Location: Hitsats
Organization: Samaritan’s Purse
Deadline: February 21, 2026
Job Description
JOB SUMMARY
The Psychosocial Support Services (PSS) Officer will provide the psychosocial, emotional and mental health needs for the patients/beneficiaries entering the Samaritans Purse (SP) program. The workload is intensive and requires a team of dedicated health professionals to meet the ever-increasing demand for specialized services. At times the PSS Officer may be called upon to fulfill duties not directly involved with this
The PSS Officer will lead psychosocial support interventions for IDPs and host communities in Hitsats IDP camps, focusing on trauma healing, peer support groups, Safe Spaces for women and girls, and capacity building of community and church leaders. The officer will integrate Biblically-founded approaches with trauma-informed care, coordinate with local partners and MMNU teams, and ensure culturally sensitive, survivor-centered support.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Train and coach community leaders to establish and facilitate peer support groups using HWOT and PFA.
- Support the operation of Safe Spaces, including recreational activities, dignity kit distribution, and awareness sessions on GBV and coping strategies.
- Collaborate with faith-based partners to train church leaders on trauma-informed care and GBV prevention
- Facilitate structured recreational and life-skills sessions for children and adolescents, adapting the Active Fellowship curriculum.
- Deliver survivor-centered support, strengthen referral pathways, and integrate SASA! curriculum messaging into community activities.
- Ensure CFRM mechanisms are in place and regularly reviewed to adapt programming to beneficiary needs
- Document lessons learned, transformation stories, and outcomes to feed into donor and stakeholder reports
- Daily meet with beneficiaries/patients/staff to hear their psychosocial needs.
- Assist the Program Manager in the development of protection mainstreaming plan, which incorporate elements of protection mainstreaming, staff trainings on PESA, SGBV and CP, establish complaint mechanisms (CMs) and response strategy.
- Provide therapeutic interventions such as counseling and psychoeducation to patients and their families as well as administering psychotropic medications as per requirement.
- Collect, collate and disseminate SP PSS documentation, creating weekly and monthly reports to meet the reporting requirements and deadlines set by SP, Regional Health Bureau (RHB), Department of Health, WHO/UN agencies and Donors.
- Provide guidance and support to patients/beneficiaries/medical staff through various mechanisms.
- Work with staff to ensure care and communication is culturally sensitive.
- Provide guidance and community referral options as necessary.
- Strengthen referral linkages for the management of cases with SGBV between the MMNU and Hospitals or PHCs receiving MHPSS referrals.
- Conduct regular community meetings with leaders of representative groupswomen, youth, and PWDswill be held to receive input and give feedback on the project to the community.
- Ensure patient confidentiality is respected at all times.
- Ensures opportunities are in place for safe, confidential reporting and community feedback with mechanisms to ensure accountability.
- Participate in clinical trainings and mentoring provided by leadership in dissemination of new knowledge or protocols.
- Other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE NEEDED
- BA in Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, or any other related field
- At least 3 -4 years of counselling and social work experience
- Current registration/licensure in social work or counselling
- Strong knowledge of standards and guidelines for MH GAP, GBV and CP programming, coordination, and data management
- Experience in international NGO setting is a plus
LANGUAGE
- Proficiency in English and Amharic
- Knowledge of the regional language required
- Knowledge of any other national language is a plus
SKILLS REQUIRED
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Strong knowledge of trauma-informed care approaches (HWOT, PFA, SASA!, PALS)
- Experience facilitating Safe Spaces for women and girls and survivor-centered GBV response
- Ability to train and mentor community leaders, youth, and church leaders in psychosocial and protection topics.
- Competence in child-focused recreational and life-skills programming.
- Strong collaboration skills with government authorities, clusters, and faith-based partners.
- Cultural sensitivity and ability to integrate Biblical principles with psychosocial support.
- Excellent facilitation and group dynamics management skills.
- Demonstrated sensitivity in diverse, cross-cultural settings.
- Knowledge of Sphere and established international protection and GBV standards, methodology and tools
- Attention to detail, anticipation and follow up are core values of the job function.
- Possesses strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Must be a self-starter and internally driven to success and hard work.
- Possesses strong cross-cultural communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Must be a humble team player
- Ability to be flexible and adaptable.
- Willingness to travel in and out of the field.
- Must have analytical and report writing skills.
- High level of integrity and stewardship
- Committed to the SP values and ethics
- Proficient in making clinical decisions in the care of the patient population serving.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written or schedule form.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical demands will be dependent upon situation and event.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be exposed to loud noises around the maintenance and construction workshops.
- May travel in country with exposure to communicable diseases, hot and humid weather conditions.
- Work in a security context that is fluid
SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT
The employee is required to carry out his/her duties in accordance with Samaritans Purse Safeguarding policy and Code of conduct.
Employee should remain alert and responsive to any child and adult safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills, which will enable him/her to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child and adult safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct his/herself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy.