Health Officer (Mental Health), NO-1, (TA) for 364 days, Bogotá, Colombia

Contract

This is a NO-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-1 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child,

At UNICEF COLOMBIA we work to generate positive changes in the lives of children and adolescents. Our current work plan runs from 2021 to the end of 2024 and aims to ensure that children and adolescents enjoy their rights through equitable access to social services, improve their learning and live protected from all types of violence.

We work throughout Colombia, with special focus on the departments where children have fewer opportunities: Chocó, Cauca, Nariño, Antioquia, Córdoba, Amazonas, Putumayo, La Guajira, Caquetá, Atlántico, Arauca and Norte de Santander.

For more information visit the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc3OopCmEpM

Purpose of the Position

The Mental Health Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting technical programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and formulation of the Health Programme within the Country Programme.

The Mental Health Officer reports to the Health/CSD/Nutrition Specialist/Manager or Chief for close guidance and supervision. Level 1 is an entry professional level and should therefore be normally used as a trainee level for the purpose of acquiring organizational knowledge of rules, regulations, and processes to supplement academic and theoretical knowledge of the profession for upward mobility to higher responsibilities. Incumbents at this level are not expected to remain for an extended period of time in the post.

According to the UNICEF report, The State of the World's Children 2021, “On My Mind”, globally, "it is estimated that more than 13% of adolescents aged 10-19 years have a diagnosed mental disorder as defined by the World Health Organization". It also states that "...suicide is the fifth most common cause of death among adolescents aged 10-19 years..." that "...there is widespread concern about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Research indicates some increase in stress and anxiety among children and adolescents. The mental health of caregivers, especially young mothers, is also of concern."

According to the Colombian Ministry of Health, "the number of people aged 0 to 19 years consulting for mental and behavioral disorders is increasing every day. From 2009 to 2017, 2,128,573 children and adolescents were attended with diagnoses with ICD 10 code: F00 to F99 (which groups mental and behavioral disorders), with an average of 236,508 people attended per year, the trend is to the increase of cases every year."

Given the situation described above, four areas of UNICEF (Health, ADAP, Education, and Protection) are developing mental health interventions in order to respond to the problem. Thus, UNICEF has positioned itself as a key partner in mental health and psychosocial support.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Support to programme development and planning in mental health and psychosocial support
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results in mental health and psychosocial support
• Technical and operational support to programme implementation in mental health and psychosocial support
• Networking and partnership building in mental health and psychosocial support
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building in mental health and psychosocial support

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health/nutrition, pediatric health, psychology, psychiatry family health, socio-medical, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of one year of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.
• For this position, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace additional two years.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Knowledge of English is an asset. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

FIND THE COMPLETE JOB DESCRIPTION HERE:

Health Officer Level 1 VF.pdf

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values are Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability & Sustainability

The Core competencies required for the post are:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

View our competency framework at:

Get prepared | UNICEF Careers

UNICEF 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, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF 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.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.