MHPSS Project Manager At INTERSOS

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: MHPSS Project Manager

Code: SR-48-1916

Duty station: Buea – South West Region – Cameroun (with frequent field visits in Meme Division)

Starting date: 28/07/2021

Contract duration: 12 months

Reporting to: NWSW Head of Base and INTERSOS Cameroun Head of Mission

Supervision of: 10 national staff

Type of duty station: Non-family Duty station

General context of the project

The present rise of violence in the Regions of the North West and the South West have affected many, be they victims or witnesses of violence. Many, despite the healing of their wounds are left with deep psychological trauma requiring immediate attention.

Victims of violence report suffering from psychological distress, sometimes severe. Many complain of deep fear, sleeplessness and/or nightmares, generalized anxiety and unexplained somatic symptoms, such as body pain, stomachache and headache. At a theoretical level, the type and severity of a person’s reaction after a life-threatening event depends on a number of different factors: the nature and severity of the event they experience, age, previous exposure to distressing events, personal vulnerability, personal and family history of mental health disorders, coping mechanisms, resilience, physical health, cultural background and the presence or absence of a supportive environment. Most people will experience some symptoms after a highly distressing event, which may last for days or a few weeks. In most cases, symptoms will slowly decrease over time, without the need for any specific intervention, in other cases some form of support – non-specialized at community and family level or specialized guided by MHPSS professional – is required to support survivors to overcome the distress and prevent further harm.

If the severity of the symptoms is not recognized by the person affected or their family and not treated in time, psychological disorders might develop, such as chronic anxiety, depression, mood disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis and, in the case of children, development disorder. Accurately identifying the psychological needs of victims and putting in place the appropriate supportive intervention and/or therapy, requires mental health professionals (psychiatrists and psychologists) and trained, PSS facilitators with appropriate skills, knowledge and experience relevant to supporting victims of violence and people affected by conflict presenting distress and mental health issues.

General purpose of the position

The MHPSS Project Manager will:

· Supervise the implementation and the development of the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities in the project

· Supervise, support and train the mental health/PSS staff (Both INTERSOS and Local Partner)

· Coordinate the mental health activities with Local Partner

· Guarantee the relevancy and the quality of the mental health/psychosocial activities carried out

· Participate in assessment or emergency interventions in case of needs

Main responsibilities and tasks

Project Management

· Planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the project, ensuring timely and quality delivery of services as per approved project’s proposal;

· Ensure, in line with INTERSOS internal rules and regulations, Consortium lead and donor regulations and international humanitarian standard (such as SPHERE) the management of the project;

· Conduct regular field visits to assess program quality and progress toward objectives, facilitate collective problem solving with staff and other stakeholders to address challenges;

· Liaising with project Local partners, ensuring regular meetings, structured supervision, feedback mechanisms are in place.

· Liaising with sector appropriate local government and authorities, non-state actors, UN agencies, NGOs, and donors at field site level, in coordination with the HoM;

· Plan and distribute tasks and workload among the teams, guiding their understanding of the issues linked to the Project and the Mission through regular working meetings and feedback, in order to ensure an efficient deployment of the resources and the achievement of the expected goals;

· Inform the field team on the instructions given by the Coordination Office promoting fluent, smooth written and oral communication and information flow and ensuring confidentiality and full compliance with security rules, protection principles and medical ethics;

· Supervise the project material resources put at INTERSOS disposition in order to ensure a correct use and its longevity;

· Supervise all orders (medical and logistical) and the Project’s purchases as well as the financial indicators in order ensure efficiency, adequate supply at the intervention sites and early detect deviations and its causes;

· Ensure appropriate budget management;

· Monitor the risks and threats around the project(s), documenting the situation and analyzing the consequences of political decisions or negotiations in course;

· Proactively participate in relevant technical coordination meetings and working groups.

Supervision

· Provide trainings to community workers, protection staff and health staff on identification of patients, how to run psychoeducation sessions, how to create MH awareness and fight the stigma in the community

· Train counsellors in managing mild to moderate MH cases through the provision of international recognised trained (agreed with the MH technical referent) . Organize MHGap training and specialist follow up if appropriate

· Ensure the beneficiary continuum of care

· Develop a referral path to an appropriate resource for patients in need of higher care (to GP/Psychiatrist) and a clear follow up system, especially for psychiatric patients to allow proper treatment including psychotropic medications and psychosocial support

· Develop a referral pathway from the community and the staff for beneficiaries in need of MH care

· Clinically Supervise the team of field psychologists, social workers, psychosocial animators and other mental health and psychosocial staff (peer clinical supervision, in session observation, multi-disciplinary team meeting/Case discussion).

· Supervise and ensure that MHPSS activities with the clients are performed with regular follow-up and according to protocols and standards in order to provide the most appropriate treatment for clients with MHPSS problems

· Ensure that the INTERSOS and standard PSS protocols as well as individual counselling tools are adapted to the specificities of the cultural context and implemented on the project.

· Ensure quality and pertinence of mental health/PSS activities

· Review technical material, tools and documents elaborated for the development of activities (with the support of the SV MH advisor)

· Identify mental health and psychosocial needs within the affected population

· Provide technical supervision of clinical cases and groups activities, psycho-education activities, etc.

· Facilitate regular meetings, trainings and supervision within the mental health team

· Organize psycho-education and other psychosocial activities for the communities

· Organize and lead other mental community activities at project level: radio programs, community visits, trainings to MoH, etc..

· Provide clinical supervision of other INTERSOS mental health team members (psychologists, counsellors)

· Participate in meetings with the other INTERSOS Health/Protection staff to discuss ongoing cases

· Participate in meetings with INTERSOS protection staff to ensure harmonization of PSS activities and tools and effective referrals of clinical cases to the project team and od PSS cases to other INTERSOS protection team in the area if needed.Share problematic situations and cases with the Health Referent HQ and/or SV MH referent for help with decision making and problem resolution.

· Ensure translators are trained about terminology and appropriate behavior during sessions.

Network activities

· Perform a mapping and its regular update of the existing services, including other INGO’s, local NGO’s, community groups and governmental health services, etc.

· Maintain and develops network through meetings, cluster and contact with field organisations and

· relevant actors / track files with the main contact information.

· Establish a referral system with health, social and education services

Data collection and analysis of activities

· Monitor and evaluate MHPSS activities (define follow up tools, collect and analyse data, report regularly about mental health activities, etc.) in order to have reliable information about activities and adapt them accordingly:

· Ensure the set-up of patient files and data collection tools and their regular update (according to the template agreed with the SV MH advisor

· Setup of a database to MHPSS activities in line with the logframe indicators and update it regularly

· Elaborate the monthly report activity (narrative & statistics)

· Share relevant non confidential data and information with the Country Protection Focal Point/Protection coordinator, for monthly protection reporting purposes or as required by the technical supervisors

Required profile and experience

Education

Required: Licensed qualified clinical psychologist

Professional Experience

Essential field experience of at least two years as psychologist/ in clinical setting

Desirable experience in managing staff

Desirable working experience with INTERSOS or other NGOs

Desirable working experience in developing countries

Professional Requirements

Essential computer literacy (Word, Excel and Internet)

Essential advanced knowledge of different therapeutic techniques

Mandatory Training on Mh_Gap

Familiar with international guidelines (IASC – WHO)

Familiar with PM+ intervention (mandatory trained in PM+)

Languages

Fluent English (spoken and written) and French (suitable)**