Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Uganda job adverts,

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support , Career Opportunity in Uganda, Jobs in Uganda, Ngo jobs 2018, 

Position Title:  Mental Health and Psychosocial Support / Protection Supervisor

Organisation: Handicap International

Duty Station: Arua, Uganda

Reports to: Project Manager 

About Us:

Handicap International is an independent and impartial aid and development organisation working in

situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside disabled and vulnerable people to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. Handicap International is outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity.

Description of HI Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Protection and Inclusion Approach

Concerning Protection, MHPSS and Inclusion, Handicap International`s strategy is developed around the following axes:

·             Set up of a referral system in close collaboration with the MEAL department

·             Enhancement of the welcoming and the identification of people with special needs and protection at-risk individuals, by providing Psychosocial First Aid;

·             Strengthening of inclusion approaches among humanitarian actors in place;

·             Dissemination of MHPSS related awareness-raising and information;

·             Support to community based mechanisms towards social cohesion, connection and wellbeing;

·             Implementation of Psychosocial support groups to encourage group dynamics, interaction and connections between participants. In addition, Handicap International aims at developing a LRRD (Linking Relief, Recovery and Development) approach from the early stages of its intervention in Uganda, enhancing social cohesion and local development and thus limiting dependence on humanitarian assistance

Job Summary:

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support / Protection Supervisor will primarily ensure the implementation and development of a qualitative, inclusive protection/MHPSS strategy of intervention, integrated with the response to the basic needs of HI beneficiaries provided by HI and other actors. To do so, He/she will manage a team of 6 persons. The main responsibilities linked to the position are:

·             Implementation and coordination of qualitative protection/MHPSS activities

·             Reporting

·             Coordination and representation

·             Team management including training and capacity building of staff on CM, MHPSS

·             Demonstration of an ethic, safe and professional practice

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Implementation and coordination of qualitative protection activities: Under the supervision of the project manager and in close collaboration with the other HI department, He/she will be responsible:

·             To contribute or/and to establish service mapping in HI area of intervention

·             To contribute to the analysis of the protection issues and mental health and psychosocial issues / needs, sources of distress, coping mechanisms, community-based dynamics and mechanisms, leaderships, representation of the beneficiaries and communities targeted by HI intervention

·             To manage, coach and training staff on basic and complex MHPSS/Protection related topics.

·             To participate to the identification of barriers to equal access to services.

·             To ensure  the identification and assessment of Person with Specific Needs and individuals at risk of being victim of violence in different ways, including the presence of the protection team at the different stages of the refugee arrival pathway

·             To ensure internal and external referral and follow up of these referrals of Person with Specific Needs and individuals at risk of being victim of violence identified and according to their needs

·             To contribute or/and develop of the tailored and inclusive IEC material on information on services, protection concern and MHPSS.

·             To develop concept and material for MHPSS awareness raising and contribute to mobilization of the community member.

·             To ensure the implementation of awareness raising activities on information on services and support the MHPSS awareness activities

·             To ensure the support to community-based mechanisms, community mobilisation and social-cohesion (ensuring inclusion, non-discrimination through multidimensional support) through the organization of community-based events and through the support to local organizations

·             To ensure regular review and propose relevant adaptations to ongoing activities and tools to the project manager in order to cope with the challenges faced in the field

·             To respect logistics and administrative HI procedures

·             To develop activities’ budget upon line manager request

·             To inform the line manager and/or the other department about the financial and material means needed to implement the activities

Reporting:

·             To provide daily/weekly reporting on the activities implemented to the line manager

·             To provide monthly reporting on the indicators linked to the activities he/she coordinates

·             To participate to the project manager activity reports as required

·             To participate to the development of the technical reports and contribute to providing specific information when required

·             To ensure information sharing to and from internal coordination for protection sector

·             To provide technical inputs and collaborate with surveys, assessments and monitoring reports conducted by the HI project manager and MEAL department

Coordination and Representation

·             To represent Handicap International in the Protection/MHPSS technical domain with any relevant stakeholders under the supervision of his/her manager at field level

·             To ensure a productive and positive relationship with HI partners in the field

·             To participate to the coordination groups or meetings related to his/her field of intervention at local level, under the supervision of project manager

·             To ensure a good and productive coordination and communication with support services

·             To contribute to a strong and productive internal collaboration and coordination with the other sectors of intervention of HI mission to ensure the implementation of an integrated approach:

·             To actively participate to the development of the HI inclusion component, MHPSS component and cash based intervention through inputs, active participation to any transversal technical meetings, workshops, etc.

