Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer (MHPSS) Officer at International Medical Corps (IMC)

International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and Nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in under-served communities worldwide.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer (MHPSS) Officer

Location: Askira / Uba, Borno

Job Summary

• Under the supervision of the health Manager the MHPSS counsellor provides psychosocial and/or psychological interventions in an individual or group format.
• The MHPSS Counsellor will liaise with the mental health team (Medical team and MHPSS Counsellors) on the implementation of MHPSS interventions and activities, more specifically.

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver one-on-one (Individual) and group counselling sessions to identified clients within IMC Clinics, and in line with IMC integrated approach
• Develop psychosocial activities; community mobilization, awareness raising, and any other related activity requested by health manager.
• Support Health Manager in delivering training or workshops
• Support in the creation of materials including publicity documents.
• Engage with the community to deliver and promote IMC MHPSS project activities in the designated locations.
• Assist in writing monthly, quarterly, annual reports, monitoring and evaluation activity and progress reports of project activities including monthly reporting to the MHPSS Officer.
• Assist in the implementation of preventive MHPSS interventions at the community and PHC level.
• Coordinate referrals.

Provide MHPSS consultations within PHC setting:

• Provide individual or group consultations to beneficiaries presenting in PHC or referred and in need of MH interventions
• Assist in the identification of psycho-social needs and proposition needed interventions in collaboration with the mental health team and PHC staff
• Weekly reporting activities and data collection
• Coordinate with Medical doctor on cases requiring higher level interventions
• Provide psycho-social support for mental health beneficiaries:
• Work directly with the medical doctor to develop individualized treatment plans for MH beneficiaries
• In coordination with community mobilizers use participatory methods to adapt activities in accordance to the needs of the different target groups (children, women etc)

Community mental health interventions:

• Participate in defining effective and culturally appropriate approaches and interventions on the community level.
• Focus on information dissemination and collecting opinions to foster knowledge and self-care practices for communities in areas of intervention.
• Initiate and facilitate group interventions.

Analysis, detection and reduction of risk factors influencing the mental health status at community level:

• In collaboration with the mental health team, explore and detect potential risk factors influencing mental health status of the target population.
• Coordinate with other actors concerned to reduce and/or eliminate potential risk factors.

Others:

• Any other related IMC tasks as assigned by the Health Manager
• Under the guidance of MHPSS Officer and MHPSS advisor support in the collection of information related to behaviours of the community to reinforce quality of MHPSS services.
• Collaborate and participate, in any field survey, data collection and/or needs assessment organized by IMC in relation to MHPSS.
• Participation in IMC internal meetings, trainings and individual meetings with the Health manager.
• Represent IMC at the Technical Working Group meetings
• The activities may change based on the changing context.
• To inform immediately security focal point in the case of any security problem.
• Note: This job description is not exhaustive and the staff member may be asked from time to time to perform duties over and above those described here. The staff member is also expected Experience working with survivors of trauma, including GBV.
• Working in emergency and development project.
• Exposure to research.
• Good knowledge of Borno state.

Eligibility Criteria
Essential:

• Degree or HND in Psychology, Counselling, Social Works, Psychiatric Nursing, or related field from a recognized institution
• 1 - 2 years of professional experiences in relevant field (clinical psychology, educational psychology, Psychiatric Nursing, or another related field)
• Strong communication and facilitation skills
• Experience working in humanitarian sector is an asset – specifically in MHPSS programs
• Good knowledge of counselling and community mobilization methods and tools
• Good spoken and written English
• Good spoken and written Hausa, with at least one other local language: Kanuri and Marghi, Shuwa, Fulani,
• Willingness to work long hours and weekends when necessary
• Good computer skills (Microsoft word, Power Point and Excel)
• Proactive and ability to work with multicultural team would be highly appreciated
• Be committed to IMC’s values as an organization and motivated by its non-statutory, Not for Profit model

Desirable:

• Experience in supporting medical team and community-based organizations.

Key Competencies:

• Strong communication skills: oral, written and presentation skills.
• Should be a team player and culturally sensitive.
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, email and utilization of the internet
• Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution and ability to deliver IMC’s strategic objectives.
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situation

Application Closing Date
2nd September, 2023.