MHPSS Officer (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer)

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is among the world’s leading humanitarian aid organizations. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict, and disaster, helping them to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC seeks to be an operational and inspiring leader in matters of resettlement, asylum, and integration, demonstrating its credibility and expertise as a leading service provider, partner and advocate across the arc of the global displacement crisis. IRC currently operates in the U.S., Africa, Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. For a complete listing of countries in which IRC operates and supports refugee programs, please visit http://www.rescue.org/where

Across Europe, the IRC delivers programs that address acute humanitarian needs of asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants who are newly arrived, stranded or in transit, and programs that address their longer-term integration needs. Earlier this year, IRC launched its newest country program in Moldova to respond to the Ukrainian crisis in collaboration with local civil society organizations. With a population of only 2.64 million, Moldova has seen over 600,000 refugees cross its borders in search of safety. While most refugees transit onward toward Romania and other European countries, the number of nearly 100,000 Ukrainians and expected to increase in the coming months. Given its small size and limited resources, Moldova's capacity is already under strain with pressures on energy supplies and high inflation. The IRC envisages a humanitarian program in Moldova targeting both refugees and Moldovans, with interventions designed to save lives and relieve humanitarian suffering, with a focus on education, gender-based violence prevention and response, and protection services along with support for integration.

Job Overview/Summary:

The MHPSS Officer will be expected to provide technical services in support of the IRC and partner organization education program for vulnerable migrants and refugees to improve mental health and psychosocial well-being of Ukrainian, and third nationals’ refugees and host community. The MHPSS Officer will focus on provision of training and capacity building to local MHPSS service providers on issues related to adversity and displacement and work together with team members and local partners to support community-based mechanisms for improvement of well-being, protection resilience of those impacted by the events of the war in Ukraine.

The Officer will twine the IRC policy in operationalizing MHPSS Global standards and principles, including knowledge of international humanitarian standards for MHPSS programming.

This position reports to the Education Manager / Protection Manager.

Essential functions

• Coordinate with partners and local organizations to create linkages for refugees for promotion of quality referral pathways, strengthening MHPSS services and ensuring their integration of MHPSS concerns to different sectors.

• Responsible for MHPSS planning and implementation plans and ensuring timely efficient and effective implementation of the psychosocial activities.

• Provide trainings to teachers, educator, parents (caregivers) and school personnel on MHPSS referral pathways, protection (GBV, CP, CS).

• Capacity building of psycho-pedagogical teams.

• Plan and oversee the establishment of community based mental health and psychosocial support interventions.

• Support the development of a contextual multi-sector emergency MHPSS response for Ukrainians, third country nationals and affected communities in Moldova in concert with education sector guidance and guidelines, in close coordination with the Education and Protection Manager.

• Develop appropriate training for local service providers on adversity and displacement and other areas of MHPSS competencies prioritized by local partners.

• Travel within Moldova for training, capacity building, liaison and monitoring of IRC supported projects and activities.

• Preparation of timely, quality, and comprehensive reports and assessments.

• Participate in MHPSS coordination working groups for Moldova; participate in multi-sectoral technical working groups where possible, including Education, Protection and Child Protection.

• Contribute to the development of project proposals, concept notes and sector publications.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Protection, Mental Health, or related field.

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience with direct psycho-pedagogical service provision. Experience with vulnerable groups, preferably refugee and migrant populations will be an asset.

• Capacity to work individually and in teams.

• Responsible, Professional and with Integrity.

• Ability to work with people from different culture settings.

• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills required.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.

• Capacity to work under pressure and flexibility.

• Willingness to travel across the country.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Romanian and/or Russian / Ukrainian languages (written and spoken);

• Working knowledge of English (written and spoken) will be an asset.

• Driving license and experience desirable.

Working hours:

• Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day, 5 days a week

• Occasional evening and weekends on request

Professional Standards:

● All staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies

● Adhere to the Code of Conduct every day – in the site and in the community

● Maintain confidentiality

● While in transit sites, all IRC staff must wear appropriate IRC visibility.

Deadline to apply: 20 July 2023, 17.00

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 or disability.

Disclaimer Clause: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with position.

Due to the expected high number of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Qualifications