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Employee Contract Type:
Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)
Job Description:
The MHPSS Specialist (MPHSS-S) will lead the process of mapping, mobilizing, integrating, testing, adapting and refining appropriate group-based mental health and psychosocial support models for the EMERGE program. She/he will assess needs, review existing practice, analyze practitioner networks and develop and scale a targeted trauma counselling and support approach to address the mental psychosocial needs of affected by conflict and displacement to prepare them to take full advantage of livelihood support to lift them out of extreme poverty.
The MPHSS-S will field test context appropriate approaches during the inception period and support the development of metrics to measure additional research to explore their effectiveness and social acceptance. He/she will incorporate learning into guidelines, training materials and modules that are context sensitive and responsive. The position-holder will lead the training of consortium members, implementing partners and government. They will support EMERGE technical advisors to develop methods of identifying and referring those in need of support through appropriate channels. Working with religious leaders and other civil society actors, develop messaging and curate champions to demystify and remove stigma of mental health and psychosocial support.
She/he will provide close supervision and monitoring of the approaches with careful attention provided for the identification, referral and case management of mental health issues. They will identify and mentor lead councilors, creating a local practitioner’s support network to share experiences and replicate promising methods. She/he will support EMERGE MEAL team to develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of approaches for creating awareness, acceptance and uptake of services and the impact of MPHSS towards enabling and sustaining graduation out of extreme poverty.
They will serve as a focal point for the consortium with relevant in-country mental health and psychosocial working groups to share learning. She/he will collaborate with World Vision partnership, MHPSS researchers and other relevant communities of practice to strengthen understanding of effective approaches for fragile contexts.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
35% Technical leadership of MPHSS approach
• Lead and facilitate the process of refining existing models (IPT-G), Elman Peace, IOM-Student Peace Initiative, Humanity & Inclusion, etc. and testing and adapting new models (Group PM+, other) especially during the Refine and Implement period;
• Network and liaise with MHPSS implementation both in other WV field offices and with other partners to capture and incorporate the latest learning from the adaptation and implementation of these models in similar contexts (e.g. Ethiopia, Uganda);
• Assess needs and develop or adapt MHPSS models to respond to conflict-related trauma, especially for conflict and displacement-affected communities;
• Work closely with Tulane University, lead in the design and roll-out of planned pilot test and studies related to adapted MHPSS models (e.g. Group PM+);
• Participate in the development and implementation of group-based psychosocial programming;
• Lead in the development of culturally appropriate training materials (e.g. May dialect);
• Work with religious and other civil society actors to develop messaging and identify champions to combat stigma and promote uptake; Context-appropriate and responsive MPHSS approach for fragile context developed;
Network of in-country MPHSS practitioners in place to learn and share with best practices
35% Capacity Building of consortium and government partners
• Develop and/or adapt MHPSS program model guidelines based on learning and experience from previous programming or R&I period pilot tests;
• Train and facilitate cascaded training for MHPSS consortium members, implementing partners and government in the South West State.
• Orient and facilitate cascaded training and capacity building for Ministry of Health counterparts at different administrative levels.
• Develop and facilitate a practitioners’ network, mentoring stand-out group/community providers and promote sharing best practices;
• Closely monitor MHPSS-implementing partners and support the ongoing supervision of MHPSS focal points as they monitor and support the community-level facilitators (especially during initial phases of implementation)
• Support the identification and referral of severe cases of depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) or severe mental, neurological or substance use disorders to appropriate medical facilities.
• Ensure people in acute distress are assisted to alleviate their stress, by ensuring that staff are trained on PFA and feel confident to use it.
• Work with EMERGE technical advisors to identify entry points for messaging and outreach and to strengthen referral pathway for service provision;
• Build the capacity of consortium member Elman Peace to lead guideline development processes through involvement in curriculum development and mentorship;
20% Referral and case management
• Support the identification and referral of severe cases of depression, trauma or mental health illnesses to appropriate medical facilities;
• Build the capacity EMERGE partners, and ensure effective systems are in place for close follow-up and case management for this highly vulnerable group;
• Ensure care and safety of clients is being upheld and safety risks are adequately responded to and reported;
• Develop and roll-out Standard Operating Procedure, including MPHSS support to ensure diagnosis and proper referral.
10% External collaboration and Knowledge Management
• Identify and network with other relevant MHPSS learning or research platforms to exchange ideas and learning.
• Document and share key MHPSS learning with other RFSAs, Ethiopia-based researchers and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate and exchange ideas and information with leaders in this field, including past collaborators at Johns Hopkins University and Colombia Teachers College
• Broker collaborations between leading universities’ in MPHSS and EMERGE program MPHSS learning products inform practice in fragile settings;
World Vision Somalia and US are perceived as Thought Leaders in MPHSS in fragile settings
• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Team on evaluation strategy and frameworks (including the performance measurement framework) needed to achieve credible and reliable measurement of MPSS results
• Ensure tracking and document client data electronically via LMMS and project progress to asses MPHSS efficacy and client discharge plans and link to other BCC and project intervention
• Provide clinical supervision to staff offering mental health and psychosocial support services and create a peer supervisory network built on foundations of knowledge exchange.
Required Professional Experience
A minimum of 3 years working experience in mental health and psychosocial support in low resource or humanitarian settings, two of which have to be at a supervisory level.
Experience providing clinical supervision in individual and group settings for large-scale MHPSS programs
Experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative field research, and experience working closely with universities and/or other research institutions.
Excellent analytical, oral and written communication skills.
Required Education, training, license, registration, and certification
Mental Health professional with an advanced (Master's) degree in Counselling, Psychology, clinical Psychology and/or Public Health.
Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications
Knowledge of group-based treatments such as IPT-G and Group PM+ strongly preferred.
Travel and/or Work Environment Requirement
Baidoa and/or Mogadishu-based role with travel to Hudor
Language Requirements English, Somali, Somali May dialect preferred
World Vision has been operational in Somalia since 1993, responding to the over three decades-long protracted humanitarian crisis, working with communities to overcome conflict and climate-induced challenges, strengthen resilience, improve people’s... Read More
