Reference No:   REC/044/25

Job title:  Senior, MHPSS Officer

Location Amhara-Debrebrhan

Reports to: Project Manager

Number of Posts  1 (One)

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, 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. Currently, we work with pastoralist, agropastoral, pastoral dropouts, rural small holder farmers, rural/urban youth and street children to respond to humanitarian crises and build resilience in Ethiopia working closely with local communities, local government, donors and other key actors. GOAL E Humanitarian Response is centered on nutrition, WASH, livelihoods, multipurpose cash, NFIs and protection interventions in country wide while the recovery and development focus on livelihoods, economic opportunities, health, health and nutrition system strengthening and WASH with solid emphasis on integrated programming and community-based approach in Oromiya regional state. The Street Children programme is implemented with local partners in Addis Ababa and Hawassa. 

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 Irish Aid, USAID/OFDA, EHF, ECHO and other private donors.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Areas of Accountability/Duties 

• Diagnosis and Treatment: Conduct comprehensive psychiatric assessments and diagnose mental health disorders.

• Medication Management: Prescribe and monitor psychotropic medications.

• Psychotherapy: Provide different forms of therapy (e.g., cognitive-behavioral, supportive, or family therapy).

• Diagnosis and Treatment: Conduct comprehensive psychiatric assessments and diagnose mental health disorders.

• Medication Management: Prescribe and monitor psychotropic medications.

• Psychotherapy: Provide different forms of therapy (e.g., cognitive-behavioral, supportive, or family therapy).

• Crisis Intervention: Manage acute psychiatric emergencies, including suicidal or psychotic cases.

• Supervision & Mentorship: Guide and support mental health professionals, including psychiatric nurses and psychosocial workers.

• Integration in MHNT: Lead the mental health component within mobile or static teams, ensuring quality clinical care and case management.

• Mental Health Assessment: Conduct initial screening and assessment of individuals presenting with mental, neurological, or substance use disorders at the primary health care level.

• These professionals are trained under the ICCMH( Integrated Clinical and Community Mental Health)program, which equips BSc health officers or nurses with clinical psychiatry and mental health management skills.

• They can diagnose common mental, neurological, and substance use disorders (MNS) and prescribe psychotropic medications according to the Ethiopian Primary Health Care Guidelines and mhGAP protocol.

• Case Identification and Diagnosis Support: Identify priority mental health conditions (such as depression, psychosis, epilepsy, and substance use disorders) using mhGAP tools and refer complex cases for advanced management.

• Psychosocial Support: Provide basic psychological first aid, supportive counseling, and follow-up care for individuals and families.

• Medication Administration: Administer prescribed psychotropic and other medications, monitor side effects, and ensure adherence as per physician or psychiatrist guidance.

• Health Education and Awareness: Conduct community and facility-based mental health education to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote early care-seeking.

• Referral and Linkage: Facilitate referral of complicated mental health cases to higher-level facilities or specialized care, and ensure follow-up upon return.

• Crisis Management: Participate in managing acute mental health crises, including agitation, suicidal behavior, and severe distress, using de-escalation and basic life-saving techniques.

• Integration of MHPSS in PHC: Support the integration of mental health and psychosocial support within routine PHC services, including maternal, child health, and nutrition programs.

• Capacity Building: Mentor and train health extension workers (HEWs) and general health staff on identification and referral of mental health cases.

• Data Collection and Reporting: Maintain accurate mental health registers and contribute to monthly health information system (HMIS) reporting.

• Community Engagement: Engage community leaders, IDP committees, and volunteers in mental health promotion and case follow-up.

• Coordination: Collaborate with MHNT members, woreda health offices, and humanitarian partners to ensure a coordinated and holistic response.

• 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 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).   

• Thorough understanding of MHPSS programming & interventions.

• Thorough understanding of case management and social work.

• Experience working in NGOs or in an emergency context.

• Qualification (Education, Experience, key qualities, skill and competence)

• BSc Psychiatric Nursing / Psychiatry Professionals or ICCMH Master of Science in Clinical Psychiatry, advanced mental health practitioners, usually with a clinical background, focusing on diagnosing, prescribing, and managing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders as per the mhGAP protocol.

• Greater than 3 years’ experience in mental health and Psychiatry Professionals 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

• 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.

ADDITIONAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

• GOAL has a Staff Code of Conduct, Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants and children from exploitation. GOAL also has a confidentiality policy ensuring the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of GOAL, acquired in the course of duty, to any other person or organisation without authority, except in the normal execution of duty. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to these policies and other GOAL and Donor policies. 

• GOAL’s Conflict of Interest Policy applies to all recruitment processes. Staff will be required to declare Conflict of Interest during the process. 

• Note: If you have any serious concern over wrong doing please report it at www.safecall.co.uk/report or email goal@safecall.co.uk . All information is treated confidentially by Safecall and you may remain anonymous if you wish

• This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change, revise, omit, and add in part /in whole this document any time without giving any reason thereof. 

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. 

Job Requirement:

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.

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.

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be

safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that

place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL

shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks

in the selection process for all candidates.

Accountability within GOAL

Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity

policies. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of

accountability:

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct,

health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.

• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within

our programming area.

• Report any concerns about inappropriate behavior of a GOAL staff or partner.

You are welcome to include your sex (Male or female) and any disability issues in your CV (please note

that this information will only be used to comply with affirmative action policy of the organization)

How To Apply

APPLICATION PROCEEDURE: 

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 through “THIS LINK button

Please be sure your application and CV should be in PDF or Word only. (The system couldn’t

accept other than PDF and Word.)

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.