JOB OPPORTUNITY Internal/External

Reference No:   REC/103/23

Job title:           MHPSS Officer

Number of vacancies per Area Offices       

 Amhara (Debrebrhan)

Reports to: Sr. Health & Nutrition Officer

Number of Posts 1 (One)

Closing date:   November 24, 2023

About GOAL

GOAL’s mission is to work with the most vulnerable communities to help them respond to and recover from humanitarian crises, and to assist them to build transcendent solutions to mitigate poverty and vulnerability.

GOAL is a non-for profit organization that has been working in Ethiopia for over 30 years across all the region of the country towards ensuring the poorest and most vulnerable in our world and those affected by humanitarian crises have access to the fundamental rights of life, including but not limited to adequate shelter, food and livelihoods, water and sanitation, nutrition, healthcare and education. GOAL implements a range of multi-sectoral development, resilience, recovery and humanitarian responses Programmes by being sensitive to cross-cutting issues including gender, accountably, child protection, HIV/AIDS.

We envision a world where poverty no longer exist, where vulnerable communities are resilient, where barriers to wellbeing are removed and where everyone has equal rights and  opportunities. GOAL Ethiopia’s main donors are Irish Aid, USAID/OFDA, EHF, ECHO and other private donors.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLE:

Under the supervision of the Senior Health and Nutrition Officer, the MHPSS Officer will be responsible for leading the implementation and monitoring of GOAL mental health and psychosocial support as a part of the mobile health and nutrition team. The MHPSS Officer will continue to identify and address gaps in MHPSS programming, provide training and technical assistance, and support partner organizations in implementing MHPSS programming in an emergency environment. Areas of training and technical assistance may include but are not limited to, Psychological First Aid, crisis stabilization, and self-care.

Key Areas of Accountability/Duties

·        Oversee the implementation of all mental health and psychosocial activities. Develop quality mental health and psychosocial support interventions embedded in public health programming through mobile health and nutrition approach as part of the team.

·        Provide psychosocial support for the community (mental Health education, Screening, Counseling, diagnosis, and refer).

·        Provide emergency psychosocial therapy to cases at the working site.

·        Provide onsite psychosocial training for health workers and community volunteers.

·        Provide psychological counseling, psychologist interventions, support and engagement to individuals and to facilitate/lead group therapeutic activities.

·        Conduct psychological assessments, manage casework, and make referrals as necessary.

·        Record and document relevant activities (e.g. case notes/files).

·        Work with the MHNT team members to deliver the service and contribute for good team spirit.

·        Network, liaise, and communicate with assigned Health Facilities Health workers.

·        Advocate for legal and medical and other referral support services for beneficiaries.

·        Respect the confidentiality regarding the content of the interview during assessments.

·        Produce timely progress reports, including both quantitative and qualitative information, on CP activities and input into regular situation reports.

·        Identify and build links with other partners, ensuring that issues for mental health and psycho-social support are raised and addressed.

·        Conduct group meetings and brainstorming sessions with beneficiaries for MHPss related

·        Ensure the medical protocols are implemented in line with the Federal Minster of Health Guidelines of treatment of activities

·        Develop response strategies and action plans based on the Mental health and psychosocial support situation in the affected areas, in collaboration with partners and develop and implement strategies to improve capacity of Mental health staff at the zonal/woreda level.

·        Supervise and support community health workers in providing psychosocial support and psychological first aid.

·        Maintain effective working relationships with relevant partners including referral organizations community groups and other implementing partners.

·        Map referral services and pathways and develop templates and procedures for follow-up and of referrals.

·        Support partners and relevant clusters in resource mobilization for MHPSS activities and represent Goal Ethiopia in the zonal/woreda interagency mental health, and protection and contribute to the development and implementation of MHPSS TWG assessments and other MHPSS assessment tools.

·        Producing timely progress reports, including both quantitative and qualitative information, on MHPSS activities.

