MHPSS Coordinator 108 views0 applications

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 areas worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at high risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

Background

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) confirmed its tenth outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on August 1, 2018, just days after the Equateur Province EVD outbreak ended. The National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) completed the sequencing of the virus’s genome and has determined that the new outbreak, in North Kivu and Ituri, is not linked to the Equateur Province outbreak. The Ministry of Health (MoH), as of September 23, 2018, has reported 150 cases of hemorrhagic fever, with 119 confirmed as EVD and 31 probable cases of EVD. There has been a total of 100 reported deaths, out of which 69 were confirmed EVD deaths in this outbreak.

Job Purpose

Under the supervision of the Deputy Country Director of Emergency Response, the Mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS) Coordinator will be responsible for supporting the integration of mental health into primary health care service delivery in the Ebola Treatment Center (ETC) for patients and community members especially family members of victims in line with WHO and IASC Standard MHPSS Guidelines. The MHPSS Specialist will provide training and capacity development opportunities for national staffs likewise coordinate with the Program Director and Medical Director to ensure successful integration of MHPSS services in IMC operations within Emergency Response Zones in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Main Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation. The tasks listed are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

• Ensure technical and administrative support to mental health and psychosocial program staff by providing guidance on planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on MHPSS activities in Mangina ETC;
• Conduct routine project needs assessments and program reviews to ensure successful implementation and donor compliance as well as compliance with IMC MHPSS Protocol and Standards;
• Manage MHPSS program team be ensuring adequate supervision, mentonirng and capacity building training and performance appraisals when necessary;
• Work directly with any MHPSS assistants from MoH in the Mangina ETC on daily basis to strengthen teamwork and the enhancement of the team’s objectives;
• Provide psycho-social support to the patients, survivors’ caretakers, visitors and colleagues in Mangina ETC as per the MHPSS norms and standard;
• Ensure link and coordination between MHPSS department and other departments/sectors with emphasis on Protection and Medical departments as potential team players;
• Participate and represent MHPSS program in regular staff meetings at the ETC, Stakeholders and Donors’ Meetings and IMC regional technical meetings;
• Liaise closely with any new or previous sub grantees to explain IMC MHPSS objectives and implementation strategy in line with the DRC Country Mission;
• Participate in IMC ERT teams’ strategic planning to help design MHPSS component in country’s strategic implementation plan;
• Assess the capacity of the local staff and work on a capacity building plan that is in line with the program and country strategic objectives;
• Organize public awareness and de-stigmatization campaigns around mental health issues with support from local communities and Community Engagement staff by actively involving people with mental health problems;
• Participate in identification and hiring of MHPSS program staff;
• Participate in performance appraisal of national and expatriate MHPSS staff when necessary;
• Work closely with Regional and Global MHPSS advisors. For reporting & program implementation;
• Serve as MHPSS Team lead in budgeting, baseline and end line implementation process.

Code of Conduct

It is our shared responsibility and obligation to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Trafficking in Persons, Child Safeguarding and any suggested violation to our Code of Conduct, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any suggested activities then you have an obligation to report.

Qualification

• The qualified candidate should be a mental health professional with MA/MSc or equivalent in social science (e.g. psychology, clinical social work or sociology) or medical field (e.g. psychiatric nurse, psychiatrist) with knowledge of humanitarian field, human rights, international development, public health or other relevant field.

Experience & Competencies

• Knowledgeable in and has used the IASC MHPSS guidelines and best practices as part of their previous work experience
• Minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian MHPSS work including in emergencies and in conflict settings
• Demonstrable technical expertise in the assessment of and design and delivery of responses to pre-existing and emergency induced MHPSS needs
• Training experience required in capacity building and proven track record on national staff and partners trainings;
• Strong organizational and supervisory skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within different cultural environments especially in conflict zones;
• Ability to work within a team structure or in isolation, flexible, and can cope with stressful workloads and working with limited resources;
• Ability to travel on short notice to project sites
• Experience in working in the country or region is a plus
• French language proficiency is required
• Fluency in another language such as English is an added advantage.

Equal Opportunities

International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.