Job Description

Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer (Re-advertisement)

Company Name: Handicap International (humanity Inclusion) in Bangladesh

Vacancy: 04

Job Location: Cox's Bazar (Teknaf)

Employment Status: Full-time, Contractual

Educational Requirements:
∎ University degree in Psychology, Clinical / Educational & Counseling Psychology, or related to Mental Health and Psychosocial Field.

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 2 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ Handicap International (Humanity & Inclusion) is inviting applications from development professionals, willing to serve as a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer, to its upcoming two innovative emergency project: Emergency Protection, Psychosocial support, and Sexual Reproductive Health services for the vulnerable population in Cox`s Bazaar district, Bangladesh funded by the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and Emergency Protection, Psychosocial support and Health services (for the vulnerable population in Cox`s Bazar district, Bangladesh, 2020-2021 funded by the European Union (ECHO). These two projects will support the vulnerable population in Camp 24 and 26 in Cox`s Bazar district, in Bangladesh, and is a multidisciplinary project aiming at offering inclusive and specific services to persons with specific needs in the Rohingya refugee camps and host communities. This project is composed of multidisciplinary teams (MHPSS, Protection, Nurses, SRH, Community-based activities) that provide both home-based and static based services. Each project team is supervised by the Team Manager and operates in dedicated geographical areas with a community-based approach.
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∎ 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 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.
∎ Line Manager: Team Manager
∎ Type of Contract: Fixed-term
∎ Duration of the Contract: From as early to 31 March 2021 (02 Position) & 31 May 2021 (02 Position)
∎ Job Location: Teknaf, Cox`s Bazar

Job Responsibilities:
∎ FOR ALL DUTIES, MHPSS OFFICERS MAINTAIN STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND DO NO HARM PRINCIPLES.
∎ 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 Mental Status Exam and other assessment tools to establish a baseline 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
∎ 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
∎ 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
∎ 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

Additional Requirements:
∎ Age at least 21 years
∎ KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
∎ Minimum 2 years of clinical mental health experience
∎ Experience of working with INGO/NGO
∎ 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
∎ Experience participating in training (material development, training facilitation) and on-the-job capacity building of staff and community volunteers;
∎ SKILLS REQUIRED
∎ Have the capacity to maintain close relationships with partners, stakeholders, and clients
∎ 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;

Salary: Tk. 52731 - 55881 (Monthly)

Compensation & Other Benefits:
∎ Mobile bill, Tour allowance, Provident fund, Weekly 2 holidays, Insurance, Gratuity, Medical allowance
∎ Salary Review: Yearly
∎ Festival Bonus: 2
∎ Hardship Allowance will be added in addition to working in Cox's Bazar District.

Application Deadline: 2 Aug 2020

Company Information:
∎ 12 Jul 2020
∎ Handicap International (humanity & Inclusion) in Bangladesh
∎ Address : House # 3/A, Road # 36, Gulshan , Dhaka-1212
∎ Business : Business: Handicap International (HI) is an international aid organization specialized in the field of disability. Non-governmental, non-religious, non-political and non-profit making, it works alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, whatever the context, offering them assistance and supporting them in their efforts to become self-reliant. Since its creation, the organisation has set up programmes in approximately 60 countries and intervened in many emergency situations. It operates as a federation made up of a network of eight associations (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA) which 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 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 not only with persons with disabilities but also with their families, their communities, and the society. The main office is based in Dhaka, and presently there are 3 site offices in Sitakundo, Kurigram and in Cox’sbazar.

Presently HI Bangladesh is implementing projects on integrating disability in community based disaster risk reduction and response; economic empowerment of extreme 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