Child Protection Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

Organization description

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 lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education, and power. Given the disparity faced by women and girls, IRC seeks to narrow gender inequalities and ensure social inclusion of all vulnerable groups in broader policies, processes and actions affecting their lives. In Ukraine, the IRC started emergency programming in April 2022 in the field of child protection (CP), protection and rule of law (ProL), women’s protection and empowerment (WPE) (i.e., gender-based violence), health, cash and basic needs.

Job Overview:

Under the supervision of the Senior Child Protection (CP) Officer, the CP Mental Health and Psychosocial (MHPSS) Officer will be responsible for supervising and coordinating MHPSS services to children, as well as for facilitating trainings and coaching on MHPSS concepts to IRC’s CP Case Management Teams and, as requested and appropriate, external stakeholders. The CP MHPSS Officer will be responsible for providing a limited number of direct MHPSS services to children and families (e.g., 1:1 crisis counselling / brief therapy to high-risk cases). He/she will provide a crucial role in rolling out IRC’s Now I’m Stronger Program in Ukraine, and closely coordinate and collaborate with IRC’s MHPSS team from the Health Unit and other protection streams (e.g., Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) and Protection and Rule of Law (ProL)). The CP MHPSS Officer will be a psychologist by profession and have experience in protection work with a specialisation in working with children and caregivers. The CP MHPSS Officer will be based in Kharkiv.

Major Responsibilities:

Service Provision and Technical Quality

- Receive referrals from the IRC’s CP Case Management team, partners, and other relevant stakeholders

- Assess clients’ needs and provide 1:1 crisis counselling / brief therapy to high-risk cases

- As needed, refer children to additional services (e.g., specialised MHPSS services, IRC’ Now I’m Stronger program, CP Case Management)

- Support the adaptation of IRC’s Now I’m Stronger (NIS) Program and capacity building of the CP staff who will be involved in the facilitation of NIS sessions

- Actively support the roll-out, facilitation and supervision of IRC’s Now I’m Stronger Program, in collaboration with IRC’s CP Case Management Team

- Ensure close collaboration and coordination with IRC’s MHPSS teams from the Health Unit, other protection streams (e.g., WPE and ProL) and beyond, as relevant and appropriate

Training and Capacity Building

- Provide targeted trainings on MHPSS concepts, approaches and interventions for IRC’s CP Case Workers to support the holistic MHPSS needs of clients, in coordination and partnership with the CP Case Management Officer

- Provide ongoing technical coaching and capacity building on MHPSS for CP Case Workers, in coordination and partnership with the CP Case Management Officer

- Upon request and when appropriate, provide targeted training and ongoing coaching and capacity building to external CP actors and other key stakeholders working in CP Case Management on key MHPSS concepts (e.g., supporting and referring high-risk cases, supporting children in distress, appropriate MHPSS interventions for children based on their age/developmental stage etc.), in close collaboration with IRC’s Capacity Building Manager

Administration & Reporting:

- Lead on all reporting related to CP MHPSS activities

- Prepare and submit weekly activity work plans and reports in a timely manner to agreed-upon deadlines

- Contribute to monthly CP reports

- Complete all relevant tools for activities conducted (e.g., indicator trackers for MHPSS activities)

- File and archive all important documents and correspondence relating to MHPSS activities

- Support the implementation of and compliance with work plans, spending plans and M&E plans

- As requested, support CP staff by building their capacity to collect MHPSS M&E data and contribute to the collection of M&E data to support the development of project proposals in CP

Coordination & Representation:

- Ensure active and close collaboration and coordination with IRC’s MHPSS teams from the Health Unit, other protection streams (e.g., WPE and ProL) and beyond

- Actively coordinate with staff from other IRC sectors, including Protection & Rule of Law, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Health, Economic Relief and Development

- Actively take part in relevant CP coordination meetings at the local and national level, particularly the national and sub-national MHPSS Working Group

- Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant local actors in the field, including community, non-governmental and governmental actors

Other:

- Stay informed about the CP MHPSS situation and developments within the communities and surrounding areas

- Consistently and proactively monitor the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment

- Promote and adhere to the principles, objectives and code of conduct of the IRC

- Act both professionally and personally in a manner that brings credit to the IRC and does not compromise its humanitarian mission

- If necessary, provide translation and interpretation at meetings, training sessions and/or documents for a better understanding of all staff

- Conduct any other task requested by his/her supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Child Protection Sn Officer

Direct reports: N/A

Other internal contacts: Protection & Rule of Law (ProL), WPE, MEAL, ERD, Health, Finance, Supply, Grants, HR and other relevant departments

Requirements

The Child Protection MHPSS Officer will need to meet the requirements below:

- Degree in Psychology

- Minimum of 2 years’ experience in protection work, specialized in working with children and caregivers

- Minimum of 2 years’ experience providing MHPSS services directly to clients and caregivers

- Experience in implementing child protection MHPSS programming in humanitarian or development settings

- Experience working with children who have been harmed or have been at-risk of being harmed, particularly children at high-risk

- Experience in organizing and facilitating trainings

- Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting

- Ability to keep records and write simple and basic reports of activities

- Comfortable speaking about sensitive topics in an honest, professional, and thoughtful manner

- Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries

- High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail

- Computer literate, including Microsoft Word and Excel

- Language: Fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, advanced skills in English

This position will be based in Kharkiv, with frequent travel to field locations.

Standards of Professional Conduct

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Qualifications