Consultant – Certified PM+ Trainer - Akkar

Background Of Project

 The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. In more than 40 countries and over 20 U.S. cities, IRC teams provide clean water, shelter, health care, education and empowerment support to refugees and displaced people.

In Lebanon, IRC started its work in 2012. The IRC provides emergency aid and long-term services for Syrians and the struggling Lebanese communities hosting them. Currently, the IRC implements Education, Economic Recovery and Development, Protection, Child Protection programs, early childhood development and works to respond to and prevent Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the North, Akkar, Bekaa, Beirut and Mount Lebanon.

In view of the emerging needs in the health sector, IRC has started up a Health program to meet the health needs of the vulnerable population, through supporting PHCCs along with a system strengthening approach.

Problem Management Plus (PM+)

Common mental health problems are vastly under-addressed in areas affected by adversity, with the vast majority of people in need not able to access appropriate care. Reaching people in distress through delivering evidence-based psychological interventions in resource-limited areas is a possible solution.

PM+, in individual and group format, is an innovative, scalable, evidence-based, brief, and low intensity psychological intervention which provides adult clients with skills to improve their management of practical problems (e.g., unemployment, interpersonal conflict etc.) and associated common mental health problems, via the provision of four strategies: problem solving counselling plus stress management, behavioral activation, strengthening social support, and staying well and looking forward.

Description of the Consultancy

The consultant will utilize the PM+ training package to teach non-specialist mental healthcare providers to deliver PM+, in addition, ensure that participants attain the basic helping skills while delivering PM+.

The target audience will be IRC’s local primary healthcare (PHC) partners, specifically the PHC centers’ (PHCCs) social workers.

The training will be delivered over a period of 8 days, one training day per week over a period of 8 weeks.

The PHCC management team will be involved in the training to ensure that adequate resources are made available to deliver PM+ and to distinguish better between the different types of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services.

Through this consultancy, the main responsibilities of the consultant will be to:

• Provide training of non-specialist mental healthcare providers on PM+.
• Ensure attainment of the necessary basic helping skills to implement quality PM+.

Deliverables

The consultant, when selected, is expected to:

• Prepare the PM+ training and adapt it to the local context based on the information gathered from a training needs assessment conducted prior to the training. The trainer will develop a clear training agenda.
• Deliver the training using different appropriate training techniques, mainly case presentations, group discussion, role plays, video demonstrations, and facilitator demonstrations.
• Prepare and present the write-up of the training material adapted to the target audience and local context, mainly pre- and post-test multiple choice questions (MCQs), competency assessment forms, and evaluation forms.
• Prepare a detailed final report including the pre- and post-assessment analysis with constructive qualitative feedback based on the evaluation of the training through formal and informal responses collected from participants, as well as any materials (written and or visual) utilized.

Number of participants

Thirteen IRC staff and three staff form the supported PHCCs.

Requirements of the Consultant

• The consultant should have the following characteristics:
• Be a specialist in mental healthcare (psychologist, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, etc..).
• Have clinical skills and experience in mental health.
• Have skills and experience with administrative aspects of managing mental health conditions, including record keeping, follow-up, and referral.
• Have experience in delivering the PM+ training.
• Have a certification from a recognized and renowned entity, preferably the World Health Organization or the National Mental Health Program, to deliver the PM+ training.

The consultant is expected to deliver the training over the period of eight days in Akkar (training will take place during February 2023 - dates to be confirmed later).

Language of the Material

The training material should be presented and delivered in Arabic. The consultant must provide the guidance material (training manual) in Arabic language and is expected to contextualize the translation of the terms used.