Consultant - MHPSS Program Officer

BACKGROUND TO THE ASSIGNMENT: 

International Medical Corps, which has a history of providing healthcare services and training in Ukraine that dates back to 1999, is expanding its activities in the country and the surrounding region in response to the war there. 

The situation throughout Ukraine is deteriorating rapidly as the conflict intensifies, prompting a sharp increase in humanitarian needs as access to essential services and supplies are disrupted and more and more people flee their homes. In addition, millions of Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries, including Moldova, Poland and Romania, increasing pressure on host governments as they work to provide shelter and essential services to the new arrivals. 

Our response activities will include operation of mobile medical teams and providing emergency and primary health services, mental health and psychosocial support, gender-based violence services, child protection, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene. If requested, we also are prepared to deploy our Emergency Medical Team and mobile health facility to provide emergency and primary healthcare wherever it is needed. 

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: 

The MHPSS Program Officer will work together with IMC team in Ukraine and its partners to support day-to day activities and achieve the following results: Improved protection environment for conflict affected population, enhanced psychosocial support for vulnerable beneficiaries; increased capacity of local agencies and organizations in responding to MHPSS needs among the affected population; engagement of families and communities in the promotion of mental health and psychosocial well-being and self-care and improved coordination, information sharing and dissemination of best practices for the mental health and psychosocial support.

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: 

The MHPSS Program Officer is responsible for supporting all programming activities that occur within the team. This includes:  

• Working with MHPSS Case Workers to ensure that PSS activities are planned, implemented, and monitored; 
• Working with community activists (volunteers) to ensure that safety assessments, field visits and community-based activities – are planned, implemented, and monitored; 
• Drafting capacity-building strategies through organizing trainings among team members; 
• Convening weekly planning sessions with team members in order to debrief and plan program activities. 

In addition, the MHPSS Program Officer is responsible for assisting in compiling program data and trends (with Program Manager) in order to:

• Inform MHPSS monitoring and evaluation plans;
• Identify trends and concerns to create advocacy strategies; 
• Effectively represent the MHPSS program at Sub-cluster, MHPSS Technical Working Group and other area-based coordination meetings when needed.

 RESPONSIBILITIES 

 Program Management  

• In collaboration with the team, develop operational Mobile Protection Team plans that include staffing and a schedule of psychosocial and outreach activities to be conducted;  
• Assist in the development and facilitation of trainings on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for staff, such as psychologists and case workers, for MoH. agencies and organizations working with affected population with in collaboration.  
• Maintain database of project locations and activities conducted in these areas; · Monitor the MHPSS Case Management referrals made in each area;  
• Conduct service mapping and maintain referral lists and contacts for relevant organizations in the  work area; · Assist in development and implementation of needs assessments for programming and assessments in conjunction with coordination groups  
• Identify communities with psychosocial needs and make recommendations for the provision of psychosocial activities in priority locations.  
• Assist in the development of information on psychological wellbeing including stress management, positive coping and self-care within target communities.  
• Plan timely for procurement of resources to ensure smooth and timely implementation of activities  
• Monitor monthly expenditures and track budgets; approve expenditures to designated level 
• Support MHPSS Manager in budget management  
• Working in collaboration with MHPSS Program Manager and IMC Technical Unit, contribute to drafting/revision of program curriculums for adult men, parents/care givers, older persons, children/adolescents and educators (teachers, school personnel)  

Team Support and Supervision  

• Hold regular planning and debriefing sessions with team members on a weekly basis; 
• In collaboration with the MHPSS Program Manager facilitate or organize trainings that support technical skills of staff, e.g. how to run effective focus groups and psychosocial groups, how to conduct Psychosocial assessments, how to talk about services offered by MHPSS program, how to talk MHPSS issues, how to conduct referrals, and other identified needs.  
• Assist in monitoring capacity building and support plans for team members. 

Reporting 

• Ensure that attendance records and other reporting tools are implemented and provided to the M&E Officer on an agreed upon schedule;  
• Monitor data collection to ensure that staff collect data in safe and ethical ways;  
• Update the monitoring and quality database on a regular basis and submit to the Program Manager according to an agreed upon schedule;  
• Maintain and update capacity-building and support plans and submit to Program manager according to an agreed upon schedule;  
• Compile weekly and monthly reports to provide information on trends, challenges, and activities to Program Manager  

Coordination   

• Identify key advocacy messages to share with Program Manager, CP Sub-Cluster, MHPSS Working Group and government ministries;  
• Represent MHPSS Program at Protection Cluster, Education Cluster, MHPSS Working Group, CP Sub-Cluster and other meetings as directed by Program Manager to present challenges and concerns and to coordinate work with other service providers and other humanitarian actors;  
• Assist in coordination efforts with INGOs, local NGOs and government agencies at regional and oblast/district level  

Other  

• Liaise with operations team to facilitate financial and logistical support to program implementation  
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor