Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Specialist

Federation Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion

1165 views

Posted date	17th April, 2025	Last date to apply	23rd April, 2025
Country	Pakistan	Locations	Peshawar
Category	Development Sector
Position	1

General mission

The MHPSS Specialist will support the design, implementation and integration of mental health and psychosocial support activities across primary healthcare, physical rehabilitation, and education in emergencies. While working with Afghan refugee populations in humanitarian context, the role will ensure that MHPSS interventions are contextually appropriate, and aligned with broader programmatic goals. The MHPSS Specialist will report to the Technical Head of Programs.

Missions / responsabilités

Mission 1 : Technical support:

Provide technical support to projects, ensuring alignment with global frameworks, standards, and best practices within their area of expertise.
Provide high-quality technical support to MHPSS projects, in line with global standards, IASC guidelines, and HI’s inclusive approach, ensuring services are accessible, participatory, and responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups.

Coordinate and provide training to HI’s and partner’s MHPSS team through direct provision of both formal and on the job trainings and supervision.
Designs technical tools, training, leaflets, protocols and other relevant documents and disseminate them among the mission.
Oversee and monitor the technical quality and relevance of HI’s activities within the scope of the program.
Support and guide in the development of assessments, evaluations (data analysis) and monitoring methodologies and tools.
Monitor and ensure the technical quality, relevance, and consistency of MHPSS activities across the programs under their scope.
Support in recruitment of new MHPSS national staff.
Ensure through regular exchanges with HQ MHPSS Technical Referent that field approaches and methods are in line with HI’s global technical standards.
Conduct regular field visits to provide clinical supervision, on-the-job coaching, and hands-on technical support to MHPSS teams, ensuring the quality and contextual relevance of service delivery.
Support through technical inputs in project development processes.

Mission 2 : Representation and external coordination

Representation of HI towards local authorities regarding technical area of responsibility
Participation in external coordination meetings (government meetings, clusters, working groups, partners)
Report any relevant information related to MHPSS matters to relevant stakeholders
Coordinate regularly with implementing partners and provide tailored training and technical support to strengthen the capacities of their staff.

Mission 3 : Support to the program strategy:

Analyse existing MHPSS and protection related resources (facilities, HR, level of education, equipment, etc.) and needs in order to define the strategy together with the Operations Manager, with the inputs of the Project Managers, Project Officers, other Technical specialist and field teams.
Ensure the technical quality, relevance and contextual appropriateness of HI’s MHPSS interventions in line with international standards as well as HI’s MHPSS global strategy
Define the scope and boundaries of the MHPSS interventions ensuring clarity in regards to protection related concerns and referrals.
Ensure the implementation of the comprehensive approach and coordination with the rehabilitation staff
Ensure coordination and coherence of our intervention amongst local and international actors, avoiding duplication and promoting complementarities
Participate in MHPSS needs assessments for new projects to be developed/adaptation of the existing projects

Mission 4 : Reporting

Write technical situation and other reports providing relevant data, analysis and recommendations related to MHPSS activities (statistic, review monthly objectives, etc.) as required.
Support in writing donor reports (intermediate, final, ad hoc, as required)

Mission 5 : Line/team management:

Support the field counterparts – the MHPSS team (ensuring objective are set, performance management, capacity building, etc.)
Contribute to the effective supervision of the MHPSS technical team members from a technical perspective, in collaboration with their technical line management.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Advanced university degree (Master’s level or equivalent) in mental health, psychology, or a related field from a recognized academic institution
Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in the field of MHPSS
Experience in both humanitarian (including protracted crisis) and development contexts
Prior experience working with NGOs is essential
Proven expertise in:

Providing technical support and guidance on MHPSS programming
Delivering clinical supervision
Conducting capacity-building and training of MHPSS teams and partners

Preferably trained in scalable psychological interventions (e.g., WHO’s Problem Management Plus [PM+], Self Help Plus [SH+], etc.)
Training of Trainers (ToT) certification is a strong asset
International experience will be considered as a strong asset.
Familiarity with global MHPSS standards and tools, including the IASC Guidelines and WHO tools
Experience in inclusive programming and working with vulnerable or marginalized groups, particularly persons with disabilities, is a strong asset

Language skills

Excellent Written and spoken Urdu and English
Pashto is desirable
Strong capacity building skills
Comprehensive knowledge of the IASC Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings guidelines and associated products.
Strong computer skills (use of MS Word, Excel, Outlook and other relevant software

Professional skills:

	Knows	Practices	Proficient	Expert
Training delivery				√
Communication with community				√
Quantitative and qualitative data collection	√
Accountability to populations: participatory, non-discriminatory and responsible approaches				√
Understanding and respect of local cultures				√
Local adaptation of psychosocial strategies				√
Handling of relevant software (MS Word, Excel, other relevant)			√
Understanding of the refugee crisis and social dynamics following it			√

Emergency preparedness and response skills (see profession design template)

	Knows	Practices	Proficient	Expert
Emergency response		√
Humanitarian monitoring and Emergency Preparedness	√

Other professional skills

		Knows	Practices	Proficient	Expert
Project Management	Assessment	√
Project Management	Intervention Strategy
Project Management	Planning, steering and coordination
Finance	Treasury management	√
Finance	Budget/financial management
HR	Organisation design	√
HR	Facilitation and/or design of training and skills development programmes	√
ISD	Use of the information system of my profession		√
ISD	Information security management		√
ISD	Computer basics		√
SECU	Personal security management		√
Programme Management	Public relations / representation / internal-external communication / relations		√
Programme Management	Major risk management		√
Programme Management	Development & implementation of an operational strategy, including fundraising
Inclusion	DGA intersectionality		√
DFI (Direction des Financements institutionnels)	Proposal & narrative report writting

Cross-sector skills

	Knows	Practices	Proficient	Expert
Frameworks and references
Office and collaborative tools		√
Stress management				√
Collaborating in a global organization			√

Languages

	A1	A2	B1	B2	C1	C2
Country Language (Pashto, Urdu)						√
HI Official Language (french or English)					√

Federation Handicap International is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities or any limitation, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Federation Handicap International has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Federation Handicap International, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, PSEA (Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Beneficiaries) abuse of authority and discrimination. Federation Handicap International also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. - This position involves working with children, women and is subject to strict safer recruitment checks. The successful candidate will be required to complete a police check and self-declaration form to help verify their suitability to work with children and women.

HI is an equal employment opportunities provider. Women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.