INTERSOS sta selezionando un/a MHPSS Specialist da inserire nella sua operatività in Siria. Durata 3 mesi. Tipo contratto: Co.co.co. Scadenza candidature 21/07/2023
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 Specialist – Syria
Code: SR- 53-8356
Duty station: Damascus, with field visits to Hama, Idleb and Rural Damascus if needed
Starting date: 01/08/2023
Contract duration: 3 months
Reporting to: Protection Coordinator
Supervision of: N/A
Dependents: Non-family duty station
General context of the project
INTERSOS officially registered and entered Syria in May 2019 and works under the umbrella of an MoU with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). Currently has two sub-MoU with line Ministries (MoSAL and MoE).
INTERSOS is implementing a program that encompasses Protection, Health and Education activities, along with some integrations with Livelihoods and Non-Food Items. INTERSOS is active in the governorates of Rural Damascus, Hama and Idleb, with possible expansion to other Government-controlled areas.
INTERSOS is a member of the Protection Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), is a member of the Inter-agency Referral WG, and is representing the INGOs in the Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) Working Group.
General purpose of the position
Support the Protection Coordinator in defining, supervising and implementing the MHPSS component of the Protection programme, including the linkages with the Health component.
Provide technical guidance and advices to protection staffs, ensuring that specific MHPSS components of the programme are delivered according to internal guidelines and in line with international standards and principles, in order to achieve the mission’s goals effectively, according to INTERSOS human resources vision and values.
The International resource should also support the National MHPSS Specialist with coaching and mentoring activities.
Main responsibilities and tasks
Technical Leadership
- Develop the MHPSS Response framework and strategy for the mission in line with Mission Protection Strategy, the Global Protection Framework and the Global MHPSS guidelines
- Identify key mental health issues and contributing factors in the communities for both men and women, where we work using assesment tools and research
- Identify Community practices, assets, and structues that are conducive to the promotion of good mental health and ensure that our programming builds on these assets
- Develop Position papers on our MHPSS response outlining our community based PSS response in alignment with culture and context
- Design Prevention and Mitigation measures for the mental health concerns identified for the children and adults in the community
- Work with Intersos Health teams to ensure continium of care along the MHPSS pyramid
- Work with the CP /GBV Specialist / Protection Coordinator in designing interventions that support PSS that are integrated within our CP /GBV response
- Design Key messages for Awareness on MHPSS based on issues identified in the community and ensure teams are sensitized on it and able to deliver these messages in the community effectively
- Ensure Awareness materials on MHPSS are designed in culturally embedded practices and using traditional practices that the community uses to spread messages
- Ensure the latest developments in the field of MHPSS are shared with the Protection staff and contextualized for their use based on need
- Develop M & E tools for assessing distress among clients and for measuring the impact of our MHPSS services
- Ensure our MHPSS response is community based in line with the global CBP guidelines and MHPSS guidelines
- Regularly prepare and update service mapping in all our project locations to ensure support and follow-up for our clients
Coordination
- Contribute to the design of the protection strategy of the mission and provide technical support and assistance for the implementation of the MHPSS activities through the proper tools and methodologies
- Design and revise MHPSS interventions and activities that are AGD sensitive and ensure AGD and context appropriateness in addressing CP, GBV and other protection issues
- Ensure that vulnerable/at risk individuals are promptly and safely identified and referred
- Draft and revise MHPSS SOPs
- Develop standard MEAL tools and indicators to measure the impact, effectiveness and quality of MHPSS interventions for children, adults and people with disabilities, and ensure the piloting and standardization of these tools. Increase and enhance MHPSS programme monitoring and evaluation, and determining impact
- Perform trends analysis on prevailing protection concerns in each mission location for tailored intervention
- Work with the CP and GBV specialist to strengthen PSS in case management providing guidance on identifying issues, empathy, session structure and referral
- Monitor progress on individual cases documented by the psychologists, maintaining strict protocols for confidentiality and consent
- Collaborate with Case Management and medical teams to ensure proper collaboration in referral procedures
- Lead, mentor, guide and monitor regularly the psychologists teams establishing standard process and procedures for beneficiaries support and develop standard tools for measuring progress
