MHPSS Psychosocial Worker (Humanitarian) - Kharkiv

Job Description

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine has created an urgent need for emergency mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions, particularly for individuals and families affected by the war and forced to evacuate from frontline areas. The escalation of hostilities since February 2022, combined with a heavily strained health system, has left many without access to essential psychosocial care. As immediate lifesaving activities remain a priority, IOM is rapidly scaling up its emergency MHPSS response, focusing on delivering critical support as close as possible to the frontline and within transit centers that receive newly evacuated people. These interventions are guided by IOM’s global standards for community-based MHPSS in emergencies and displacement, as outlined in the organization’s official manual. The program prioritizes rapid support for territorial communities and local initiatives, ensuring that lifesaving community-based services reach those most at risk—including particularly vulnerable groups—during the acute emergency phase. The overarching aim is to reduce psychological distress, strengthen coping mechanisms, and bolster resilience for individuals and families as they navigate the immediate challenges of displacement and crisis, while also contributing to preparedness for potential future emergencies. 

IOM’s emergency community-based MHPSS interventions are delivered by mobile psychosocial teams (PMTs) strategically deployed near the frontline and in transit centers. These teams are comprised of professionals with diverse expertise and cultural competence, enabling them to provide lifesaving support tailored to the urgent needs of newly evacuated individuals, including women, persons with disabilities, older adults, and large families who may face significant barriers to accessing fixed facilities. PMTs ensure flexible, responsive programming and outreach, supporting affected populations throughout all phases of displacement and making critical MHPSS services accessible in high-risk and rapidly evolving environments. 

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing: 

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.

Responsibilities

Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

The MHPSS Psychosocial Worker, as a member of the mobile psychosocial team (PMT), is responsible for the urgent delivery of lifesaving mental health and psychosocial support services in areas near the frontline and within transit centres receiving newly evacuated individuals. The role encompasses providing immediate psychological support for stabilization, psychological first aid, individual and group counselling and facilitating referrals to essential services and support organisations targeting populations experiencing acute distress due to displacement and crisis. 

Tasks to be performed under this contract: 

1. Work closely with the Senior MHPSS Associate and other team members to deliver emergency mental health and psychosocial support activities, in line with the IASC and IOM MHPSS guidance, ensuring rapid and effective response for those affected by conflict and displacement. 

2. Deliver MHPSS consultations, group community-based services, Psychological First Aid, stress management support, stabilization and other emergency MHPSS interventions in high-risk and transit locations. 

3. Identify vulnerable beneficiaries in frontline and transit centre environments using established humanitarian criteria, such as displacement status, age, disability, family composition, and exposure to acute distress, and prioritise the delivery of MHPSS support accordingly. Focus on those most at risk by organising targeted support groups, discussion forums, and participatory community-based activities, ensuring that interventions address the urgent psychosocial needs of individuals and families during emergencies. 

4. Provide individual and group counselling to those affected by conflict and evacuation, prioritising urgent needs in transit centres and frontline communities. 

5. Assist with rapid MHPSS needs and impact assessments, data collection, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and research in emergency settings, under the supervision of the Senior MHPSS Associate, to inform improved access to psychosocial services and specialised mental health care for displaced populations. 

6. Under programme management direction, support the Senior MHPSS Associate in liaising with local partners to plan and coordinate emergency community-based creative and cultural activities for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and conflict-affected groups in frontline and transit centre locations. 

7. Be prepared for roving duty travel across Ukraine, maintaining readiness for immediate deployment to frontline and transit centre locations in response to emergencies. 

8. Ensure accurate reporting and data entry of emergency activities in tracker sheets, proper documentation of interventions, and adherence to donor visibility requirements in coordination with the Senior MHPSS Associate. 

9. Perform other duties as may be assigned, particularly those supporting emergency MHPSS service delivery in frontline and transit centre environments. 

Performance indicator for the evaluation of results:

• The successful implementation of the plan of action, reaching the target number of individuals and services outlines in the plan with the proper quality of service delivery in line with IOM guidelines and related reporting.

• The fulfillment of the time on the job required as indicated in the contract, which will be confirmed through a detailed time sheet.

Qualifications

Education, Experience and/or skills required:

IOM Ukraine seeks positive, attentive, and responsible individuals with proven experience in MHPSS work, teamwork, and humanitarian operations, specifically in emergency settings near the frontline and in transit centers. Selected candidates must be ready for frequent travel within their assigned oblast, maintaining readiness for immediate deployment to frontline and transit center locations in response to emergency situations. A demonstrated history of innovative approaches and proactive local engagement, especially in challenging emergency environments, will be considered a significant asset.

The Consultant should meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Counselling, Educational Psychology, Psychotherapy, or a related field, with at least of 2 years of working experience.

• Previous experience in mental health, social and protection activities in related areas of intervention is an advantage.

• Experience in communicating and working with a wide range of people, including people of culturally diverse backgrounds.

• Fluency in Ukrainian. Working knowledge of English would be an asset.

Travel required

Yes.

Languages

For this consultancy, Fluency in Ukrainian. Working knowledge of English would be an asset.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Notes

IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work. 

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies

Required Skills

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