Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Technical Officer

Handicap International (which runs projects under its operating name, Humanity & Inclusion - HI -, is an independent and impartial international aid organization working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights. Handicap International is a not-for-profit organization with no religious or political affiliation. It operates as a federation made up of a network of associations.

OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION:

The MHPSS technical officer will be in charge of providing technical supervision and coordination of all MHPSS activities under the line management of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Project Manager and technical supervision of MHPSS specialist or Regional MHPSS Specialist. S/he will ensure that the coaching, training, and capacity-building needs of the partners are timely addressed and that the MHPSS activities meet quality standards in the humanitarian sector. This includes the specific focus on reducing the vulnerability of crisis-affected populations in West Bank through the provision of health and protection services, with particular attention to specific vulnerabilities related to gender, age, and disability.

Interacts with:

- Internal: Country Manager, West Bank (WB) Area Manager, DRR Project Manager, MHPSS Technical Specialist, Regional MHPSS Specialist, Rehab Officer, Gender, Age, and Diversity Technical Officer (GAD) Technical Officer, Information Management Officer (IMO), Rehabilitation Technical Unit (RTU), MEAL Staff, and support services staff.

- External: The project partners, the authorities in the project area of implementation, other stakeholders including local organizations, INGOs, and UN agencies in the area of implementation, and relevant Rehab. Clusters/Working Groups.

Responsibilities:

Responsibility 1: Contribute to the development of MHPSS tools for the project implementation and to the capacity-building materials of the project team at the partners’ level.

Objective: Ensure the partners’ team understands and is able to apply the chosen modalities of intervention in compliance with the HI technical framework and IASC international standards.

Activities:

• Support the development and/or adaptation of methodologies and the creation of high-complexity technical resources, including full training packages (training needs assessment tools, training manuals and materials, pre-post training tests), users’ guidelines, etc.; under the supervision of MHPSS Specialist
• Develop or adapt technical tools.
• Organize and/or participate in the testing of the resources whenever appropriate and adjust them based on the results of the test
• Provide ad-hoc support to the team during resources use including field coaching
• Assess project partner capacity building needs, define suitable training plans and training package that is in line with HI’s MHPSS Technical Frameworks.
• Train the project’s partners and relevant actors and stakeholders on the methodologies and resources of MHPSS intervention.
• Produce training and coaching reports and coordinate feedback with the service providers for strengthening continuous staff development.
• Coordinate individual and group supervision of staff delivering MHPSS activities and share the supervision reports with direct line manager and MHPSS specialist for the technical follow-up.

Responsibility 2: Support the implementation of project activities.

Objective: Ensure  that the project intervention contributes to positive outcomes for the beneficiaries

Activities:

• Provide ad-hoc MHPSS support, coaching, and follow-up to the project’s partners, actors, and stakeholders during the implementation of the following activities:

1. Through regular discussions with partners’ staff, collect information about any technical issues and needs faced by the MHPSS teams at the partner level and report them to the DRR Project Manager and relevant HI technical staff along with suggestions for improvement.
2. Attend mental health working group meetings to ensure regular communication with partners’ staff and provide or collect information on available services and referral modalities and criteria for specialized mental health services.
3. Support the partners’ staff to plan and implement internal and external referrals for specialized mental health services when needed according to the existing mechanisms and modalities.
4. Support the partners’ staff to plan and implement information/orientation sessions for beneficiaries to raise awareness on mental health services and knowledge according to the existing mechanisms and modalities.
5. Support the various initiatives towards change, in collaboration with the MHPSS team at partners level, including the continued improvement of technical resources.
6. Follow-up and monitor the MHPSS activities /services provided by the service providers in line with the identified services criteria and ensure a monthly report tracking and Identify specific training needs, and share findings with the DRR Project Manager.

