Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer at Center for Advocacy Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI)

Center for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI) is established in 2018 as registered NGO with Head Office in Maiduguri - Borno State, with offices across Yobe and Adamawa state. We have been visible in Borno Adamawa and Yobe states implementing projects in Education, Protection (Child /GBV), WaSH, Nutrition, Empowerment/Livelihood, Governance and Peace Building. Our approach is aligned with our mission to enhance services delivery and empower citizens, through our Humanitarian, Development, and peace building nexus (HDP).

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

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

Location: Monguno, Borno
Employment Type: Contract
Contract Duration: 12 Months
Position Reports to: Protection Programs Coordinator
Position directly Supervises: GBV Assistant

Project Background

• In conflict-affected Borno State, Nigeria, women, men, girls, and boys, including children living with disabilities, face compounded challenges amidst escalating violence and instability. The prevalence of child protection (CP) issues and gender-based violence (GBV) is alarmingly high, exacerbated by displacement, poverty, and disrupted social structures. Reports indicate widespread instances of child protection concerns, including forced labor and recruitment by armed groups, further compromising the safety and well-being of children.
• The project aims to address these gaps by strengthening community-based child protection and GBV prevention systems, improving access to inclusive education and economic opportunities, enhancing communities' capabilities to deliver effective services, and creating a more supportive social and policy environment through awareness activities and advocacy.
• The project's approach is centered on empowering local communities and strengthening existing child protection (CP) and gender-based violence (GBV) systems. Studies consistently demonstrate that community-based interventions and capacity-building initiatives effectively enhance child protection outcomes, promote resilience, and mitigate risks of violence and exploitation among vulnerable populations. This evidence underscores the importance of fostering sustainable practices and local ownership to ensure a lasting impact in conflict-affected regions like Borno State, Nigeria.

Job Summary

• Under the supervision of the GBV/ Protection Manager the MHPSS counselor provides psychosocial and/or psychological interventions in an individual or group format.
• The MHPSS Counselor will liaise with the mental health team (MHPSS Counselors) on the implementation of MHPSS interventions and activities, more specifically.

Responsibilities

• Deliver one-on-one (Individual) and group counseling in line with CATAI integrated approach
• Develop psychosocial activities; community mobilization, awareness raising, and any other related activity.
• Deliver training and workshops for staff and Survivors/Participant
• Support in the creation of materials including publicity documents.
• Engage with the community to deliver and promote CATAI MHPSS project activities in the designated locations.
• Assist in writing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, monitoring and evaluation activity and progress reports of project activities including monthly reporting to the protection coordinator.
• Assist in the implementation of preventive MHPSS interventions at the community and PHC level.
• Coordinate referrals.
• In coordination with community mobilizers use participatory methods to adapt activities in accordance to the needs of the different target groups (children, women etc)
• Provide psycho-social support for mental health beneficiaries
• Identification and registration of psychosocial needs of beneficiaries based on the vulnerability criteria of Borno PSS standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Actively promote the availability of counseling services and carry out, individual or group counseling (psychological first aid (PFA) and psychosocial support (PSS), basic psycho educational sessions to children, adolescents and caregivers/ families (when needed), in order to alleviate their psychosocial difficulties
• Refer clients to other specialists or other institutions for further assistance, when necessary, in line with the available local referral pathways, to ensure effective and efficient case management process.
• Participate in the creation of any material needed for counseling activities and maintain and update
• Take an active part in MHPSS related training topics for case workers , PSS facilitators, community mobilisers and community volunteers such as community based child protection networks (CBCPN), leaders and other stakeholders
• Hold regular meetings with case workers, PSS facilitators and community mobilizers to discuss successes, challenges and way forward
• Representing in community meetings, MHPSS working groups, GBV sub-cluster, etc and act as focal point for MHPSS in Monguno
• Support caseworkers, PSS facilitators and community mobilizers in emergency response and comprehensive case management issues relevant to the role.
• Actively engage the case and caregiver(s) to participate in the case management process and share information appropriately in line with case management information management protocol
• 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 Prepare and submit MHPSS reports regularly as indicated by the reporting schedule and submit to the MHPSS Officer.
• Receive reports of cases from community-based child protection networks (CBCPN), Child Protection Help Desks (CPHD), children clubs etc. and give feedbacks as necessary.
• Plan and conduct awareness raising sessions on prevention and in response to concerns identified
• Conduct monthly regular meetings with community groups and stakeholders to monitor progress and ensure smooth running of the project.

Requirements

• Degree in Psychology, Counseling, Social Works, Psychiatric, Social sciences or a related field from a recognized institution
• 3 - 4 years working experience as a MHPSS in the humanitarian setting
• Should be a team player and culturally sensitive.
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, email and utilization of the internet Good in (Microsoft word, Power Point and Excel)
• Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution and ability to deliver CATAI’s strategic objectives.
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations
• Strong communication and facilitation skills
• Experience working in the humanitarian sector is an asset – specifically in MHPSS programs
• Good knowledge of counseling and community mobilization methods and tools
• Good spoken and written English
• Good spoken and written Hausa, with at least one other local language: Kanuri, Shuwa.
• Willingness to work long hours and weekends when necessary
• Proactive and ability to work with multicultural teams would be highly appreciated
• Be committed to CATAI’s values as an organization and motivated by its non-statutory, Not for Profit Institution.

Benefits
Benefits include but are not limited to:

• 100% health care coverage,
• Pension
• Maternity leave, and
• Paternity leave for Male parents.

Application Closing Date
16th December, 2024.