Mental Health Psychosocial Support-Project Officer

General Information

Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial international aid organization working in situations of poverty, exclusion, conflict, and disaster. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our actions and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions, and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights. Humanity & Inclusion is a not-for-profit organization with no religious or political affiliation. It operates as a federation comprising a network of associations that provide it with human and financial resources, manage its projects, and implement its social mission and actions.

Mission

The Mental Health & Psycho-social support officer (MHPSS officer) will provide psychological and social support to victims and survivors from the risks of explosive ordnance, assigned and design, implement, and conduct inclusive MHPSS activities targeted to victims of EO, including men, women, boys, girls, and persons with disabilities.

Additionally, the Psychosocial support officer will be responsible for providing group and individual counseling sessions to identified individuals by the social workers to Persons with Specific Needs identified and their caregivers on specific topics (protection and PSS oriented).

The Mental Health & Psycho-social support officer will be based in Mekelle with frequent travels to different woredas and kebeles under both Eastern, Central, and Southern, and Southeastern zones of the Tigray region.

Roles and Responsibilities

• In close collaboration with Psychologists, PT, EORE trainers, team identification of victims of EO and PwDs in need of psychosocial support
• Providing psychological support to victims based on the identified needs
• Ensure quality and inclusive services are provided every day, especially to victims of EO and other social oppressions, including women, adolescent girls , and children.
• Ensure community mobilization and involvement of victims of EO, especially persons with disabilities (including women and girls with disabilities), to attend small psychosocial events/activities.
• Support the design and implementation of inclusive PSS activities to survivors from the risks of EO to contribute to strengthening social, emotional well-being, and increase skills, knowledge, and participation (coping mechanisms, conflict management, self-confidence, resilience, and empowerment);
• Contribute to organizing specific inclusive activities between victims, like mothers and their children, to strengthen positive parenting skills and mother-to-mother group discussion, including mothers of children with disabilities, and conduct the sessions.
• Contribute to the design, planning, and implementation of Community PSS events in sites to raise awareness about the Rights of Persons with disabilities, old age people, and ensure participation of persons with disabilities, other community members, actors, and representatives of the government.
• Report on a regular basis to your line manager about the PSS activities implemented through weekly reports and activities planning.
• Ensure data is collected in a qualitative and effective way with the consent of the beneficiary, and that appropriate tools and formats are filled properly.
• Ensure daily safe documentation and storage of the cases identified (identification forms, assessment forms, referrals forms,) in line with internal standard operating procedures, guidelines, and protection principles.
• Ensure cases are well recorded through the database and other data collection methodologies (beneficiaries’ files, …), updated every week, and shared to the VA team leader and project manager when required, and data are disaggregated by age, gender, and disability when collecting and recording data by HI’s data protection and confidentiality protocols.
• Identify and network with external service providers to reinforce referral mechanisms, especially with hospitals, health centers, and NGOs who are working directly with victims of EO and other challenges
• Support the Rehab and HMA teams in continuous mapping of services available in HI’s areas of intervention.
• Work in cooperation and partnership with local government stakeholders to realize the project objectives, such as Zone and Woreda Women & Children Affairs, OPD, OPA, Health, Justice, Education Offices, and Coordinate regular activities with IDP committees, Kebele authorities, and other partner teams if required.
• Set up and maintain an effective communication system with partners and stakeholders.
• Ensure respect and compliance with HI’s policies, including Child Protection and Child Safeguarding Policy, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse [PSEA] policy, Anti-fraud and anti-corruption policy, and Code of Conduct.
• Ensures that beneficiary community members are informed about HI’s safeguarding policies;
• Disseminate information among the community and partners about HI’s policies, Code of Conduct, and PSEA’s messages and promote reporting of any concerns related to SEA and Child Safeguarding.
• Report immediately to the Project Manager and Operational coordinator about any concern, incident related to child protection, safeguarding, and PSEA.

Education & Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Social Psychology, or Sociology

Knowledge and Professional Experience required

• Minimum of two years of experience as a psychologist or social worker.
• Experience in Community-based protection and awareness raising in humanitarian settings.
• Good knowledge of data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Experienced in providing MHPSS to victims and survivors from the risks of EO in conflict-affected areas is advantageous
• Work experience in areas of disability, child-friendly spaces, and related things is essential.
• Knowledge of case management is highly required

Skills

• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• High degree of confidentiality.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work with teams and develop team spirit.
• Diligence and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of the working area language (Tigrigna) is advantageous.