Directly carry out the following activities:

• Support and supervise the required needed items for the MHPSS tools, in order to facilitate services provided by partners. Assess the level of understanding of MHPSS among the Multidisciplinary Rehabiltaiton (MDR) team, develop and enforce information and training package to support referrals.
• Coordinates together with Rehab TO the multidisciplinary team meetings on a regular basis to ensure better integration and efficient referrals.
• Ensure efficient referrals to the rehabilitation centers, based on close follow-up and prioritization of needs by providing training to the MDR team support with regular technical Follow up and support upon on project needs.
• Support the rehab project partners to identify people who are in need of MHPSS services, and link them with the available rehabilitation services.
• Analyze all individual and group files, and case studies done by the partners’ MHPSS teams. Ensure compliance with technical guidelines in the implementation of activities.
• Compile and report on any protection concerns and measures reported by the partners’ teams.
• Develop family information/education resource and support local service providers in developing and enforcing caregivers’ support in MHPSS intervention.
• Participate in the delivery of training to the partners’ staff in MHPSS perspective.
• Assess the trainees’ level prior to and after training sessions to adjust the training content accordingly and record data on their improvements. Produce necessary training reports upon request including analysis of pre post evaluations in order to better track the success of the training provided.

Responsibility 3: Contribute to project’s monitoring, lessons learning and reporting 

Aim: Ensure the project intervention remains on the right track and it takes into account of good/bad/successful/failure practices

Activities:

• Ensure that the project monitoring data and documents are received on time, providing reminders to partner staff if necessary.
• Verify compliance with defined methodologies and proper use of monitoring and data collection resources, requesting clarifications and providing feedback to partners if needed.
• Participate in assessments and evaluations relating to the quality of MHPSS and partners’ activities.
• Regularly extract specific data from the project documents sent by partners’ staff, and send it along with analysis of this data, to the line manager and other relevant HI staff.
• Contribute to include and transfer the project monitoring assessment tools and follow-up documents to HI Database/ CTO system.
• Develop case studies and success stories to illustrate changes induced by the project and for communication use.
• Plan and produce activity reports and contribute to the production of the donor report as appropriate.
• Contribute to the preparation and implementation of project quarterly reviews and participate in the organization of technical reviews and technical missions as required.
• Participate in a professional network at the national level in the field of expertise of the project.
• Develop lessons learning exercises, data collection and analysis, and the production of dissemination documents with identifying good practices under the project.
• Facilitate the field implementation of project evaluations and research.
• Ensure the partner staff are using HI’s monitoring and evaluation tools for each activity by respecting data protection.

Note that this job description must remain flexible, to respond to additional tasks or changes as identified by the line manager. Working in different field bases is needed.

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Job profile requirements:

Essentials:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably post-graduate studies or a degree in Psychology, Social Protection, Mental Health, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience with direct psycho-pedagogical service provision. Experience with vulnerable groups, preferably refugees, migrants, and persons with disabilities populations will be an asset.
• Experience working with the most vulnerable communities and familiarity with implementing related programs with INGOs.
• Strong substantive, technical, programmatic, and research skills in MHPSS.
• Ability to communicate and inspire others
• Ability to influence, network, and collaborate with government, NGOs, donors, and other stakeholders (both mainstream and diversity and inclusion specific).

Desirable:

• Strong management skills:

1. Ability to handle multiple “priority” projects simultaneously, set and meet deadlines, and ensure that partners do the same
2. Ability to manage own work with little supervision

• Demonstrable capacity for evidence-based decision-making and sound judgment
• Knowledge and experience of working in areas related to harmful traditional practices.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills in the English Language
• Familiarity with management and monitoring tools is desirable
• Problem-solving ability, creative resourcefulness, and innovation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Team player, Self-motivator, able to work with limited supervision and to work under pressure
• Perform other duties as required
• Proficient in emergency response.
• Proficient in emergency monitoring and preparedness.
• Proficient in frameworks and references.
• Proficient in office and collaborative tools.
• Practiced in stress management.
• Practiced in working interdependently within a global organization.
• Very positive personality, with strong orientation towards solutions

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS:

HI workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in HI Code of conduct.  In accordance with these values, HI operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-fraud, bribery, and corruption.

Initial contract will be for a period up to 4 months, to be extendable based on the availability of funds.

Handicap International is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from persons with disabilities

Interested candidates should send their resume with motivation letter to reach on or before March 27, 2024 to [email protected] indicating your full name and the job title (MHPSS Technical Officer – West Bank) in the subject line of your e-mail application. Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will be disregarded.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and those shortlisted will be contacted.