Mental Health Psychological Support (MHPSS) Officer

Job Description

Title: Mental Health Psychological Support (MHPSS) Officer

Company Name: Social Assistance and Rehabilitation for the Physically Vulnerable (SARPV)

Vacancy: --

Age: At least 18 years

Job Location: Cox`s Bazar (Ukhia)

Salary: Negotiable

Experience:

• At least 2 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO, Development Agency, Physiotherapy center, Micro-Credit

• Bachelor/Honors

• Bachelor`s Degree in Psychology or any relevant areas of Psychology.

• Preferable – Master`s Degree in a relevant field.

• At least 2 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO, Development Agency, Physiotherapy center, Micro-Credit

• Age At least 18 years

• At least 2 years experience of working on the same thematic preferably in development and humanitarian context.

• Experience in providing humanitarian/emergency mental health support; experience in Rohingya Refugee Response is an added advantage.

• Understanding of age, gender & disability, and inclusion principles and practices – particularly related to MHPSS & Protection is an 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 an added advantage.

• Computing skills (MS office package- both in English and Bangla).

• Knowledge of gender, age, disability, and inclusion issues in Bangladesh and the Rohingya community.

• Experience in 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.

Organization Introduction:

SARPV is a leading non-profit organization committed to empowering underprivileged communities since 1988. Our focus ranges from disability support to poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and beyond. We pioneer initiatives that transform lives and build sustainable futures. By recognizing the correlation between disasters and disabilities, we provide sensitive response and relief operations. Our holistic approach prioritizes socio-economic development, believing economic empowerment is key to a dignified life. At SARPV, we offer a dynamic work environment where creativity and compassion thrive. SARPV team tries to make a real difference in the world. Together, we create positive change and uplift the most vulnerable members of society.

Project Name: Integrated Rehabilitation, Nursing Care, and MHPSS Services for Vulnerable Populations in FDMN Camps and Host Communities.

Job Location: Camp & Host Community, Ukiya, Cox’sBazar.

Line Manager: Programme Manager

Duration of the Contract: August 2026 to May 2027

Responsibilities & Context:

Mission 1: Operational implementation

Responsibility 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 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 as needed for participants with more complex or prolonged MHPSS needs 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

Responsibility 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.

• Ensure regular follow-up sessions for the group to address the areas to intervene, and referral to other services as per the need of the group participants.

Responsibility 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 Para Counselor/Rohingya community volunteers through capacity building and case follow-up through supervision.

Responsibility 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 comprehensive responses to emerging needs.

• To seek integrality and complementarity among sectors. Provide MHPSS services to cases identified by protection and/or Rehabilitation officers. Meaning persons with disabilities and caregivers.

• To identify 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 the needs.

Skills Emergency Preparedness and Response:

• Contribute to emergency preparedness initiatives, adapting work arrangements for effective humanitarian response.

Other Responsibilities:

• Perform any other related activities as assigned by the immediate supervisor.

• Transport Allowance: As per policy

• Mobile phone allowance: As per policy

• Weekly 2 holiday.