MHPSS Officer

Job Description

The MHPSS Officer will serve as the technical and managerial lead for the MHPSS component of the intervention. They will provide technical assistance and oversight in designing client-centered mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) service packages; develop plans and ensure quality assurance in the implementation of MHPSS services for flood-affected communities in Buner. The officer will also provide support in engendering MHPSS services by devising mechanisms that safeguard the rights of clients/patients, including safety, privacy, and dignified access to health and MHPSS services. Additionally, support in capacity building of front-line workers in the areas of PFA, GESI, PSEAH, accountability to the affected population, and compliance with ethical standards of service delivery is intrinsically built into this role. The role focuses on individual and group counseling, GBV risk mitigation, referral coordination, community awareness, and capacity building of health facility staff and community health workers (CHWs) in line with national and international MHPSS standards.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the process of planning and execution of individual and group psychological first aid (PFA) and structured counselling sessions for vulnerable individuals (including children, pregnant/lactating women, and elderly) at six targeted PHC facilities and during outreach camps.
• Supervise the team of MHPSS service providers and facilitate the execution of mental health assessments to identify common mental disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD) and refer complex cases to specialized care (psychiatrists or tertiary hospitals) using established referral pathways.
• Design, develop, adopt, and finalize learning aids, SBCC/IEC materials, recording and reporting tools, and conduct the training of front-line workers and healthcare providers.
• Conduct Training Needs Assessments (TNA) in the sub-thematic areas of MHPSS and develop training packages for community-based front-line workers and health facility-based staff. Train and mentor LHWs/Midwives, Nutrition Assistants, and Community Health Workers (CHWs) on identification of distress, psychological first aid, GBV risk mitigation, and self-care.
• Establish and support peer support groups, safe spaces/corners within health facilities, and village-level committees to promote community-based psychosocial support, and lead MHPSS/GBV awareness sessions using IEC materials, banners, and community engagement tools.
• Develop programmatic and structural standard operating procedures including PFA, case and cause-specific counselling, specifications of safe spaces, data privacy and protection, and referral mechanisms. Provide oversight for the execution and compliance with SOPs.
• Collaborate with referral health facilities to ensure timely access to secondary mental health care.
• Document all MHPSS contacts, referrals, and group session details in the protected database for MHPSS and ensure privacy and confidentiality of all such health information systems and support the NIS/MIS Officer with monthly reporting.
• Participate in district-level coordination meetings on MHPSS, protection, and GBV with stakeholders (government health departments, protection clusters, 1122, and other NGOs).
• Organize and facilitate special campaigns on World Mental Health Day, 16 Days of Activism, and other relevant awareness events.
• Ensure confidentiality, do no harm principles, and informed consent in all MHPSS interactions, with special attention to protection risks for women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
• Comply with the Organization’s Code of Conduct, PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) policies, and Child Safeguarding standards.