Mental Health Officer

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

Background

Nepal has been enrolled into the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (SIMH) in 2021. The Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) has endorsed a multi-year logical framework to effectively implement the WHO Special Initiative of Mental Health in Nepal. The workplan is focused to strengthen health systems and services to leverage the implementation of the National Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan 2020 substantially. The WHO Country Office will support the MOHP in implementing the SIMH in 14 districts in 2022 and will be expanded to other geographical locations in the subsequent years.

Purpose

To effectively implement the work plan of the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health in Nepal and to strengthen the WHO technical assistance in building mental health systems and services in the federal context to enable the county to meet the targets of SDGs and UHC.

Summary of assigned duties

Under the overall guidance of the Team Leader – NCDS, and the direct supervision of the National Professional Officer - (Mental Health, Disability and Injury Prevention); and in close collaboration with the relevant government counterparts including NCDs and Mental Health Section of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division – the Mental Health Officer will perform the following duties:

• • Coordinate the implementation of the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health as the project focal point at the Department of Health Services and WHO Country Office.
  • Support Federal and Provincial health authorities in micro planning of the activities based on the workplan of WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health and oversee development of the yearly technical and financial proposals and submit to Department of Health Services and WHO Country Office
  • Organize coordination and review meetings of implementing stakeholders at central, provincial and local level and ensure project activities are on track and share report to EDCD and WHO Country Office
  • Prepare progress report both fiscal and physical implementation of the project and update the Department of Health Service and WHO Country Office
  • Organize monthly interactions with NCD and MH field officers and guide the acceleration of the implementation
  • Ensure proper design and conduct of relevant capacity building trainings and events in coordination with the National Health Training Center and EDCD
  • In coordination with the provincial and district health authorities, support implementation of capacity building activities, maintain data of availability of mental health trained health workers in health facilities and identify training needs to ensure the continuation of services
  • Liaise with provincial and district health managers and ensure submission of monthly service delivery reports from all health facilities and compile summarized mental health and NCD service information and submit to Department of Health Services and WHO country office
  • Monitor the status of drug supply and availabilities in the facilities and appraise the concerned government program units for corrective actions
  • Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the supervisors. This includes duty travel or duty-station reassignment on short notice as per the program requirements.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respective and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing Results

Functional Knowledge and Skills

• Strong project management, organization, and coordination skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, tact, discretion, and diplomacy.
• Ability to effectively work with government, development partners and collaborating agencies

Modality of Working

The incumbent will be deployed at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of the Department of Health Services and work as a team member of the of the DoHS. She/He will consult the WHO country office in operation of the activities.

Education Qualifications

Essential: University Degree in Medicine, Nursing and advanced degree in mental health

Desirable: Additional degree in public health.

Experience

Essential: At least five-year experience with proven track record of community-based service design, delivery and management for mental disorders

Desirable: Prior experience on teaching, research related to mental health disorders and project management of community-based mental health services

Other Skills (eg IT)

• Work is performed in normal working environment.
• Proficiency in the development of Gannt Chart, modern office software packages such as MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc.) and standard office equipment.

Use of Language Skills: Essential: Expert knowledge of English and Nepali

Remuneration:

Monthly Salary: (Net of tax) NPR 239,245 (Level 9) at single rate (taxable as per Nepal Government laws and appointment will be through Special Services Agreement (SSA))

Additional Information

• This Vacancy Notice may be used to fill similar positions at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and interviews will be used as a form of screening
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Any extension of appointment would be subject to programmatic requirements, performance of the incumbent and availability of funds.
• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.