MHPSS Clinical Capacity Building Specialist

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC aims to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.

The IRC works in Greece from July 2015 responding and providing aid to refugees and migrants. The IRC’s programming in Greece currently focuses on Protection, Mental Health & PSS , Water and Sanitation & Economic Recovery & Development and in Athens, and Lesvos & Chios islands.

The MHPSS program on the islands of Lesvos and Chios was launched in February and April 2018 respectively, aiming to address the mental health needs of asylum seekers residing at the hotspots of Moria and Vial at a mental health center in the towns of Mytilini and Chios. Both MHPSS teams of Lesvos and Chios currently consist of five psychologists, three caseworkers and three interpreters, a support staff and their Manager. The caseload mostly consists of survivors of sexual violence and/or torture, who present with symptoms of PTSD, depression, disassociation, conversion, anxiety, psychosis, very often in need of psychiatric support. A large proportion of our clients are from sub-Saharan Africa (DRC, Cameroon, Mali, Guinea). Lately demographics of our clients start to shift due to large numbers of new arrivals originating from Afghanistan.

The Mental Health and Psycho-social Support (MHPSS) Clinical Capacity Building Specialist is expected to work with the IRC team on Lesvos and Chios and with other Mental Health actors in order to deliver the following services listed below. The Specialist is expected to work closely to the MHPSS team and manager who are based on Lesvos islands and the Program Coordinator based in Athens. A combination of in person and remote support is considered feasible.

Tasks

• Assess the clinical capacity of IRC MHPSS staff and develop a tailor made coaching and supervision strategy for each individual.
• Review current training packages used at the field and select/contextualize an appropriate toolkit for training of IRC MHPSS staff in Lesvos/Chios.
• Do on the job training as per the needs of each individual:
• oParticipate if possible inclinical sessions with beneficiaries and staff
• oConduct supportive supervision sessions with staff, discuss the cases and provide feedback
• Provide continuous follow up of staff
• Work alongside the MHPSS Manager in Lesvos as their counterpart and provide on the job training to increase their capacity in delivering their clinical work.
• Upon completion of the consultancy, ensure there is a performance development plan for this position, with actions clearly communicated with the MHPSS Manager and their line/technical manager for follow up
• Provide recommendations to increase quality of services based on international and national standards.
• Assess the capacity building needs of actors providing Mental Health support to asylum seekerson Lesvos and Chios islands
• Deliver training relevant to the needs of those actors 

Deliverables:

• Report on the capacity building needs that are identified.
• Capacity building plan.
• Report on the training, coaching and supervision sessions describing how the capacity building needs have been met and recommendation on the way forward.
• Contextualized training package for Lesvos