Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Specialist

Country: Haiti

Organization: Project HOPE

Closing date: 31 Oct 2021

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 health care organizations around the world. We have helped build hundreds of health programs from the ground up and responded to humanitarian crises worldwide.

Code of Conduct

It is our shared responsibility and obligation to treat each other with respect, take affirmative steps to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse and Trafficking in Persons, and to disclose all potential and actual violations of our Code of Conduct, which may include Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption, Discrimination or Harassment. Together we can reinforce a culture of respect, integrity, accountability, and transparency.

JOB SUMMARY

The Mental health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Specialist will be responsible for supporting the integration of mental health into primary health care service at basic primary health care centers across Les Cayes, Grand Anse and Sud Departments in Haiti impacted by the earthquake in line with WHO mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guidelines. In addition, the MHPSS Specialist will take the lead in the development and development and roll out of community based Psychosocial Support programming focused on ‘low intensity psychological interventions’.

The MHPSS Specialist will also map and develop internal and external referral pathways with institutional partners and NGOs providing PSS and protection services in the area. The position requires expert knowledge of the IASC guidelines in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings; the ability to train and develop the capacity of national staff; on the job supervision and mentoring, coordination and in building referral links to the other formal service providers. Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader and in coordination with the Health and WASH Specialists. The MHPSS Manager will also coordinate with the HQ based technical team.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead the setting up of the mental health PHC integration program in line with WHO mhGAP and IASC MHPSS guidelines
Assess the current MHPSS efforts in the earthquake affected areas both for protection and health, identify gaps, duplications, challenges and best practices
Support the team in analysis of mental health data collected at target health facilities and via community-based PSS programs.
Provide clinical mental health and psychosocial program supervision to project staff (re: General Practitioners, MHPSS Program Coordinators, and CHWs.
Conduct field visits to monitor and support MHPSS activities and interventions and support technical quality of programming by providing feedback and mentorship
Lead and facilitate monthly team meetings with program staff and share minutes of the meetings with HOPE field leadership.
Facilitate trainings and workshops for GPs, Nurses, CHWs engaged in the program.
Track budgets, procurement plans, and work plans to ensure proper personnel, facilities, and supplies are available to meet program deliverables.

Program Management Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program Management:

Actively participate in coordination mechanisms including Protection Sector Coordination in the Les Cayes area.
Lead the development of quality control measures (i.e. on the job supervision checklists, impact measurement tools, client satisfaction mhGAP training reports) for mental health services, and community-based psychosocial activities
Support the development of referral pathways to strengthen links to available services for MHPSS.
Support with team building, performance review and professional development of staff.

Documentation and Reporting:

Ensure disaggregated and cumulative tracking of beneficiaries and documentation of all activities and outcomes.
Participate in preparation of internal and external reports, including submission of donor reports.
Take responsibility for collection and reporting of mental health project data.
Promote the culture of learning and documentation so that lessons learned and good practices are documented and shared for institutional memory.
Ensure proper documentation of all trainings, completion and analysis of pre and post knowledge tests and on the job supervision checklists as well as mental health PHC integration checklists. Sharing copies with MHPSS team data management, M&E, and reporting. Perform other duties as assigned by Team Leader.

Qualifications

Psychiatrist (highly desirable) or psychologist with a minimum of 7 years of experience working on MHPSS programs in humanitarian settings
Expert knowledge of the IASC MHPSS guidelines in emergency settings
mhGAP training and supervision experience
Capacity building/curriculum development experience in community based PSS programming.
Fluency in French and English.

EXPERIENCE:

Experience in setting up MHPSS programs in rapid onset disaster/natural disaster settings
Management, training and supervision experience required
Strong organizational and supervisory skills and interpersonal skills with the ability to work within different cultural environment
Ability to work within a team structure or in isolation, flexible, and can cope with stressful environment with limited resources

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND 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.

In addition to the responsibilities referenced above, candidate 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: **

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be mobile in an office environment and able to use standard office equipment.
Must be able to communicate in verbal and written form and must be able to travel internationally.
Project HOPE employees may be required to travel or work in countries where working conditions are classified as “hardship.”

Work environment:

Typical office environment with exposure to a minimal noise level.
Emergency deployments may be in resource-deprived environments with austere living conditions.
Travel for extended periods may be by air and/or other modes of transportation.
While international travel is not a regular part of every job, programmatic needs may require it intermittently.
Project HOPE employees may be required to travel or work in countries where working conditions are classified as “hardship.”

Due to the large number of inquiries, we receive, only candidates who have met the required experience & qualifications for this position will be considered. No phone calls please.

However, since we are active around the world in the field of public health, we may wish to retain your CV in our database for other/future opportunities, unless you direct us otherwise.

Thank you very much for your interest in Project HOPE.