Consortium MHPSS Specialist(psychiatrist) At Cordaid

Background

Cordaid is a Dutch relief and development organization. With its Global Office in The Hague, Netherlands, Cordaid currently operates in fragile and (post-) conflict countries combining life saving humanitarian aid with the longer-term improvement of health Cordaid systems, economic opportunities and disaster resilience, and the promotion of security and justice. Cordaid’s position is to include women and youth as partners and leaders in the process of development, building peace and enhancing security within their community.

Cordaid Iraq office has been established in Erbil since October 2015. In the aftermath of conflict within the region, we aim to deliver services in the field of health care, security and justice, agriculture, WASH and shelter. We also focus on the rehabilitation of basic infrastructure, as well as vocational training, livelihoods, protection mainstreaming and youth projects.

Project Overview

Cordaid with consortium partners is implements a Health project in 8 governorates (Kirkuk, Salah al Din, Ninewa, Anbar, Diyala, Dohuk , Slimania and Erbil) , providing MHPSS through ,PHC,RH, Vaccination, nutrition ,new born baby care and GBV support for vulnerable communities both in and out of camp IDPs and Returnees.

Job description

The MHPSS Specialist (Psychiatrist) will provide strategic vision and direction to develop the MHPSS program in Cordaid Office. This includes advising and coaching the technical side of MHPSS project development cycle of all projects under the Health and Protection team, mentoring and capacity building of staff, and providing innovative new solutions to response to the MH and other needs across the Programme, Cordaid’ approach to mental health is heavily based on training and developing the capacity of local partners and national DOH staff; the successful candidate should therefore have experience in MHPSS training, on the job supervision and mentoring, coordination and in building referral links to other formal service providers and informal community supports.

Duties and responsibilities:

· The Consortium MHPSS Specialist(psychiatrist), will be a responsible for implementing and managing the technical components of a comprehensive MHPSS project.

· Provide MHPSS technical advice and support to the health field teams and to other multi-sector staff across different project sites.

· Developing mental health and psychosocial support materials for pilot, testing and implementation through CORDAID Primary Health Care (PHC) and Psychosocial Support programme.

· Coordination at a senior level, with MHPSS coordinating bodies e.g., the MHPSS Working Group, as well as other NGOs.

· Lead on all MHPSS elements of proposals and reports, providing capacity building for national and international staff and promote best practice in all programmes.

· The mental health specialist will train, supervise, coordinate, and oversee a national team of mental health officers and a team of community outreach volunteers who will engage in outreach, follow-up and basic mental health and psychosocial support.

· The MHPSS specialist(psychiatrist), will closely work, advice and coordinate with the health and protection Program, project managers and Officers and those who are tasked to oversee MHPSS related activities including training and supervising general health care providers in mental health using MH-GAP, PM+ Intervention Guidelines, The MHPSS specialist will be the focal person to attend with the health and protection Program manager to the MHPSS Clusters, WG meetings.

Main Responsibilities

· To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation. The tasks listed are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

· Provide technical advice to health staff, advisor, PMs, managers, field staff and HQ on potential involvement in new psychosocial support interventions.

· Define appropriate policies, guidelines, training, tools and protocols for MHPSS.

· Provide technical support to the health and psychosocial support staff in each team.

· Work with all field teams to plan for and implement training on MHPSS, including MH-GAP, PM+, CMR, PSS, supportive communication, Psychological First Aid (PFA).

· Link with national health and protection clusters, MHPSS and GBV working groups.

· Carry out regular supervision visits in conjunction with health PMs, ensuring that MHPSS objectives are met within project timeframes and in accordance with recognized international standards.

· Supervise and monitor the development of MH for psychosocial support (both qualitative and quantitative) with follow-up and feedback to relevant staff, partners.

· Provide MHPSS input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability.

· Actively advice or participate in coordination mechanisms in the area (e.g. potential MHPSS coordination Clusters and Working group) and advocate for principles of CORDAID MHPSS guidelines.

