Mental Health Specialist

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 74,649 USD and 97,747 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Engage and coordinate with the international and national stakeholders (including UN/NGO and civil society organizations) to:

1. Facilitate and coordinate the provision of technical assistance in the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs, resources and capacities.
2. Support the coordination of a mental health service organization plan, through:
3. Promoting a system-based approach to integrate MHPSS in health and related social sectors, incoordination with relevant agencies and entities.
4. Leading the Mental Health Working Group under the health cluster based on the interagency cluster approach to ensure a coordinated response.
5. Providing technical advice to partner civil society organizations and other entities, as appropriate, on the issues related to instituting a robust MHPSS programme.
6. Contributing to the mobilization of adequate and sustained resources for the development and implementation of MHPSS activities.
7. Facilitate the maintenance and coordination of community-based mental health services. Contribute to the development and strengthening of secondary and specialist level psychiatric services.
8. Together with the implementing partners monitor the integration of mental health into primary health care. Oversee, in coordination with national stakeholders, surveillance and monitoring systems for mental, neurological and substance use disorders (MNS).
9. Review technical documents, briefing notes, meeting reports, information products and content, as appropriate.
10. Monitor the overall timeliness and quality of all programme deliverables, the finalization of operational transactions in accordance with the MPSS operational workplan, assure compliance with WHO rules and regulations, and efficiently deliver related services/products within the country.
11. Perform any other related incident-specific duties.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Bachelor's level) in psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work or allied sciences from an accredited/recognized institute. Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work or allied sciences from an accredited/recognized institute. Post-graduate qualification or specialized training in (a) public health (b) clinical psychology or psychiatry and/or (c) MHPSS in emergency and humanitarian crises.

Experience

Essential: At least five years of relevant experience, in the assessment, coordination and implementation of policies, strategies and action plans for MHPSS in the context of emergencies. Experience in capacity building, developing and promoting collaborative partnerships. Desirable: Experience of managing national mental health programme(s) including experience with implementing WHO's mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). Training in delivering bio-psychosocial interventions for MNS disorders. Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, relevant nongovernmental, health cluster partners or recognized humanitarian organizations.

Skills

• Expert knowledge of International policy frameworks (WHO, Sphere, IASC) for reduction of public health challenges related to mental health in emergency settings.
• Implementation tools (e.g.,WHO/United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) MHPSS assessment toolkit, psychological first aid field guide, mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide, mental health component of Interagency Emergency Health Kit (IEHK), “Building Back Better” casebook) for reduction of public health problems related to mental health in (post-) emergency settings.
• Demonstrated ability to: Plan and conduct capacity-building activities in MHPSS.
• Work effectively in an emergency and humanitarian response context, under constraints and meet deadlines.
• Collaborate on MHPSS across different sectors.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Creating an empowering and motivating environment Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Arabic. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of another WHO Official.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 62,692 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 919 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• 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.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• 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 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.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

• *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.