MENTAL HEALTH SUPERVISOR

Introduction about MSF:

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people in 70 countries who are affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation and our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.

We offer basic healthcare, perform surgery, fight epidemics, rehabilitate and run hospitals and clinics, carry out vaccination campaigns, operate nutrition centers, and provide mental healthcare. Our activities include the treatment of injuries and disease, maternal care and the provision of humanitarian aid. Where necessary, we set up sanitation systems, supply safe drinking water, and distribute relief to assist survival.

Main Objective of the position:

Participate in the planning, supervision, and coordination of mental health / psycho-social related services in the program in accordance with MSF standards in order to provide the most appropriate mental health support for patients.

Accountabilities:

• Participate in the planning, organization and coordination of Mental Health (MH) activities, in close collaboration with the Mental Health activity manager and other medical team members, in order to ensure an efficient and effective implementation of the resources needed while maintaining high levels of quality in Mental Health MSF programs and activities.
• Coordinates activities of counselling services with other relevant actors and liaises with the local counterparts (like MoH, WHO, ICRC and NGO) on mental health matters, including referral services.
• Supervise the daily mental health activities and patient support according to MSF protocols and standards in order to provide the most appropriate support for clients with psychosocial needs.
• Liaise with the other MSF team members of the project.
• Supervise, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication) of the staff under his/her responsibility in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required.
• Oversee the administrative processes associated with psychosocial functioning.
• When needed, give psychological support to patients according to MSF protocols to improve mental health conditions of patients and enhance their functionality.
• Compile the data and statistic linked with MH activities and report to the MH activity manager.
• Offer clinical counselling supervision to mental health counsellors in collaboration with the Mental Health Activity Manager.
• Ensure the patient’s related information is kept confidential.

MSF Context Specific Accountabilities:

• Implement the MHPSS activities at different levels including community approach.
• Collaborate with the psychiatrist and the medical team in the management plan of psychiatric patients.
• Provide support to psychologists and counsellors, by taking in consideration the cultural specificity of patients (cultural expression of symptoms, behaviour, language, beliefs…)
• Manage case discussion and regular team meetings, in collaboration with Mission Specialized Mental Health Activity Manager/Project Medical Referent.
• Contribute to the hospitalization process for mental health emergencies- in collaboration with the Project Medical Referent, Mission Specialized Mental Health Activity Manager and other departments as needed- and in accordance with the project SOPs.
• Contribute to the community-based component of the project by implementing the MH community-based approach in collaboration with the Mission Specialized Mental Health Activity Manager and the project community teams.
• Participate in data collection, analysis and reporting of MH activities, under Mission Specialized Mental Health Activity Manager/Project Medical Referent supervision.
• Respect the code of deontology/ conduct of Mental Health caregiver.
• Ensure communication and teamwork between MH staff members and other departments (medical, social workers, community health workers).
• Participate in the identification of specific MH needs of Migrant Workers in Lebanon for advocacy purposes and contribute to the collection of pertinent information when it is needed, in close collaboration with the Mission Specialized Mental Health Activity manager, Project Medical Referent and Project Coordinator.
• Perform regular patient file revision and inform Mission Specialized Mental Health Activity manager and Project Medical Referent of any irregularity.
• Participate in the mapping and the regular update of the existing mental health services, including other INGOs, local NGOs, community groups and governmental health services, etc. by providing regular feedback on any received communications/updates in this regard to the Mission Specialized Mental Health Activity Manager and Project Medical Referent.
• Participate in any relevant operational research.

Requirements:

Education

• Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology
• An official certificate of completed clinical training/practicum in a university center consisting of at least 100 hours of training under supervision by a scholar and 300 hours of applied training (an official form is available). For psychologists who graduated in 5 years or more and cannot get this certificate a substitute exists.
• Lebanese colloquium certificate for clinical psychologists (unless graduated from a Lebanese University)
• MoPH License to practice clinical psychology profession in Lebanon

Experience

• Essential minimum 2 years of experience in psycho-social counselling.
• Essential previous experience as a supervisor in a Mental Health setting.
• Desirable previous experience in MHPSS Community Based approached programs
• Desirable previous experience with MSF or other NGOs in developing countries

Languages                      

• Fluency in Arabic and English with a strong written and oral communication skills