Country MHPSS Officer

The Country MHPSS Officer plays a key role in addressing critical mental health challenges for the people we serve. They are responsible for managing the MHPSS team (including social workers, psychologists, etc.) and overseeing the strategic development and implementation of the MHPSS program in alignment with contextual changes, sector and JRS country strategies, and donor trends. Their responsibilities also include actively participating in calls for proposals and monitoring the implementation of the JRS MHPSS program.

Main Responsibilities of the Position:

1. Ensure high quality of MHPSS services

• Ensures that JRS’s Biopsychosocial Model: Holistic Approach is delivered effectively and is operating within best practice standards.
• Addressing professional development needs for the frontliner workers to provide high quality of MHPSS services. 
• Collaborates closely with the Regional Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (Regional MHPSS Officer) to facilitate seamless coordination for technical interventions, ensuring alignment with established tools and training protocols.
• Ensures that confidentiality and the right to privacy is maintained

2. Ensure adequate implementation of MHPSS services

• Ensure that MHPSS staff is equip with all the materials needed, SOP’s, trainings and guidelines.
• Develop training content and conduct training to the MHPSS staff.
• Develop annual planning of the MHPSS activities with relevant monitoring tools.
• Supports and follows up on the Case Management Model and the implementation of all the MHPSS activities based on the proposal
• Technical Support to the social workers to Identify the psychosocial needs of JRS participants.
• Coordinates with the social workers Educational Team and clinical psychologists to set a care plan in the centers;
• Supports the social workers on the process of referral cases and high risks to competent professionals. Support the Social worker to create a mapping service for each area.
• Assists the clinical psychologist in executing interventions by actively contributing to the development and implementation of comprehensive care plans. Additionally, provides crucial support in facilitating case discussions during technical supervision sessions. This collaborative effort is designed to enhance the quality of psychological care and ensure that interventions are aligned with best practices and professional standards under the guidance of technical supervision.

 3. Coordination and program management

• Assists the Country Head of Programmes and Project Directors, in managing JRS Lebanon’s MHPSS interventions, including administrative and logistical aspects.
• In close coordination with the Head of Program, ensure ongoing collaboration with other sectors and agencies to provide complementary services for the people we serve and prevent service duplication.
• Works closely with other program staff, and Project Directors to ensure all Mental Health and psychosocial services are provided as planned.
• With the coordination of the HR, provides an essential aspect of Staff Care for front line PSS team members.
• Attend Sector working Group: CP WG / NMHP WG / GBV WG / Protection…

4. Monitoring and program development

• Lead the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) country strategy while actively contributing to key stages such as calls for proposals and concept note development, providing expertise to assess and refine project ideas to ensure alignment with strategic goals.
• Follows up with the Country MEAL Officer on the monthly achievements of the MHPSS team across indicators and targets.
• Supports the country MEAL officer and the country programmes officer in developing monitoring tools and indicators.
• Follows up and optimize the referral process and tools.
• Prepares clear and concise quantitative and narrative reports of all MHPSS activities undertaken, in accordance with structured reporting requirements and informal reporting needs.
• Follows up with the MHPSS team on the utilization and quality of tracking tools.
• Supports the maintenance of project documentation and information, including the preparation of Arabic and English translations of technical documents.

 5. Availability

• Undertakes any other duties as assigned by the Country Head of Programmes that are within the ambit of the position.

Qualifications, Skills, and Personal Attributes 

• MA in Clinical Psychology with a clear practicum path (at least 500 hours);
• A minimum of 3 years work experience in the field related to psychosocial support.
• Mental health in complex emergencies (IASC guidelines, Psychological First Aid, mhGAP…);
• Experience providing clinical supervision or leading trainings.
• Proficiency in responding to calls for proposals
• Community-based approach in mental health.
• Compassion and strong commitment for refugees and other displaced people.
• Training and supervision experience required.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within different cultural environments.
• Trustworthy, good listener, creative, flexible, detail oriented, and can maintain confidentiality.
• Integrity, honesty, and a good team worker.
• Strong ability to work independently, organize work, meet deadlines, and work under pressure.
• Excellent communication, planning, and organizational skills.
• Strong dedication and commitment to staff care and support.
• Fluency in verbal and written Arabic and English.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
• Ability and willingness to travel to JRS project sites and adapt to modest living and working conditions.
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Core Values and Ethics

• Commitment to JRS’s mission, vision, and values;
• Ability to convey with enthusiasm JRS’s role in accompanying and serving forcibly displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity;
• Trustworthy and good listener;
• High sense of discretion in always dealing with confidential matters;
• High integrity and honesty; ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with people, situations, and information;
• Acceptance of diversity and inclusion as core values;