· Identify and train local mental health officers and returning or returned IDP staff/volunteers in community outreach, mental health case management, follow-up, and mental health promotion

· Provide training in the identification and non-pharmacological management of priority mental health condition to general health staff in line with WH, PM+,MH-GAB Intervention Guidelines in coordination with project MoH- DoHs MHPSS

· Engage trained staff and volunteers in on the job mentoring and supervision.

· Provide mental health and psychosocial support services along with health staff as needed.

· Support collection and reporting of mental health project data including HMIS reporting and patient outcomes (e.g., functioning, satisfaction with services)

· Recommending and designing a MH treatment plan

· Provide training in other MHPSS topics as appropriate, depending on identified needs (e.g. key aspects of psychological first aid and relevant aspects of CORDAID guidelines) to Cordaid and staff from other agencies

· Advice the project managers in the MHPSS awareness activities for the projects

· Follow up the social and recreational activities (e.g., MHPSS through Health and Protection activities)

· Assist with hiring of national staff as needed.

· Follow up the MHPSS project in line with Cordaid and global MHPSS standards and guidelines and closely coordinate with COE and COP at the GO for development and review of training materials and reports.

· Represent Cordaid in MHPSS related meetings, Clusters, and coordination groups.

Representation

· Maintain an overview of the MHPSS aspects within the country programmes and of the regional context, with a view to strategically integrate MHPSS in current programming and support developing new projects in current sites and/or surrounding areas.

· Develop and maintain relationships with Ministry of Health, DOH, partners and other stakeholders, with the objective of raising public awareness of CORDAID and ensuring good co-operation.

· Seek out relevant networks or task groups on specific MHPSS related humanitarian aid issues and actively participate, if possible.

· Represent CORDAID, as appropriate, at national mental health platforms, MHPSS working group, coordination, sector and bilateral meetings, with national and/or local government departments and any other relevant meetings or events, facilitating close coordination, links with partners programming in similar project areas and avoiding duplication with other partners.

Staff Management

· Be involved in the recruitment of psychosocial support staff for the country programme, providing advice on technical skills and experience as requested.

· Ensure that all psychosocial support staff are adequately trained and, if necessary, create possibilities for capacity building, mentoring, and coaching, within budget constraints.

· Plan and develop training material as required with support from MHPSS advisor at GO as needed.

Code of Conduct

It is our shared responsibility and obligation to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Trafficking in Persons, Child Safeguarding, and any suggested violation to Cordaid’s Code of Conduct, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear, or are made aware of any suggested activities then you have an obligation to report.

The qualified candidate will be a mental health professional (psychiatrist medical doctor) with 5+ years’ experience working on MHPSS programs, preferably in humanitarian settings.

Qualifications & Preferred Skills

· Education medical college with degree in psychiatric.

· Full knowledge of mental health and psychosocial support and how it is integrated into health and protection projects.

· She or he has more than 2 years’ experience of MHPSS with NGOS.

· Training and clinical supervision practice and experience required.

· Knowledgeable in and experience following CORDAID Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergencies and international best practices on the integration of MHPSS into primary health care settings.

· Demonstrable technical expertise in the assessment, design, and delivery of responses to pre-existing and emergency induced MHPSS needs.

· Training experience required; capacity and proven track record in national staff and partner training and capacity-building.

· At least 3 years’ experience in managing programmes related to mental health and psychosocial support, with at least 2 years managing psychosocial programmes in humanitarian emergency context.

· Experience in the design, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of psychosocial support programmes.

· Experience and willingness in training/mentoring staff.

· Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Sphere, CORDAID and other international humanitarian guidelines.

· Planning, assessment, and analytical skills. Good report and proposal writing skills.

· Good negotiation skills. Problem solving ability. Excellent communication skills.

· Advanced leadership and project management skills. Committed to consultative leadership.

· Strong organizational and supervisory skills

· Honest, hardworking, and self-motivated

· Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within different cultural environments.

· Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written).

· Ability to work within a team structure or independently, flexible, and can cope with stressful workload.