Mental Health Specialist

International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
Upper Nile state in South Sudan has experienced an influx of refugees and/returnees since the start of 2012 due to renewed conflict in Sudan’s Blue Nile and South Kordofan states. There are currently 110,000 refugees living in four different camps in Maban County. The humanitarian response to the refugee crisis has been strong in the provision of basic services (Health, Nutrition, WASH etc.), and despite on-going challenges, the overall health and nutritional status of the refugee population has stabilised. As the refugee response shifts out of the emergency response phase, the lack of a comprehensive mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) project represents one of the key gaps in service provision.
JOB SUMMARY
The mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) specialist will be responsible for starting and managing a comprehensive MHPSS project. The project aims to integrate mental health into primary health care service delivery in the refugee camps in Maban County line with the South Sudan Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and the WHO mhGAP Intervention Guidelines. International Medical Corps’s approach to mental health is heavily based on training and developing the capacity of local partners and national staff; the successful candidate should therefore have experience in training, on the job supervision and mentoring, coordination and in building referral links to other formal service providers and informal community supports. The mental health specialist will train, supervise, coordinate and oversee a national team of mental health officers and a team of community outreach volunteers who will engage in outreach, follow-up and basic mental health and psychosocial support. The MHPSS will closely work and coordinate with the project mental health specialist (psychiatrist) who is tasked in training and supervising general health care providers in mental health using mhGAP Intervention Guidelines.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Actively lead or participate in coordination mechanisms (e.g. Health, general coordination, potential MHPSS coordination group) and advocate for principles of IASC MHPSS guidelines
2. Identify and train local mental health officers and refugee staff/volunteers in community outreach, mental health case management, follow-up and mental health promotion
3. Provide training in the identification and non-pharmacological management of priority mental health condition to general health staff in line with WHO mhGAP Intervention Guidelines in coordination with project mental health specialist (psychiatrist)
4. Engage trained staff and volunteers in on the job mentoring and supervision
5. Provide mental health and psychosocial support services along with health staff as needed
6. Ensure completion and analysis of pre post knowledge tests and on the job supervision checklists.
7. Support collection and reporting of mental health project data including HMIS reporting and patient outcomes (e.g. functioning, satisfaction with services)
8. Provide training in other MHPSS topics as appropriate, depending on identified needs (e.g. key aspects of psychological first aid and relevant aspects of IASC guidelines) to IMC and staff from other agencies
9. Implement social and recreational activities (e.g. youth friendly activities)
10. Assist with the development of new proposals
11. Assist with hiring of national staff as needed
12. Implement the project in line with IMC and global MHPSS standards and guidelines and closely coordinate with IMCs Health Technical Unit Global Mental Health Advisor for development and review of training materials and reports.
13. Represent IMC in MHPSS related meetings and coordination groups Skills & Requirements: 1. The qualified candidate will have a masters degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. clinical or counseling psychology, clinical social work).
14. 3+ years experience working on MHPSS programs, preferably in humanitarian settings
15. Training and supervision experience required
16. Strong organizational and supervisory skills
17. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within different cultural environments
18. Ability to work in difficult environment under very basic living conditions (refugee camp setting)
19. Ability to work within a team structure or in isolation, flexible, and can cope with stressful workloads and working with limited resources
20. A good command of verbal and written English, Arabic a plus

How to apply:

To apply please visit our website and go to the careers section:

https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/