MHPSS Officer (Mental Health Psychosocial Support Officer)

INTERSOS is a non-profit Humanitarian Aid Organization that works to bring assistance to people in danger, victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Established in 1992 with support from the Italian Federation of Trade Unions, its actions are based on the values of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equal rights and opportunities for all people and respect for diversity and coexistence, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable and the unprotected.

INTERSOS identifies with the core values of CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs; it adheres to international codes of conduct for humanitarian organizations and the values and principles expressed within those codes. INTERSOS is recognized by the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the European Commission and the principal UN agencies; it is privileged to hold an advisory status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
INTERSOS is an independent association which, through its own humanitarian operators, intervenes to effectively answer the needs of people in serious crises situations, mainly in the world's poorest regions, who are suffering, deprived of rights, dignity and essentials goods. It maintains a flexible operating structure. The head office in Italy coordinates, supports and monitors the planned activities in the countries of intervention carried out by decentralized offices.

Job Purpose:

Lead, manage and coordinate the INTERSOS MHPSS Program in designated areas in Bekaa under the supervision of the INTERSOS Protection Manager and in strong coordination with the partner sub-office (UNHCR). Guarantee the correct and efficient implementation of the project activities and the overall supervision of the MHPSS outreach team.

Provide psychological support and counseling for beneficiaries, both on an individual and group level, and support INTERSOS staff to improve the quality of specialized services provided to individuals at risk in the different centers.

Generic Duties:

1. Assess the needs of the targeted beneficiaries in each center and design, in collaboration with the staff, a package of PSS activities for the beneficiaries of INTERSOS centre;

2. Support INTERSOS staff to improve the quality of specialized services provided (specialized psychological services, group therapy and emotional support groups, and individual counseling.

3. Monitor the activities (awareness and support groups), within the centers and outside, and provide management advice in order to improve the activities implementation;

4. Report to the Protection Manager any problems and/or training needs identified during the monitoring of the implementation of psychological activities.

5. Follow in an accurate way the weekly schedule shared with the Protection Manager and produce monthly reports; 

6. Inform the Protection Manager about any difficulty met in INTERSOS activities implementation;

7. Be available to train on psychological support, MHPSS and Psychological First Aid for INTERSOS staff when requested;

8. Collaborate with INTERSOS staff in conducting any other trainings when requested by the Protection Manager.

9. Accomplish any other assignments given by the supervisor

10. Be available to participate in meetings in INTERSOS offices or other identified premises.

11. Provide a weekly and monthly report on the activities conducted.

Specific Duties:

(Can be adapted to the particularities of the job location and the requirement of the project. This section shall be revised whenever a new employee is hired).

1. Conduct support groups and individual counselling with beneficiaries;

2. Inform CWs about cases that need mental health referral, after the basic psychological session provided;

3. Assist the CWs in referrals to mental health agencies (psychiatric hospitals and shelters).

Coordination of the MHPSS Outreach Volunteers (OV):

1. Promote and implement a participatory approach among the INTERSOS outreach in order to actively involve refugees’ representatives in the identification of needs and implementation of service referrals and outreach services, in developing a sense of community and strengthening community support systems.
2. Lead, manage and follow-up the application of rules, protocols and tools for the reporting of the INTERSOS outreach program implemented in assigned area.
3. Support and manage a given pool of OVs in their daily activities; ensure proper distribution of tasks.
4. In collaboration with the line manager (Protection Manager), work closely with the other organizations in order to ensure smooth coordination and the implementation of community-based approach with regard to Persons of Concerns (PoC).
5. Organize period meetings (at least once a month) with OVs, at the district and regional level, to supervise activities, provide support, guidance and seek solutions to any issues identified.
6. Communicate regularly with the OVs teams for updates on achievements and challenges
7. Keep the OV teams updated on any changes in activities implemented by INTERSOS, UNHCR or other actors on the ground.
8. Disseminate information on refugee issues/assistance/services to OVs, brief them on the information and ensure that it is effectively shared with communities.
9. Undertake regularly field visits to provide technical guidance and supervision as well as regularly monitoring of the progress of the OVs activities.
10. Any other relevant Coordination activities as required.

MHPSS OV Capacity Development:

1. Promote regular OVs mentoring and coaching sessions based on identified needs and gaps in coordination with the partner (UNHCR) and the other components of the present intervention (case management, protection monitoring, legal assistance, community services; WaSH).
2. Organize and conduct in close coordination with the other components of the protection intervention regularly trainings and refreshers for OVs on relevant protection topics.
3. Coordinate with the partner (UNHCR) to organize training for OVs based on identified needs.