·             Ensure a good communication and information of each member of the HI team and work in a constructive way with all its members

·             To ensure field visits of the activities of the other components mentioned above to develop his/her knowledge and understanding of HI intervention

·             To provide protection/MHPSS-related training to every HI team member of the other intervention’s components as requested by the line manager

·             To propose to the line manager any changes or updates of the organizational structure or means and pathway of communication between the different component of HI intervention.

·         Team management including training and capacity building of staff

·             Actively participate to the recruitment of his/her team.

·             To ensure the initial and continuous training of the team through the development of a training plan

·             To ensure the continuous management and supervision of the team through regular meeting and guidance on all protection/MHPSS technical aspects, development of individual action plans to improve quality of intervention when necessary, development and follow-up of planning, management of absences, etc.

·             To ensure regular field visits on outreach intervention areas to ensure on the job support to his/her team

·             To ensure regular feedback to the project manager regarding the challenges faced by the team, the strength, the weaknesses and needs of the team

·         Demonstration of an ethics, safe, secure and professional practices

·             To show professional ethics, respect and promote Handicap International mandate at any time

·             To respect beneficiary’s privacy and confidentiality (among others, he/she only share medical information with medical related staff/persons directly involved in beneficiary’s care and same for protection matters)

·             To respect the Handicap International protection of children policy, the protection of beneficiaries from sexual exploitation and abuse policy, the anti-fraud bribery and corruption policy and report to your line manager any non-respect of HI’s policies amongst the teams or partners.

·             To report any incident or act that causes any harm to beneficiary or to others

·             To contribute to the definition and/or update of security framework at field level

·             To observe at all times strict commitment to Handicap International Security & Safety regulations as per procedures in place at mission level

·             To support information internal dissemination to relevant focal persons at mission level aiming at reinforcing security and safety of Handicap International staff and assets

·             To participate in security meetings upon the line manager request and report relevant information to the appropriate persons

Others:

·             Participating to the weekly team meetings;

·             Ensure the strict application of the rules;

·             Report any incident in which s/he's involved/witnessed immediately;

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

·             The ideal candidate for the Handicap International Mental Health and Psychosocial Support / Protection Supervisor job opportunity must hold a protection/MHPSS -related degree (human science, psychologist, legal degree, political science, social work) with experience.

·             Two years of professional experience in team management.

·             Professional experience in the protection and MHPSS of vulnerable persons and/or refugees.

·             Professional experience within an NGO, preferably in protection and MHPSS.

·             Experience in social cohesion and/or community mobilization and/or conflict management required.

·             Experience in community-based approach of protection and MHPSS

·             Previous experience in GBV and/or child protection is an asset

·             Previous experience in monitoring and evaluation is an asset

·             Excellent communication and reporting skills

·             Good computer skills

·             Familiar with MS Office (Word, Excel) and internet

·             Strong sense of neutrality and confidentiality

·             Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills

·             Open and interested in disability and vulnerability issues

·             High diplomacy, cultural sensitivity and security awareness

·             Ability to work under high pressure and without constant supervision

    Languages: Spoken and written English. Proficiency local languages is an asset

NB: Local residents are particularly encouraged to Apply.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified candidates who wish to join Handicap International are encouraged to send their updated CVs (3 pages max, including three professional references) with cover letters to HR Coordinator at job.uganda@handicap-international-ug.org with the subject: 

Application to MHPSS/Protection Supervisor.

Deadline: 17th January 2018

NB: Any efforts to influence the recruitment process will lead to automatic disqualification.