MHPSS Supportive Supervision Consultancy

Terms of reference (ToR)

MHPSS Supportive Supervision consultancy / Contracted services -

Palestine

1        Background

Doctors of the World Spain is an independent association that works to realize the right to health for all people, especially for vulnerable populations, excluded or victims of natural disasters, famine, disease, armed conflict or political violence. Our projects are carried out in Spain as well as in 19 countries in America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. The main mission of the volunteers and professionals who form part of our organization is to work towards the fulfillment of the fundamental right to health and the enjoyment of a dignified life for everyone.

Since 2004, Doctor of the World Spain has been present in Palestine, supporting the mental health services in the occupied Palestinian territory (the West Bank and Gaza), promoting a mental health model based on promotion, prevention, and community care.

2        Context

In the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), a protracted crisis persists, marked by long-term military occupation, frequent violations of international laws, internal divisions, and recurrent escalations of violence. This situation deteriorated significantly after the Israeli government declared war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, resulting in substantial casualties, massive displacement, and a dire humanitarian crisis.

The population, including health workers and first responders, is experiencing heightened levels of stress and anxiety. These issues are compounding the humanitarian and social impacts of the conflict, and similarly affect the Palestinian population in the West Bank, further exacerbating the ongoing crisis.

The ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in oPt have profoundly impacted the mental health and psychosocial well-being of the entire population. Health and MHPSS workers, operating under extreme stress and resource constraints, face an urgent need for support to be able of providing services under these conditions. This program would aim to enhance the capacity and resilience of MHPSS service providers, ensuring they can continue to provide essential services under challenging conditions.

Given these circumstances, implementing an MHPSS supportive supervision process for MDM teams in the West Bank and Gaza is critical.

3        Objective of the consultancy / Contracted services

The consultancy aims to design and implement a comprehensive MHPSS supportive supervision program tailored to the needs of our MHPSS teams in Gaza and the West Bank. The program should aim to:

• Enhance the skills and competencies of MdM’s MHPSS providers in delivering high-quality services in an extremely adverse context.
• Provide ongoing psychological support to MHPSS workers to manage work-related stress and prevent burnout. This support aims to manage work-related stress and implement trauma-informed practices to prevent occupational stress injuries and enhance overall psychological resilience.

To achieve these main objectives, it is important to take into account the following conditions:

• In Gaza, the team is engaged in providing basic psychosocial support services to affected populations at medical points within two shelters. These services include group psychosocial support for children, adolescents, and adults, psychoeducation, awareness activities, counseling, and PFA.
• In the West Bank, the team responds to critical incidents related to political violence. Their interventions include PFA, counseling sessions, and implementing the Problem Management Plus Program (PM+).
• The MdM’s MHPSS team comprises 16 professionals including psychologists and social workers (8 in Gaza and 8 in the WB).
• For the team in Gaza, the supportive supervision sessions will be conducted remotely. Initially, the frequency of these sessions will be high, with two sessions per month, to address urgent needs effectively. Over time, as the initial challenges are managed, the frequency will be reduced to one session per month to maintain steady support while allowing for the practical application of strategies.
• For the team in the West Bank, the supportive supervision sessions will also be held once per month.
• The decision on whether these sessions will be conducted as individual or group sessions will depend on the proposals submitted by the consultant. The consultant is expected to determine the most effective modality—group or individual—based on their expertise and understanding of the team's dynamics and needs.
• In both cases, the modality and frequency of the sessions should be crafted to ensure they meet the specific requirements and circumstances of each team, and proposals should clearly outline how these elements will be tailored to support the teams effectively.

If you have  related experience and interested please Click here to check the TOR document.