervision of MHPSS Manager and technical support of MHPSS Coordinator.  

In addition, s/he is responsible for organizing and conducting MHPSS needs assessments at the community level and coordinating activities with other MHPSS providers (INGOs) and stakeholders existing on the community level (i.e. school; social services; church; village council) in accordance with validated methodology and the targeted locations of operations when required by the program needs. Following up with MEAL department and drafting needs assessment reports are within the responsibility of the MHPSS Officer . 

 The MHPSS Officer is also responsible for developing, implementing and supervising awareness raising activities on community levels aimed at mental health promotion and stigma reduction among general populations in the targeted locations after the validation of MHPSS Coordinator and technical and organizational support  of MHPSS Manager, if needed.  

 The MHPSS Officer ensures data collection, reporting and coordinating the activities with health/MHPSS  outreach team in relation to coordinating these activities on the community level. 

 MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES;

• Implement and follow up of MdM’s MHPSS capacity building programs (including Problem Management+, SH+, mhGAP, DWM and ToTs where relevant) on the regional  level;
• Conduct MHPSS needs assessments and map MHPSS services and referral pathway specific to the target communities under the technical framework of MdM;  
• Actively contribute to and co-facilitate trainings on MHPSS and GBV to build capacity of helping professionals (including, but not limited to primary health care health workers), and lay community workers in frames of MdMs program scope under the supervision of MHPSS Manager;  
• Plan and implement MHPSS awareness activities in line with MdM methodology and quality standards that raise awareness and overcome stigma around MHPSS and GBV on community level and facilitate access to MHPSS services.
•  Substitute the Psychologist in outreach direct service provision or helpline service provision in case of need and upon request. 

              Community Mental Health Programs 

• Be responsible for implementation of MHPSS capacity building mental health programs on community levels (including selection of participants, supervision, following-up and monitoring) in accordance to the project(s)scope and plan.  
• Support the MHPSS Manager in updating and mainstreaming the referral maps and systems 

 Awareness Raising

• Assessing needs of MHPSS information in communities and developing strategies on how to reach particular vulnerable groups
• Delivering MHPSS awareness raising sessions based on MdM’s MHPSS technical framework upon validation of  MHPSS Coordinator. 
• Preparing relevant MRs and working closely with the support departments for the implementation of capacity building activities. 

  MHPSS care – direct service provision (if covering the HR gaps in MHPSS Teams or ad-hoc programmatic needs) 

• Delivering individual MHPSS services
• Providing group psychological support and conducting group psychoeducation sessions 
• Making referrals, according the national and MdM guidelines, to other health, social, legal, and livelihood services         
• Coordination with NGOs, local associations 
• Maintain regular contacts with other NGOs and organizations operating on the community level;
• Update the mapping of service providers available on the community level with the support of outreach psychologists;  
• Ensure coordination and communication with MHPSS providers, state authorities in Health and Social Protection on the community levels;  
• Provide a short summary when meetings are attended. 

1. Monitoring and Reporting

•  Assist in collecting mental health data from delivered activities on a regular basis and develop corrective measures when needed, in coordination with MHPSS Manager;
• Contribute to regular reports on MHPSS activities, in coordination with MHPSS Manager, MHPSS Technical Expert, Deputy MHPSS Coordinator and Field Coordinator.

 Others 

• Maintain good socio-professional relationships with national and international partners;
• Have a team spirit and positive attitude
• Be open to feedback and provide constructive feedback
• Attend team meetings and provide qualitative input;
• If necessary, contribute to preparing emergency plans with the Coordination team to adjust activities and resources to the needs;
• Take part in advocacy and communication activities under the supervision of MHPSS Manager; 
• Perform other additional duties on request of the MHPSS Manager or Field Coordinator
• Attend field monitoring and supervision visits as needed
• Attend working groups if delegated by MHPSS Manager/Coordinators

Note: This list of activities is not exhaustive and may change depending on the situation and as requested by the Field Coordinator

 HIERARCHICAL & FUNCTIONAL LINKS 

• Hierarchical link: MHPSS Manager
• Technical link: MHPSS Coordinator

 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Academic background: Degree in psychology, or other relevant to MHPSS certified field

Desired: Relevant certification for the trainings mentioned in the job description

 REQUIREMENTS:

 Language requirements:  

• Ukrainian and Russian fluent (written and oral)
• English upper-intermediate/intermediate  

 Computer requirements: Competency in Microsoft Office Environment. 

 EXPERIENCE:

 Experience in developing and leading trainings on MHPSS and GBV, particularly with primary health care staff;  

• Experience with INGOs and/or health institutions; 
• Knowledge of primary health care level and mental health context in conflict affected areas and overall in Ukraine; 
• Self-organized and fare degree of autonomy with ability to organize, plan and prioritize tasks;   
• Experience in coordination and working in a team

 COMPETENCE PROFILE:

 Ability to work efficiently, under pressure, and with short deadlines;

• Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements and environment;
• Good planning and organizational skills; 
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
• Team player and good sense of humor;
• Gender sensitive; 
• Excellent communication skills
• Alignment with principles and ethics of MdM.
• Have a ‘can do’ attitude and foster team spirit

 AVAILABILITY

 Incorporation date: ASAP

 To apply:

• Send CV + cover letter;

We offer:

• Fixed term contract ;
• Starting Gross Salary for this role is Euro 1650 gross;
• Medical insurance.
• Full -time job
• Location:  Based in Zaporizhzhia, with possible visits to other locations

Applicants must send CV at follow e-mail address included the REFERENCE description noted below:

  Відправити резюме  

 Every application unanswered within 15 days after deadline must be considered as desestimated. 

 Please note:  

Medicos del Mundo promotes equal opportunities for all people. We establish positive action measures for those who, due to functional diversity or social and / or cultural exclusion, belong to under-represented groups in the positions offered.

As a result, no candidate with a valid profile will be rejected because of a functional diversity or for being culturally or socially excluded for reasons of birth, ethnicity, race, sex, gender or any other personal, social or cultural condition.

Any member of the MdM team must adhere to the beneficiary protection and anti-fraud and corruption institutional policies.

 https://www.facebook.com/mdm.ua.no