Child Protection Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Officer

Requisition ID: req51098

Job Title: Child Protection Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Officer

Sector: Child Protection

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Dnipro, Ukraine

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

Job Overview:
Under the supervision of the Senior Child Protection (CP) Officer, the CP Mental Health and Psychosocial (MHPSS) Officer will be responsible for supervising and coordinating MHPSS services to children, as well as for facilitating trainings and coaching on MHPSS concepts to IRC’s CP Case Management Teams and, as requested and appropriate, external stakeholders. The CP MHPSS Officer will be responsible for providing a limited number of direct MHPSS services to children and families (e.g., 1:1 crisis counselling / brief therapy to high-risk cases). He/she will provide a crucial role in rolling out IRC’s Now I’m Stronger Program in Ukraine, and closely coordinate and collaborate with IRC’s MHPSS team from the Health Unit and other protection streams (e.g., Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) and Protection and Rule of Law (ProL)). The CP MHPSS Officer will be a psychologist by profession and have experience in protection work with a specialisation in working with children and caregivers. The CP MHPSS Officer will be based in Dnipro.

Major Responsibilities:

Service Provision and Technical Quality
Receive referrals from the IRC’s CP Case Management team, partners, and other relevant stakeholders
Assess clients’ needs and provide 1:1 crisis counselling / brief therapy to high-risk cases  
As needed, refer children to additional services (e.g., specialised MHPSS services, IRC’ Now I’m Stronger program, CP Case Management)
Support the adaptation of IRC’s Now I’m Stronger (NIS) Program and capacity building of the CP staff who will be involved in the facilitation of NIS sessions
Actively support the roll-out, facilitation and supervision of IRC’s Now I’m Stronger Program, in collaboration with IRC’s CP Case Management Team
Ensure close collaboration and coordination with IRC’s MHPSS teams from the Health Unit, other protection streams (e.g., WPE and ProL) and beyond, as relevant and appropriate 

Training and Capacity Building

Provide targeted trainings on MHPSS concepts, approaches and interventions for IRC’s CP Case Workers to support the holistic MHPSS needs of clients, in coordination and partnership with the CP Case Management Officer
Provide ongoing technical coaching and capacity building on MHPSS for CP Case Workers, in coordination and partnership with the CP Case Management Officer
Upon request and when appropriate, provide targeted training and ongoing coaching and capacity building to external CP actors and other key stakeholders working in CP Case Management on key MHPSS concepts (e.g., supporting and referring high-risk cases, supporting children in distress, appropriate MHPSS interventions for children based on their age/developmental stage etc.), in close collaboration with IRC’s Capacity Building Manager

Administration & Reporting:
Lead on all reporting related to CP MHPSS activities 
Prepare and submit weekly activity work plans and reports in a timely manner to agreed-upon deadlines
Contribute to monthly CP reports
Complete all relevant tools for activities conducted (e.g., indicator trackers for MHPSS activities)
File and archive all important documents and correspondence relating to MHPSS activities
Support the implementation of and compliance with work plans, spending plans and M&E plans
As requested, support CP staff by building their capacity to collect MHPSS M&E data and contribute to the collection of M&E data to support the development of project proposals in CP

Coordination & Representation:  
Ensure active and close collaboration and coordination with IRC’s MHPSS teams from the Health Unit, other protection streams (e.g., WPE and ProL) and beyond
Actively coordinate with staff from other IRC sectors, including Protection & Rule of Law, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Health, Economic Relief and Development 
Actively take part in relevant CP coordination meetings at the local and national level, particularly the national and sub-national MHPSS Working Group
Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant local actors in the field, including community, non-governmental and governmental actors

Other:  
Stay informed about the CP MHPSS situation and developments within the communities and surrounding areas
Consistently and proactively monitor the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment
Promote and adhere to the principles, objectives and code of conduct of the IRC
Act both professionally and personally in a manner that brings credit to the IRC and does not compromise its humanitarian mission
If necessary, provide translation and interpretation at meetings, training sessions and/or documents for a better understanding of all staff
Conduct any other task requested by his/her supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Child Protection Sn Officer 
Direct reports: N/A
Other internal contacts: Protection & Rule of Law (ProL), WPE, MEAL, ERD, Health, Finance, Supply, Grants, HR and other relevant departments 

Degree in Psychology 
Minimum of 2 years’ experience in protection work, specialised in working with children and caregivers
Minimum of 2 years’ experience providing MHPSS services directly to clients and caregivers
Experience in implementing child protection MHPSS programming in humanitarian or development settings
Experience working with children who have been harmed or have been at-risk of being harmed, particularly children at high-risk
Experience in organising and facilitating trainings 
Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting
Ability to keep records and write simple and basic reports of activities
Comfortable speaking about sensitive topics in an honest, professional, and thoughtful manner
Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries
High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail
Computer literate, including Microsoft Word and Excel
Language: Fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, advanced skills in English

This position will be based in Dnipro, with frequent travel to field locations.