Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer Job Mercy Corps

Responsibilities

Program Management

• Contribute to the formulation of MHPSS work plans and ensure the systematic integration of MHPSS priorities and interventions in program delivery
• Establish close relationships and patterns of collaborations with key stakeholders in the community around MHPSS priorities
• Coordinate and support the implementation of MHPSS or multi-dimensional needs assessments; ensure ongoing assessment/analysis of local context, priorities and needs related to MHPSS
• In collaboration with other program teams, contribute to the identification of the most relevant information needed for communities related to MHPSS awareness and knowledge and support the formulation and implementation of relevant community awareness and dialogues.
• Conduct/update MHPSS service mappings, provide quality vetting of potential referral options, and establish/maintain referral pathways and mechanisms in collaboration with County mental health focal person
• Review and contextualize MHPSS intervention packages, tools, activity plans and key messages, ensuring context relevance and sensitivity
• Contribute to developing additional resources and tools if and as required, in line with current evidence
• Contribute to developing monitoring plans for the MHPSS portfolio, and support relevant monitoring and reporting activities
• Using evidence-based resources, train, coach and support all Nawiri teams in integrating key MHPSS dimensions in their practice – including Basic Helping Skills, PFA, safe identification and referral, paraprofessional counseling etc, in line with the National SOP’s and standards of good practice.
• Using evidence-based resources, design, plan, coordinate and contribute to implementing mental health promotion and wellbeing activities targeting frontline workers

Team Management

• Provide supportive supervision to MHPSS front line volunteers, this includes weekly/bi-weekly individual supervision, monthly group supervision and monthly live/observation supervision following the National and Global standards related to providing supportive supervision.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance to attain the objectives.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Influence and Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO forums and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Field Director, Deputy Field Director and Purpose lead
• Coordinate activities with consortium partners, Local Implementing Partners, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
• Participate in local MHPSS coordination platforms, and other relevant coordination forums

Safeguarding

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

Security

• Work closely with the County and Country team’s security focal points to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

The MHPSS Officer will not be responsible for providing any counseling or person-focused therapeutic support to staff, this remains the responsibility of the P & C department

Supervisory Responsibility

• None

Accountability

• Operational and administratively directly report to: Deputy Field Director
• Works Directly With: Field Director, Deputy Field Director, NRM and Peace Building team, Systems Strengthening Team, Gender, Youth and Social Dynamics Team, Food security and Livelihoods Team and other thematic officers across the consortium and Local implementers partners.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification

• A university degree in psychology, social science, mental health nurse, mental health or relevant degrees
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in mental health & psychosocial support (MHPSS) field in the humanitarian context, experience in working in ASAL areas is an asset.
• Minimum of 1-year experience providing supportive supervision to MHPSS staff.
• Membership with Kenya Counselors & Psychologist Association or any relevant Body
• Proficiency in verbal and written English. Understanding of the local language is an asset
• Proven capacity to train, supervise, and coach staff in MHPSS technical skills and coordination, based on evidence-based approaches and intervention packages
• Comfortable with high levels of ambiguity and able to take decisions independently in fluid context.
• Experience working within a development-oriented NGO in environment and pastoralist contexts.
• Practical experience in the facilitation of multi-stakeholder MHPSS activities.
• Strong communication and analytical skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working within a multidisciplinary team and ability to liaise with government, community leaders, and other stakeholders at all levels including team leading and influencing.
• Skills in organizing and facilitating community dialogues, workshops, and training events
• Proven ability to conduct him/herself professionally under pressure.
• Knowledge on Conflict Sensitivity and Do No Harm approaches.
• Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Core Competencies: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Listening: Ability to actively listen (i.e., seeks to understand, asks good questions, paraphrases, and is in tune with speaker’s emotional state)
• Vulnerability & Courage: Ability to share lack of knowledge, mistakes, or failures; give and receive feedback; and raise difficult questions or concerns
• Curiosity: Ability to articulate and explore novel areas of learning that would contribute to greater effectiveness
• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand, affect, connect, and leverage various parts of a system while maintaining sight of the whole system
• Critical & Reflective Thinking: Ability to analyze and understand situations from a variety of perspectives
• Flexibility: Ability to accept the unexpected and adjust to what the situation now requires rather than what was required
• Improvement: Ability to recognize and develop personal strengths and areas in need of improvement and adjust style and approach depending on what the situation requires
• Decision-Making: Ability to make informed, timely decisions based on a mixture of analysis, evidence, and experience.
• Honest Reflexivity: Committed to engaging in and modeling honest reflexivity

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