Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist (MHPSS) 83 views0 applications

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist (MHPSS)- Zimbabwe

The Mental Health Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) expert will strengthen the quality of psychological services provided at a locally-run torture treatment center and build the capacity of the center to better meet the MHPSS needs of torture survivors. Activities include, outline MHPSS documentation, revision of assessment procedures, training, clinical supervision, support the program evaluation.

This position focuses on support CSU MHPSS staff in developing intervention and collaborate in writing the unified MHPSS framework, training and empowering staff to conduct services, not on direct provision of services by the MHPSS expert.

About the Project:

Helping Survivors Heal is a capacity development project which supports the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) work of 12 torture rehabilitation organizations around the world by providing subgrants and technical assistance.

Organization:

The Center for Victims of Torture works toward a future in which torture ceases to exist and its victims have hope for a new life. We are an international nonprofit dedicated to healing survivors of torture. We offer rehabilitation services to those who have been tortured, train partners around the world who can prevent and treat torture, and advocate for human rights and an end to torture. We are headquartered in Minnesota, and we have US offices in Georgia and DC, as well as offices in Africa and the Middle East.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Clinical Support: Collaborate with the partner center staff on developing MHPSS services. Support the development of MHPSS unified approach and effective clinical policies guideline, practices and tools when required
• Case consultation: Provide individual and group inputs on MHPSS treatments to CSU MHPSS practitioners that includes case discussions, live observation, support CSU supervisors, acting as a role model for partner practitioners, with emphasis on self-care components.
• Training: Design and carry out training programs for local MHPSS practitioners, including formal training sessions, mentoring, modeling and supervision. Continually assess development of counselors and adapt training to meet their needs. Build capacity of staff members to design and conduct trainings.
• Assessment: In collaboration with the HSH and partner research teams, develop clinically appropriate assessment tools and strategies. Support project team in data collection and assessment of organization’s existing systems and methods of mental health service delivery. Support implementation of Institutional Strengthening Plan (ISP) and the annual work plan, in collaboration with the partner center staff.
• Reporting: Write and submit regular reports regarding clinical and training activities. Mentor staff on report writing.
• Other Duties: Participate in other program and organization-wide activities, meetings and trainings. Complete administrative responsibilities such as expense reporting and time sheet submission. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required education, experience, certificates, licenses or registrations

• Advanced degree (Master’s degree, PhD or equivalent) in clinical psychology, clinical social work, clinical counseling
• 4 years of experience providing mental health/psychosocial support service to a variety of target groups including torture and trauma survivors, prisoners, adults, families, and adolescents.
• 4 years of experience providing training on MHPSS topics for participants with different professional backgrounds and knowledge.
• 3 years of experience supervising MHPSS practitioners
• Experience working with locally-run NGO partner organizations and negotiating multiple relationships within and between organizations.
• Years of experience in writing MHPSS documents (such as guideline, handbook, unified approaches, etc.)

Preferred education, experience, certificates, licenses or registrations

• 6 years of experience providing mental health/psychosocial support services.

• 5 years of experience supervising MHPSS practitioners

• Experience working with a torture survivor-led organization.

Competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities)

• Understand of MHPSS and human rights
• Experience working/living the (identified context) is preferred
• Experience conducting program needs assessments, program development, program evaluations and reporting.
• Flexibility, adaptability, diplomacy and self-sufficiency to work within a local partner organization.
• Training and experience in cross-cultural sensitivity and adaptation
• Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to changing program requirements, client needs and political climate.
• Understanding of and extensive experience implementing culturally appropriate mental health interventions, including individual, group and community-based approaches for people who have suffered torture and trauma.
• Understanding of and experience developing curricula and providing training for mental health counselors on counseling approaches, sensitization on the effects of trauma and conflict, and designing interventions.
• Appreciation and desire for participating in and receiving clinical supervision
• Excellent skills in organization, attention to detail and time management (including the ability to meet deadlines)
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word and Excel)
• Fluency in English is a must (oral and writing)
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills
• Ability to travel by car for up to 8 hours/week.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Case consultation, the responsibility of supervision and quality of care for client’s relays on CSU MHPSS practitioners.

Work Environment:

• Typical office environment
• Time spent on the computer is approximately 30%
• Time spent in virtual meetings is approximately 15%

Travel: Ability to travel to a variety of locations within large city, rural and metro areas, surrounding communities, etc.