Mental Health and Psychosocial Support officer at Empathy for Life Integrated Development Association (ELiDA), Ethiopia

Empathy for Life Development Association (ELiDA)

Vacancy Announcement-Female Applicants are Encouraging

Empathy for Life Integrated Development Association /ELiDA/ is established in 2008 and licensed by the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) with Certificate No. 1143. The Association envisions seeing socially responsible, conscious and productive women and girls who are meaningfully empowered to take part in the leadership and decision-making processes if the Country’s major societal aspects. Likewise, ELiDA exists to exert and contribute to poverty reduction endeavors undertaken in the Country. It is actively working advocating on climate change and environmental protection, promoting girls’ education, womens participation in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, human rights promotion, response to gender-based violence, child protection, and women’s economic empowerment in Addis Ababa, Amhara and Afar, regions. Its key funding partners include UK Aid, UN Women, UN Trust Fund, USAID/IRI, African Women’s Development Fund, UNDP, UNOHCHR, Malala Foundation, and Ethiopian Aid. CARE, USAID-OTI, USAID-Pact, GAC/Search for Common Ground/SFCG and FCDO/UKAID, OCHA-EHF, Girls Effect and others.

Key Information about the Position

Job Title: MHPSS Officer/Counselor

Position Reports to: North Wollo Area Coordinator

Position Location: Habru/Woldia

Salary and benefits: Based on the organization’s scale

Employment type: One year with possibility of extension

Level of effort (LoE) : Full time

Key Objective of the position

The MHPSS Officer will be the critical role in ELiDA Protection/GBV Unit and work within a case management model using a biopsychosocial, multidisciplinary and a community-based approach. He/she will be a frontline worker providing mental health case management sessions and services to IDPs, Returnees and host community population in the given location. This role involves providing direct support, including counselling and psychosocial interventions, to individuals and groups, as well as developing and delivering training and capacity-building programs. The officer also participates in assessments, data collection, and reporting on MHPSS activities.

Main Tasks and Responsibility

• Develop culturally appropriate psychosocial activities, including social support activities targeting IDPs, returnees or affected host communities. These include but are not limited to training in psychological first aid, designing holistic recreational, vocational, and social activities; development of material for awareness campaigns and organize awareness sessions.
• Providing individual and group counseling, and psychosocial support to affected populations.
• Provide case management service based on the protocol and guideline for GBV survivors, ensure confidentiality and referrals
• Conducting psychological assessments and making referrals to other specialists when necessary.
• Provide culturally appropriate counselling services to people with mental health conditions or experiencing psychosocial challenges in accordance with professional ethics and best practices.
• Strengthen community-facility referral system for IDPs, returnees or affected host communities with MHPSS needs.
• Organize and lead workshop for key community representatives, care and support group members, and model families to promote mental health in the community and effective referrals
• Integrate MHPSS services for holistic service with other sectors including Cash, protection, Livelihood etc to ensure protection of those suffering mental health conditions
• Compile information and prepare written reports and submit to GBV Project officer timely
• Work collaboratively with other agencies, local and international and with relevant government bodies
• Conducting psychological first aid (PFA) for individuals in distress/PTSD
• Developing and delivering training on stress management and self-care.
• Contributing to the development of IEC/BCC materials on mental health and trauma.
• Working within a case management model using a biopsychosocial and community-based approach.
• Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive

Qualification

• MSc/BA degree or above in psychology, mental health/Psychiatry, Behavioural Science, Social psychology with minimum of two years’ relevant experience on MHPSS program implementation and facilitating psychosocial activities.

Skill and Experience

• Knowledge on national and international guidelines, protocols and strategies on MHPSS.
• Excellent training experience and skills, including on the job and formal training
• Ability to work with a broad spectrum of people from different cultural backgrounds
• Excellent communication skills
• Extremely flexible with ability to cope with stressful situations and challenging conditions with limited resources
• Must be able to write proposals, technical reports for donor and potential partners and meet reporting deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• High level of confidentiality and integrity