Senior MHPSS Officer

The Senior MHPSS Officer is responsible for initiating and maintaining collaborative relationships with local representatives of UNICEF, UNFPA, MONUSCO, international and local NGOs in the humanitarian emergency response in Ituri province. The role includes technical support in implementing mental health and psychosocial support activities, training, coordination, reporting, and representation of Save the Children in humanitarian coordination platforms.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate periodic planning and ensure effective implementation of MHPSS project activities
• Identify and suggest actions to achieve project objectives
• Participate in developing new project implementation strategies
• Monitor and evaluate activities and performance of supervised MHPSS Officer
• Inform Program Manager of any events impacting project conduct
• Develop/adapt functional referral systems to appropriate MHPSS services
• Contribute to mapping of mental health and psychosocial service providers in intervention areas
• Coordinate implementation of HEART approach (Healing and Education through Arts)
• Support identification of staffing needs and capacity building of staff and stakeholders involved in psychosocial distress and psychological disorder care for children
• Ensure establishment and functioning of safe/confidential spaces for listening and peer support sessions for survivors of gender-based violence and psychosocial distress
• Support referral of specific psychosocial cases to specialized care services
• Coordinate with health centers and Case Management team for adequate medical and psychosocial care of survivors
• Support awareness activities on available services and community mobilization
• Maintain monitoring tools and produce periodic reports
• Apply guiding principles of respect, confidentiality, non-discrimination, and safety in MHPSS care
• Participate actively in weekly meetings and case conferences with social workers
• Work closely with MEAL department on performance and quality indicators and contribute to periodic project evaluations
• Support HR department in staff wellbeing and related activities
• Contribute to Save the Children representation in inter-agency MHPSS coordination platforms
• Perform other related tasks as requested by supervisor
• Provide daily coaching and supervision to MHPSS Officer and community psychosocial support partners
• Ensure correct coding of project expenditure lines and update monitoring tools regularly
• Review partner expense reports for finance validation
• Support accountability activities with MEAL Officer
• Contribute to feedback and complaints mechanisms in target communities and displaced persons camps
• Supervise implementation and use of accountability tools and mechanisms, dedicating at least 60% of time to field supervision
• Ensure feedback and complaints database is properly maintained and responses provided
• Contribute to advocacy documentation for prevention and response to violence against children in conflict contexts
• Ensure all staff and partners are trained on Save the Children Child Safeguarding Policy and apply it daily
• Facilitate Child Safeguarding Focal Points in their mandates
• Detect and report abuse cases and take appropriate measures according to SC Protection Policy
• Promote Child Safeguarding Policy among state agents and local NGOs
• Develop child expression frameworks with Child Protection Assistants
• Ensure child participation standards are considered in all project intervention mechanisms
• Regularly report on child participation and propose improvements
• Perform other tasks assigned by Program Manager
• Strictly adhere to Save the Children policies including child protection, security, whistleblowing and fraud prevention

Requirements

• Higher education in Psychology, Psychiatry or equivalent field
• At least 4 years of work experience in MHPSS and Child Protection
• Proven work experience in humanitarian crisis contexts and displaced persons camps
• Experience in community mobilization
• Ability to analyze and adapt approaches to different environments and actors
• Good communication skills, teamwork, and ability to develop relationships with local authorities, communities and local organizations
• Experience in supervision and coaching
• Knowledge of Child Protection and the context of Ituri Province
• Familiarity with Save the Children International work standards and norms

Skills

• Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
• Child Protection
• Humanitarian Response
• Social Mobilization
• Supervision and Coaching
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Training Delivery
• Program Coordination
• Reporting
• Relationship Building with Local Authorities
• Context Analysis and Adaptation
• Knowledge of Ituri Province Context
• Familiarity with Save the Children Standards

Languages

French, English