·        Ensure regular supervision and monitoring activities at the village, district, and governorate levels. Share findings and recommendations with the supervisor.

·        Collaborate and ensure with the rest of the team to exchange information that Goal Ethiopia programs are responding to the evolving needs of IDPs and the host community.

·        Provide Mental health & psycho-education sessions to the Goal Ethiopia clients and/or staff when needed.

·        Provide psycho-social support for GBV survivors and victims.

·        Provide or link with psychiatric treatment for GBV victims contextually.

·        Developing a system for the identification of mental health disabilities among children.

·        Developing a screening tool for community case detection with the partners.

·        Recording and mapping of activities carried out by the partners and communities.

·        Planning and implementation of mental health early recovery after the disaster/displacement.

·        Any other task assigned by his/her supervisor (senior health and nutrition officer). 

Mainstreaming Issues:

·        The employee must read, understand and implement, according to area of responsibility, GOAL’s polices and procedures on mainstreaming of Gender, HIV/AIDS and Child Protection.

Compliance Issues

·        Familiarize self and understand to GOAL Donor Compliance issues, specifically to the terms and conditions of the Donor the programme is working on and comply with same in area of responsibility. 

 REMUNERATION and BENEFITS:

·        GOAL will pay a competitive basic salary based on the salary grading with addition benefits.

·        A chance to develop tangible experience.

·        Being part of a team who continue to make a real difference to the lives of the most vulnerable people.  

Commitments:

GOAL’s recruitment procedure is fair and transparent which is also in line with the organization’s commitment to its integrity, honesty and culture. GOAL is committed to ensure that, its performance complies with the terms and conditions of relevant agreements, applicable laws & regulations. Hence, pre-employment background checks will be conducted, and employees are required to read, understand, sign and implement different polices including safeguarding and child protection policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and abuse policy, sexual harassment policy, code of conducts and any other policy, rules and regulation of the organization. GOAL is committed to safeguarding and protection from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH). Staffs, partners and other who are in contact with GOAL work are expected to adhere to GO’L's PSEAH Policy and make ethical decisions to ensure the protection of people particularly children and vulnerable adults from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment.

Job Requirements

Do you want to join an exciting organization that brings high level impact to the community and add value to your professional advancement?  Then join us if you have:

·        Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work, Social Sciences, or other related fields with coursework in mental health and psychosocial programming in humanitarian or low-resource settings.

·        Minimum of 5 years’ experience in mental health and psychosocial programming with significant experience in developing countries and in disaster/humanitarian crisis contexts.

·        Willingness to travel and work in remote areas.

·        Able to work collaboratively across multiple teams and stakeholders.

·        Able to operate independently and as part of a team.

·        Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions.

·        Experience in providing training on MHPSS interventions including Psychological First Aid (PFA), Basic psychosocial skills, Basic helping skills, Safe identification & referral to Mental Health, well-being, and self-care activities, etc

•        Thorough understanding of MHPSS programming & interventions.

•          Thorough understanding of case management and social work.

•          Experience working in NGOs or in an emergency context.

•          Good communication skills with different stakeholders

•          Ability to work under pressure.

•          Fosters working in teams & teamwork spirit.

•          Flexible and creative approach; keen to take initiative where appropriate.

•          Accountability & responsiveness within areas of responsibilities

Desirable quality, skill and competence

·        Proven experience in MHPSS-E interventions and WHO’s MH GAP Intervention Guide.

·        Familiarity to the local culture.

·        Passionate, strongly dedicated and highly committed to work for the improvement of the poor community.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants need to submit ONLY once their non - returnable application with CV for one vacancy. The vacancy reference number along with the title & Duty station need to be written in the application letter.

Applicants can directly apply via THIS LINK

GOAL strongly encourages female candidates to apply!

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview and exam.

Shortlisted candidates will need to submit other supporting documents upon request at later stage.

GOAL is not able to contribute towards any costs incurred by candidates during the recruitment process.