The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC began its programs in Yemen in October 2012. Following the war which broke out in Yemen in March of 2015 and the humanitarian disaster, which was crafted by the same, IRC launched an emergency response program in the southern governorates of Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah and Al Dhale’e. While the IRC has a track record working in Northern Yemen with a range of local partners, currently IRC is operating in eight governorates in the south of Yemen through direct programming and with local partners in Health (including MHPSS), Environmental Health/WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development, Child Protection, Women Protection and Empowerment, and Protection and Rule of Law.

JOB SUMMARY

The Mental Health and Psycho-social Support (MHPSS) Manager is responsible for supporting the integration of mental health into primary health care service delivery and health system support/strengthening interventions in line with WHO mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG) and national guidelines. In addition, the MHPSS Manager will take the lead in the development and implementation of the MHPSS clinical guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the coordination of clinical MHPSS with Protection Programming (Child Protection (CP), Protection Rule of Law, Women’s Protection and Empowerment) PSS, and SOPs for internal and external referral pathways. Furthermore, s/he will work towards building the capacity of medical staff providing them with supervision on mhGAP and integration of mental health into primary health care.

The position requires strong emphasis in training and developing the capacity of national partner staff; the successful candidate should therefore have experience in training, on the job supervision and mentoring, coordination and in building referral links to the other formal service providers. The MHPSS Manager will work and coordinate very closely with the Health Coordinator and Senior Manager, other technical/program managers in the Health team, Protection team, partners, and counterparts within the MoH and national/sub-national coordination bodies. The MHPSS Manager reports to IRC Yemen Senior Health Manager, with close coordination with relevant project coordinators and managers.

 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Lead the setting up of the mental health PHC integration programming  aligned with the WHO mhGAP HIG and IASC MHPSS guidelines and IRC Outcome and Evidence Framework (OEF) and global outcome strategies in supported health facilities and through the community health component.
  • Coordinate ongoing MHPSS programming within Health and between Health and Protection (e.g., CP, GBV), identifying gaps, synergies, challenges and best practices
  • Based on internal assessment findings, data analysis, and program learning, facilitate coordinated work-planning with clear roles and responsibilities for ensuring IRC Yemen’s MHPSS programming is responsive, holistic, and of high quality.
  • Provide clinical mental health and psychosocial program supervision to project staff (e.g., Psychiatrists, Psychologists, General Practitioners, MHPSS mentors, caseworker supervisors) inclusive of ongoing capacity building, professional development, technical support and performance reviews.
  • Conduct field visits to monitor and support MHPSS activities and support technical quality of programming by providing feedback and mentorship.
  • Facilitate monthly meetings with program staff to discuss progress against work-planning and quality improvement efforts, and share minutes of the meetings with the senior health manager and health coordinator flagging successes, challenges, course corrections, and lessons learned.
  • Facilitate trainings and workshops based on assessed training and capacity development needs, including organizing logistics, collaborating with co-trainer/s, and documenting program indicators.
  • Assist in developing project budgets and proposals entailing MHPSS programming toward ensuring interventions are technically sound and sufficiently resourced.
  • Support the Senior Health Manager and Health Coordinator to track budgets, procurement plans, and work plans to ensure proper personnel, facilities, and supplies are available to meet grant deliverables.
  • Conduct mhGAP operations training for health managers, team leaders and health leadership, and develop an mhGAP implementation plan to coordinate the mhGAP activities at all levels.
  • Participate in rapid needs assessments with other IRC sectors and external agencies as required

 

Program Management and Quality Monitoring

  • Actively participate in coordination mechanisms, represent the IRC in MHPSS technical working groups and ensure the implementation of IASC MHPSS guidelines where relevant.
  • Lead the development and implementation of data collection, M&E and quality control measures (e.g. on the job supervision checklists, impact measurement tools, client satisfaction measures and mhGAP training reports) for mental health services and community-based psycho-social support activities.
  • Support the development of referral pathways to strengthen linkages to available services for MHPSS in an integrated, well-coordinated approach. 
  • Develop a community MHPSS awareness package in coordination with the health promotion team and protection (PRoL, CP and WPE) coordinators/managers.
  • Lead the development of appropriate IEC materials on MHPSS, to build awareness of services and promote key messages 
  • Work closely with the health officers and pharmacy officer to ensure availability of WHO essential psychotropic medications at the clinics at all time
  • Coordinate with other MHPSS stakeholders to ensure complementation.

 

Team management and capacity support

  • Directly oversee the MH Officer and Roving Psychologist/Psychiatrist
  • Support the recruitment of additional MHPSS team members when relevant
  • Support with team building, performance review, and professional development of future staff. 
  • Participate in the development/review of mentorship plans and other activity plans on quarterly basis

 

Partnerships Management

  • Work closely with project coordinators/managers to identify implementing partners, co-design interventions, monitor implementation, and provide supportive supervision.
  • Ensure the development of regular performance monitoring plans to achieve set objectives and identify needs for technical capacity building support and guidance.
  • Facilitate joint development of capacity building plans for partner organizations, as well as identify opportunities for capacity sharing.
  • Arrange regular meetings with implementing partners to discuss ongoing and future program implementation and understand the challenges and barriers that might delay progress.

Documentation and Reporting

  • Participate in preparation of internal and external reports, including weekly updates to the coordinators and senior manager.
  • Take responsibility for collection and reporting of mental health project data including HMIS reporting and patient outcomes (e.g. functioning scale, client satisfaction surveys).Support project staff to maintain program records and documentation as per project management minimum standards, including maintaining the confidentiality and security of MHPSS client data
  • Promote a culture of learning and documentation so that lessons learned and good practices are documented and shared for institutional memory and learning as well as to advocate on behalf of the targeted communities
  • Support the development of MHPSS monitoring and evaluation tools and related activities for improving performance
  • Ensure proper documentation of all trainings, completion and analysis of pre and post knowledge tests and on the job supervision checklists as well as mental health PHC integration checklists. Sharing copies with MHPSS team data management, M&E, and reporting. Perform other duties as assigned by the Health Coordinator and Health Senior Manager.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Psychiatrist or psychologist (with a Master’s degree in clinical psychology or counselling psychology) with a minimum four years of experience working on MHPSS programs.
  • Sound knowledge and experience on implementing IASC MHPSS guidelines in emergency settings
  • mhGAP training and supervision experience including IG, HIG and operational manual
  • Training experience on Psychological First Aid,
  • Capacity building/ curriculum development experience in community based MHPSS approach
  • Fluent in Arabic and English

 

EXPERIENCE:

  • Previous NGO experience in a conflict-affected setting in MHPSS management capacity
  • Strong experience in MHPSS coordination and project management.
  • Management, training and supervision experience required
  • Strong organizational and supervisory skills and interpersonal skills with the ability to work within different cultural environment
  • Ability to work within a team structure or in isolation, flexible, and can cope with stressful workloads and working with limited resources
  • Experience in mental health and protection work with displaced persons, refugees, returnees and migrants
  • Excellent command of the use of Microsoft Office especially Outlook, Work, Excel and Power Point
  • Good communication, teamwork skills and ability to work independently

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.


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