Job Description

Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer

Company Name: Handicap International (humanity & Inclusion) in Bangladesh

Vacancy: 03

Job Location: Cox's Bazar (Teknaf)

Employment Status: Full-time, Contractual

Educational Requirements:
∎ Master’s degree in Psychology from any reputed university. Preferable Master’s degree in any applied branch of psychology.
∎ Skills Required: Analytical Skills, Communication skill, Computer skill, Data Collection, Planning skills

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 1 year(s)
∎ The applicants should have experience in the following area(s): Clinical Psychology, counseling psychology, Developmental Psychology, Experience in Humanitarian Context (working with refugees or IDPs), Humanitarian emergency assistance programms, Humanitarian Response, Mental health, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (PSS), Psycho social support (PSS), psychosocial support area.
∎ The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): Development Agency, NGO

Job Context:
∎ HI has been working in Bangladesh since 1997, with a focus on creating sustainable changes in terms of ensuring the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in society. HI is an independent and impartial aid organization working in situations of poverty, exclusion, conflict, and disaster throughout Bangladesh. With projects in different districts of the country, HI works not only with people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations, but also with their families, their communities, and local humanitarian actors in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions, promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights, and provide sustainability in its action. As one of the key organizations in the disability sector, HI has a wide range of projects which assist to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities and their issues in emergency and development contexts, building capacities of local stakeholders, and reducing the impact of natural and human-made disasters. Particularly in Cox`s Bazar district, HI is providing services in rehabilitation, MH/PSS, SRH, protection and inclusive education with an inclusion mainstreaming approach to refugees and host population affected by the forcibly displaced undocumented Myanmar nationals. HI`s multi-sectoral mobile units (MU) and static approach are currently working in 15 camps located in both Teknaf and Ukhiya Upazilas and surrounding host areas providing comprehensive services in physical rehabilitation, primary health care, protection, and MH/PSS.
∎ HI is currently implementing development and humanitarian response project in Kurigram, Sitakindu, and Cox`s Bazar district through 4 project offices (Kurigram, Sitakundu, Ukhiya, and Teknaf) and 2 coordination offices( Dhaka and Cox Bazar).
∎ Operational Thematic: Livelihood, Health and Rehabilitation, Protection, Inclusion, Education and Atlas Logistic
∎ Number of staffs: Around 292 National staff and 08 international staff
∎ HI is currently looking for an MHPSS Officer for its “Inclusive Humanitarian Assistance for Vulnerable Population in Cox`s Bazar District, Bangladesh, 2021-2022” project funded by ECHO. The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer will identify MHPSS needs and provide direct individual and group support to women, children, and men with specific attention to traditionally excluded and at-risk individuals namely elder persons and persons with disabilities. The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer will establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other actors across sectors to facilitate healthy working relationships and effective referral pathways. They will work closely with community volunteers at the camp level. They will plan and implement activities, with the assistance of the Technical Unit, and report to the Team Manager regularly. They will take part in capacity-building training and activities as guided by the MHPSS Technical Team. They will represent the inclusive and equitable service mandate of HI in all activities conducted.
∎ Job Location: Teknaf
∎ Line Manager: Team Manager
∎ Type of Contract: Fixed-term
∎ Duration of the Contract: As early as possible to 31 May 2022 with the possibility of extension of the contract.
∎ *Women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply*

Job Responsibilities:
∎ For all duties, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer maintain strict compliance with safety, confidentiality, and do no harm principles.
∎ Objective 1: Provide direct individual mental health and psychosocial support to persons of concern
∎ Assist with the identification of persons in need of MHPSS support including those engaged by other HI mobile unit team members including rehabilitation and protection and those experiencing emotional distress and isolation
∎ Conduct basic mental health assessments using the various assessment tools and establish a base-line for care
∎ Collaboratively develop an individualized care plan for persons of concern to support the development/maintenance of healthy coping mechanisms and achievement of psychosocial goals
∎ Conduct regular follow up sessions to provide ongoing support according to the established care plan and adjust to meet the person’s developing needs
∎ Facilitate timely, appropriate, and confidential referrals to specialized mental health care or other needed services when needed using the established referral pathways in their area of work; including internal referrals for HI provided services
∎ Adapt existing interventions and develop innovative approaches to supporting persons of concern together with the MHPSS Technical Team
∎ Objective 2: Provide group mental health and psychosocial support to persons of concern
∎ Facilitate group sessions focusing on socio-emotional processing, skill-building, and social connectedness at the static point and home-based level
∎ Facilitate theme based (anger and stress management and substance abuse) focus group discussions to address stigma, community needs, and existing community responses to increase awareness and resilience
∎ Conduct follow up individual sessions as needed for participants with more complex or prolonger MHPSS needs
∎ Facilitate timely, appropriate, and confidential referrals to specialized mental health care or other needed services when needed using the established referral pathways in their area of work; including internal referrals for HI provided services
∎ Objective 3: Support with communication with communities activities including monitoring and advocacy
∎ Conduct awareness and information sessions on psychosocial and mental health issues to reduce stigma and increase access to support for MHPSS needs including substance use and survivors of violence
∎ Identify barriers to accessing services and support solutions to ensure care particularly for elder persons and persons with disabilities
∎ Explore the causes of psychosocial stresses among the target population; at the individual level, family, and community level through focus groups and individual interviews
∎ Explore the current health-seeking behaviors among the person who are currently accessing services and their communities to better develop outreach and engagement activities
∎ Support in developing MHPSS Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for stigma and stress reduction and the promotion of help-seeking; ensure the integration of MHPSS themes into the IEC materials of other sectors within the mobile unit
∎ Support Rohingya community volunteers through capacity building and case follow up
∎ Objective 4: Coordination and Collaboration within interdisciplinary HI teams and across external sectors including but not limited to Health, Protection, and WASH
∎ Conduct interdisciplinary case discussions as needed to identify wrap around responses to emerging needs
∎ Provide MHPSS to protection cases as needed to support the specific needs of persons with disabilities and service gaps
∎ Develop and maintain relationships with other actors at the field level
∎ Regularly monitor and update active referral pathways across sectors for timely response to needs
∎ Support Team Manager in attending camp level coordination meetings to identify gaps, challenges, and solutions
∎ Regularly report status and challenge updates to HI coordination staff to enable sector level advocacy and problem-solving if needed
∎ Close collaboration with MHPSS Technical Team [TA, STO, Trainer] for technical guidance and capacity building and any other tasks assigned by management, etc.

