Mental Health Officer

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 22 years old. Applicants must be nationals of or legal residents in the country of assignment.

Description of task

Within delegated and hierarchical authority in UNVMC Medical Unit or its designated representative, the UNV will be responsible for the following duties:

Medical Duties:

• Conduct clinical evaluations and develop a suitable support plan.
• Formulate personalized care plans for beneficiaries according to established procedures.
• Provide appropriate mental health support through individual sessions for UNVMC staff and their dependants.
• Provide personalized group support and psychological education sessions for UNVMC staff and their dependants.
• Ensure adequate identification, referral and follow-up of the emergency.
• Perform stress support therapy for critical incidents (e.g. individual and/or group) when and wherever there is a need.
• Identify and refer cases to appropriate psychiatric service providers and ensure follow-up.
• Coordinate referrals to specialized services with UNVMC Medical Unit.
• Work directly with the UNVMC Medical Unit team to map mental health services available in each region in Colombia where the UN has presence.
• Coordinate referrals with designated personnel.
• Participate in UNVMC Medical Unit discussions about cases.
• Assist in the creation of effective internal and external referral systems.
• Contribute to the creation of assessment tools and guides in accordance with established procedures.
• Assist Medical Unit team in creating and documenting a replicable model of psychological support for the management of Mission cases.
• Seek technical support in case management from designated counsellors.
• Advise Medical Officer and other personnel officers, as needed, on individual cases where an identified problem is likely to have a professional, vocational, and/or counselling effect (e.g., work-related issues due to a mental health problem, conflict resolution, need for medication, etc.).
• Liaise with members of the Staff Welfare Committee and Medical Unit to draw up programs aimed at improving quality of life of staff members within the Mission area.
• Provide training sessions on “crisis and stress management” and “conflict resolution” as needed.
• Serve as UNVMC mental health focal point, responsible for assisting in the assessment of available services and the establishment of the mental health care and support network for staff and their dependants.
• Provide administrative guidance according to patients’ medical care insurance policy.
• Provide administrative orientation to staff regarding sick leave, follow up on cases, and submit relevant documentation to Medical Unit for registration on Earthmed’s database.
• Treat cases with the highest standards of confidentiality, ethics, and professionalism.

Occupational health and administrative duties:

• Lead the Mission's psychosocial risk assessment, as per the criteria and tools provided by the UN Division of Health Care and Safety at Work in New York.
• Propose an intervention plan for the mitigation of psychosocial risks that may affect UNVMC staff, in accordance with the procedures in place.
• Coordinate preventive activities for the psychosocial risks identified.
• Responsible for the implementation, monitoring and assessment of the UNVMC Occupational Health Program.
• Review the Mission's current Occupational Health Plan, update it, and propose an implementation plan.
• Review and update the Mission's physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, mechanical risk assessment in accordance with UN standards.
• Responsible for the Occupational Health Activities monthly report submitted to UN Division of Health Care and Safety at Work in New York.
• Schedule Mission's Occupational Health Committee meetings and regular reports of activities.
• Encourage the involvement of Mission personnel in risk assessments and prevention activities in all Mission’s premises.
• Actively participate in risk assessments and control in all Mission’s premises in the country.
• Responsible for updating Medical Unit’s SharePoint.
• Liaise with Medical Unit and the Mission's Mail and Pouch Office.
• Provide administrative support within Medical Unit when needed (receipt, review, processing and approval of medical accounts), shipment of packages to the field.
• Actively participate in training activities for Mission personnel in his/her area of expertise.

Additionally: Any other activity that is required or assigned by his/her supervisor.

Qualifications/Requirements Required degree level: Bachelor degree or equivalent Education - Additional Comments:

• Degree in Clinical Psychology
• Desirable experience or postgraduate diploma in Occupational Health.
• Excellent communication, problem solving, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, as well as good clinical interviewing with adults, and cultural awareness;
• Knowledge of national laws and regulations for case management is an advantage.
• Interest in mental health risk assessment and development of prevention strategies. Volunteering as a mechanism for sustainable development and the United Nations system.
• Accuracy and professionalism in the production and editing of documents;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; cultural and social awareness; ability to work inclusive and collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders, including local community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; knowledge of communication for development tools and approaches.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of national and international staff;
• Strong computer skills, including advanced knowledge of various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) as well as email/internet; knowledge of database management and office equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimal supervision; ability to work on tight deadlines;
• Awareness of security issues;

Required experience: 60 Months Experience remark:

• At least 5 years of professional work experience at national and/or international level in individual clinical work, critical event or emergency care, psychological support to people with trauma experiences, referral of patients or other relevant programs; experience with psychosocial interventions and group support sessions is valued, as well as experience working in the UN or other international development organizations;
• At least 5 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in Occupational Health with emphasis on psychosocial risk and psychosocial interventions and group support sessions, as well as experience working at the UN or other international development organizations;

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• Spanish(Mandatory), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise: Occupational health and safety, Mental health, Healthcare administration Driving license: No Competencies values:

Adaptability and Flexibility, Building Trust, Client Orientation, Commitment and Motivation, Communication, Respect for Diversity

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup.

Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

Application deadline: December 8th 2020

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

This is a national UN Volunteer assignment, therefore only nationals of Colombia and legal residents with a residency permit, the status of refugee or with the status of being stateless are eligible to apply. Don’t forget to tick the yes box for: “I am interested in serving as a volunteer in my own country.”