Supervision of MHPSS OV activities:

1. Plan, monitor and supervise the activities of OVs deployed by INTERSOS within the present protection program in assigned area.
2. Supervise and monitor the activities related to safe identification & referral, follow-up of issues & cases and awareness raising implemented by the OVs in accordance with the tools and procedures used by INTERSOS
3. Act as a coordinative and supportive link between the assigned and well defined OV commitment and INTERSOS protection monitoring & case management activities in assigned areas, coordinate with caseworkers on referrals and their follow-up for technical support for OVs.
4. Establish and supervise small scale protection activities implemented by OVs including planning, M&E, design, implementation, financial aspects and reporting for successful delivery.
5. Enable the OVs to identify existing initiatives within the refugee communities of the catchment areas in order to discuss with the line manager potential linkage to protection intervention against the background of community-based protection

Monitoring & Reporting:

1. Ensure quality reporting on the OVs activities, feeding into weekly and monthly reporting for internal and external purposes to be prepared by the Project Manager.
2. Contribute to the drafting of internal and external reports (weekly, monthly, and quarterly) according to INTERSOS and partner (UNHCR) requirements ensuring that reports are of a high quality and submitted on time.
3. Transmit upon internal verification protection concerns reported by OVs to partner (UNHCR) and other relevant actors in a timely and accurate manner.
4. Support in entering data and provide/prepare update to ensure weekly and monthly overview of SGBV, PwSN & CP cases (gender, age, typology, referral, follow-up and cash assistance information to be included) and all cases referred by OVs.
5. Ensure the data-entry for the RAIS and the monthly partner (UNHCR) report.
6. Provide meeting minutes and data related to OV participation in meetings/capacity building in a timely manner.
7. Make sure the accuracy and secrecy of data entered into referrals.
8. Assist in ensuring that hardcopy project documents are available in digital document files for documentation purposes.
9. Support in producing supportive information reports originating from the data collection and analysis.
10. Maintain regular and positive collaboration with the colleagues to harmonize approaches and methodologies of response, share challenges and best practices.

Coordination & Representation (external):

1. Proactively participate in protection and relevant INTERSOS coordination meetings at the national, regional and district level with strong emphasis on MHPSS and OV matters.
2. Liaise with field offices of humanitarian agencies and coordinate with partner (UNHCR) sub-office to ensure field concerns and challenges are brought to relevant stakeholders.
3. Coordinate with partner (UNHCR), UNHCR partners and other local and international organizations for the development and implementation of the OV component.
4. Organize and attend bi-lateral meetings with partner (UNHCR) to discuss the progress of the OV component and flag any concerns.
5. Facilitate OV monthly meetings and meetings with other UNHCR partners.

Coordination & Representation (internal):

1. Coordinate and liaise closely with the protection monitoring component of the project in order to ensure the synergies and the implementation of community-based protection.
2. Ensure regular exchange with protection monitoring team on collected information, data and contextual aspects for reporting and analysis purposes
3. Attend regularly internal protection meetings organized at regional and national level if required to represent the OV component of the protection intervention.
4. Ensure a regular exchange with the line manager (Protection Manager) on outreach component related aspects.

Strategy & Development:

1. Assist the Protection Manager and the Project Manager in the development of the protection intervention of the multi-sectorial project with strong emphasis on MHPSS activities.
2. Come up pro-actively with new proposals and ideas in order to strengthen the MHPSS activities and ensure the CBP approach within the operations.
3. Assist the Protection Manager and the Project Manager in the work on the strategy for the MHPSS related protection strategy for Bekaa.
4. Support the Project Manager in regular financial planning, budget allocation and monitoring of budget expenditure related to protection activities.

Competencies: (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

Professional Competencies:

• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in a clinical setting and with at least 1 NGO
• Understanding and commitment to child’s rights and protection
• Experience providing individual counseling services
• Experience in team management
• MS proficiency (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Analytical and reporting skills
• Driving license

Behavioral competencies:

• High confidentiality and respect
• Cultural awareness
• High degree of adaptability and flexibility; Ability to work under pressure
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Teamwork
• Planning and Organizing
• Initiative
• Problem solving and decision making
• Strategic vision
• Leadership: developing and motivating staffs
• Driving and achieving results
• Humanitarian motivation and commitment to INTERSOS values
• Respect of Intersos policies and procedures