- Design and develop a MHPSS Toolkit with appropriate resources and guidelines to provide structured and unstructured MHPSS for children and adults
- In coordination with the Protection Coordinator support to contextualize and adapt internal and global guidelines, guarantying that are known by relevant staffs
- Ensure cohesion and harmonization of MHPSS activities, tools, guidelines and services across the different projects strategy
- In coordination with the Protection Coordinator deliver trainings and workshops to protection staffs to build skills on MHPSS topics. Develop training materials according to national policies and international standards
- Support the Protection Coordinator to deliver trainings and workshops to non-protection staffs to build skills and knowledge of Staff Care, Mental Health, PFA and other topics relevant to all sectors
- Support the Protection Coordinator in developing and implementing a Staff Care System for the staffs
- In coordination with the Protection Coordinator assess MHPSS needs and gaps of target populations in current and future areas of operations. Analyse regularly the status of protection activities and inform the programme accordingly
- In line with the current protection strategy of the mission and in coordination with the Community Engagement Specialist design and develop a community-based approach to MHPSS
- In coordination with the Protection Coordinator support in the development of a harmonised structure for group PSS, emotional support groups, awareness-raising and community outreach/engagement components across the mission
- Contribute to the maintenance of an up-to-date service mapping of the service providers operating in the area and take proactive actions to remain informed about the available services for referral and coordination
- Support the Protection Coordinator to ensure that protection data are collected, archived, processed, analyzed and disseminated in ethical modalities guarantying the confidentiality and the respect of internal data protection protocols. Maintain and update the MHPSS platforms/database for synchronization of data protection management and reporting
- Under the supervision of the Protection Coordinator undertake regular field monitoring visits and provide tools to monitor the quality of programme implementation
- Provide technical support to the psychologists for individual cases affected by crisis, child protection cases, etc.
Networking and partnerships
- Maintain collaborative working relationships with relevant clusters and related working groups at national and/or field level and guarantee compliance to the eventual monthly cluster reporting requirements
- Represent INTERSOS in MHPSS in meetings and share best practices and lessons learnt
- Act as focal point in the protection cluster for the MHPSS technical working group
- In coordination with the Protection Coordinator ensure that main MHPSS concerns are brought to relevant stakeholders to advocate the respect of human rights and guarantee the minimum protection standards
- Network with MHPSS leaders of other missions and other organizations to share best practices and resources
Required profile and experience
Education
- University degree in Social Science, Psychology, Social Work, Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law or other fields related to social development and humanitarian work
- Preferable master’s degree in a related field
Professional Experience
- Minimum 6 years work experience in protection with NGOs
Professional Requirements
- Computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, INTERSOS MHPSS Platform is a plus)
- Strong theoretical, technical and practical knowledge of MHPSS
- Demonstrated ability to work in humanitarian context (experience with IDPs is an asset)
- Very good understanding of protection, human rights law and international humanitarian rights and principles
- Excellent analytical and reporting skills on protection and human rights
- Experience in proposal writing is an asset
Languages
- Fluency in English.
- Knowledge of Arabic will be an added advantage.
Personal Requirements
- Flexibility and ability to work in insecure, stressful and hardship environments
- High confidentiality, respect and non-discriminatory attitude
- Diplomatic skills in networking with partners, authorities and donors
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Strong time management, resourcefulness and attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work and integrate into a multicultural team
- Commitment to INTERSOS principles
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates are invited to apply following the link below:
https://www.intersos.org/en/work-with-us/field/#intersosorg-vacancies/vacancy-details/648ee7fd806cbc002855dcec/
Please note that our application process is made of 3 quick steps: register (including your name, email, password and citizenship), sign-up and apply by attaching your CV in PDF format. Through the platform, candidates will be able to track their applications’ history with INTERSOS.
Please also mention the name, position and contact details of at least three references: two line managers and one HR referent. Family members are to be excluded.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.