Additional Requirements:
∎ Age at least 25 years
∎ *Women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply*
∎ Minimum 01-year experience in providing mental health and psycho-social support in the humanitarian context
∎ Experience in providing humanitarian/emergency mental health support; experience in Rohingya Refugee Response a plus
∎ Understanding of age, gender & disability, and inclusion principles and practices – particularly related to MHPSS & Protection is added value
∎ Experience participating in training (material development, training facilitation) and on-the-job capacity building of staff and community volunteers
∎ Have the capacity to maintain close relationships with partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries
∎ Proven analytical and planning skills
∎ Good oral and written communication skills in Bengali and English; Chittagonian or Rohingya is a plus
∎ Computing skills (MS office package- both in English and Bangla);
∎ Knowledge gender, age, disability, and inclusion issues in Bangladesh and the Rohingya community
∎ Experience of working in remote community settings
∎ Experience in contributing to data collection and indicator tracking within development projects or programs
∎ Experience in working with INGO/NGO
∎ *Women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply*

Salary:
∎ Tk. 55654 - 58993 (Monthly)
∎ Hardship Allowance will be added in addition to working in Cox`s Bazar District.

Compensation & Other Benefits:
∎ Mobile bill, Tour allowance, Medical allowance, Provident fund, Weekly 2 holidays, Insurance, Gratuity
∎ Festival Bonus: 2

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 2 Feb 2022

Company Information:
∎ 3 Jan 2022
∎ Handicap International (humanity & Inclusion) in Bangladesh
∎ Address : House 3/A, Road 36, Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
∎ Web : https://hi.org/en/index
∎ Business : Business: Handicap International (HI) is an international aid organization specializing in the field of disability. Non-governmental, non-religious, non-political, and non-profit making works alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, whatever the context, assisting them and supporting them in their efforts to become self-reliant. Since its creation, the organization has set up programmes in approximately 60 countries and intervened in many emergencies. It operates as a federation made up of eight associations (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA) that provide human and financial resources, manage projects, and raise awareness of Handicap International`s actions and campaigns.

HI has been working in Bangladesh since 1997, with a focus on creating sustainable changes in terms of ensuring the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. HI promotes an inclusive approach by focusing on access to services for all whenever possible rather than developing specific actions for persons with disabilities. HI works with persons with disabilities and with their families, their communities, and society. The main office is based in Dhaka, and presently there are 4 project offices (Kurigram, Sitakundu, Ukhiya, and Teknaf) and 1 coordination office (Cox Bazar).

Presently HI Bangladesh is implementing projects on integrating disability in community-based disaster risk reduction and response; economic empowerment of extremely poor persons with disabilities; mainstreaming disability in livelihood interventions; support to refugees and surrounding communities, capacity building of professional associations; and support to Disabled People`s Organizations; among others.

Category: NGO/Development

: Interested candidates meeting the above requirements should apply with the latest CV with 3 References (Current & Previous Supervisor only) including Head of HR of the current employer to BDjobs.com by Wednesday, 02 February 2022. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion reserves the right to close this advertisement early if receives a high volume of suitable applications or the vacancies are fulfilled earlier than the application deadline. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion is an equal opportunity employer. Women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply and they will be preferred in case of equal qualifications with other candidates.HI promotes and upholds the principles of equal opportunities and policies (PSEAH, Child Protection, etc.). HI has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or a child by any of our staff, representatives, or partners. Recruitment to all jobs in HI includes, in particular, criminal record checks and the collection of relevant references. Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do.HI is committed to a workplace that is safe for all people to grow professionally regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, or race. HI extends this commitment to equality and Do No Harm to all staff, volunteers, partners, and beneficiaries. A strong commitment to these values, the humanitarian principles with a focus on equity and inclusion. A competitive candidate will uphold and implement these values in their personal and professional lives.Any sort of persuasion by the person, phone, email, or other means in this regard will automatically disqualify the candidate. The selected employee should clearly understand that all final offers of employment are contingent upon the successful reference check, the pre-employment screening will be performed for all selected applicants.