Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer - Red Sea

The Organization We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

· No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday · All children learn from a quality basic education and that, · Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information: Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer TEAM/PROGRAMME: Program Operations LOCATION: Red Sea, Port Sudan GRADE: 4 POST TYPE: fixed term (6 months) CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 4:

the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

Under the supervision of Child Protection Coordinator (CPC), and with the technical support of the CP Technical specialist and Head of Child Protection, the MHPSS Officer will support cross-sectorial integration of MHPSS dimensions in Rest of Sudan Area 1 (RoS1) programme delivery, building on an evidence-based, psychosocial, developmental and multi-leveled approach, in line with global and regional standards. The role will encompass direct implementation of MHPSS interventions and services, alongside capacity building, coaching and supervision of Child Protection and Education with possible support to Health and Nutrition staff and partners in RoS. The MHPSS Officer will act as Focal Point for MHPSS in RoS and will participate in relevant local coordination platforms.

The MHPSS Officer will receive regular training, support and supervision from the Child Protection TAs and/or relevant technical advisors from different supporting sectors.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Child Protection Coordinator, with technical support and supervision by the CP TAs

Staff directly reporting to this post: None.

Indirect: case management assistants

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

This position will be working closely with the Child Protection and Case Management officers under child protection and Education teams in RoS1 with an aim to:

1. Initially contribute to the formulation of NMFA project work plans and ensure the systematic integration of MHPSS priorities and interventions programme delivery.
2. Establish close relationships and patterns of collaborations with key stakeholders in the community around MHPSS priorities.
3. Coordinate and support the implementation of MHPSS or multi-dimensional needs assessments; ensure ongoing assessment/analysis of local context, priorities and needs related to MHPSS.
4. In collaboration with Child Protection and Education teams and partners, contribute to the identification of most vulnerable groups of children and caregivers in the community, and support the formulation and implementation of relevant outreach strategies.
5. Conduct/update MHPSS service mappings, provide quality vetting of potential referral options, and establish/maintain referral pathways and mechanisms in collaboration with Child Protection and Education teams and partners.
6. Review and contextualize MHPSS intervention packages, tools, activity plans and key messages, ensuring context relevance and sensitivity.
7. Contribute to developing additional resources and tools if and as required, in line with current evidence and with supervision and support by the CP or MHPSS TA
8. Select, engage, motivate, coordinate, train, coach and supervise MHPSS facilitators in RoS Area1.
9. Select, engage, motivate, coordinate, train, coach and supervise MHPSS volunteers in RoS Area1.
10. Contribute to developing monitoring plans for the MHPSS portfolio and support relevant monitoring and reporting activities.
11. Participate in local MHPSS coordination platforms, and other relevant coordination fora.

In Education programming:

Under education use evidence-based resources and modalities as advised by the MHPSS TA, and in collaboration with Education teams and partners to:

1. Design, plan, coordinate and contribute to implementing school-based mental health promotion and prevention activities targeting children, adolescents and caregivers.
2. Train, coach and support Education teams and partners in integrating key MHPSS dimensions in their practice – including Team-Up approach, Basic Helping Skills, PFA for child practitioners, safe identification and referral, paraprofessional counseling etc.
3. Design, plan, coordinate and contribute to implementing mental health promotion and wellbeing activities targeting teachers and educators.
4. Provide individual and group person-focused support (Team Up) to students experiencing higher levels of distress and/or more enduring emotional or behavioral difficulties.

In Child Protection programming:

Under Child Protection, use evidence-based resources and modalities as advised by the MHPSS Technical Advisor, and in collaboration with Child Protection lead teams and partners to:

1. Design, plan, coordinate and contribute to implementing community-based mental health promotion and prevention activities targeting children, adolescents, and caregivers.
2. Integrate key MHPSS dimensions in their practice – including Basic Helping Skills of community based psychosocial Support, PFA, team-Up approach, safe identification and referral, and provision of paraprofessional counseling etc.
3. Design, plan, coordinate and contribute to implementing mental health promotion and wellbeing activities targeting government and community social workers and other CP staff.

4. Provide individual and group person-focused support (evidence-based psychological interventions) to children and caregivers experiencing higher levels of distress and/or more enduring emotional or behavioral difficulties.

   SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development, and encourages others to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.

  COMPETENCIES

Delivering results

Takes personal responsibility and holds others to account to deliver our ambitious goals for children, continually improving own performance or that of the team/ organisation.

Applying technical and professional expertise

Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practice within and outside the organisation.

Working effectively with others

Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives; knows when to lead and when to follow and how to ensure effective cross-boundary working.

Communicating with impact

Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust with others.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A university degree in psychology, social science, mental health or relevant degrees
• Experience with children and adolescents, knowledge on child development and child and adolescent mental health.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) field in the humanitarian context, experience in working with migrants and refugees is an asset.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including team leading and influencing.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in Arabic and English is an asset.
• Comfortable with high levels of ambiguity and able to take decisions independently in fluid context.
• Experience with refugee/marginalized communities desired.

• Commitment to Save the Children values and Child Safeguarding.

  Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the postholder may be required to carry out additional duties within reason expected of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The postholder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

Save the Children is committed to ensuring that all children who have contact with the organization are safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from child abuse and sexual exploitation. This commitment is implemented through the organization’s Child Safeguarding Policy, which includes mandatory requirements that apply to everyone in all aspects of Save the Children’s work. It applies equally to all children irrespective of their gender, disability, ethnicity, sexuality, marital status or religion.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

JD written by: Katy Wall Date: April 2024 JD agreed by: Date: Updated By: Osman Abdelkarim Date: April 2024 Evaluated: Date: