Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Advisor

Role Summary

Working as an important member of a diverse team who are committed to serve the world’s most vulnerable, the MHPSS Advisor provides leadership and technical support to the Ukraine MHPSS and Protection teams to deliver quality integrated MHPSS services. Aspects of the role include training staff to meet international quality standards in mental health care, supporting effective monitoring and evaluation of MHPSS activities and contributing to the integration and development of MHPSS and protection components of the program.

Project Overview

In March 2022 Medair started a multisector integrated Health, MHPSS, Shelter and WASH programme designed to reduce morbidity and mortality in vulnerable and hard to reach populations in Ukraine. Current MHPSS projects focus on frontline communities in Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipro oblasts. Projects involve both direct implementation as well as building capacity of local partners, with key interventions of peer support groups for adults and children, Psychological First Aid (PFA), MHPSS referrals, and integration of MHPSS into primary health care.

Workplace & Conditions

Based in Kharkiv, Ukraine, with travel to all bases and field locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical oversight for MHPSS programming nationally, providing technical support to MHPSS teams in all project sites and ensuring alignment with international, national, and Medair standards.
• Strategically develop new projects in current sites and/or surrounding regions; give technical advice to field managers, country leadership, and Global Support Office on potential involvement in new MHPSS interventions and internal capacity for implementation; actively participate in proposal design and writing.
• Carry out regular monitoring visits, supporting projects to meet objectives within stated timeframes and in accordance with international and donor standards.
• Promote continuous improvement in quality by providing training in best practices, developing tools (job aids, forms, curricula, etc) and coaching MHPSS staff, in close collaboration with the regional MHPSS Project Manager(s).
• Represent Medair, as appropriate, at national health cluster, coordination, sector and bilateral meetings, working groups, with national and/or local government departments and any other relevant meetings or events, facilitating supportive synergies and overall progress in the MHPSS sector and avoiding duplication with the work of other agencies (e.g. NGOs, UN, etc).
• Support staff recruitment, training, and coaching to strengthen technical capacity, ownership, and effective team structures in MHPSS programming.
• Collaborate with project managers to monitor budgets, ensure timely procurement, and uphold accountability in MHPSS financial and logistical processes. Covers the role during regional Project Manager absence.
• Guide cross-sectoral integration of MHPSS into primary health care, shelter, and other sectors, in collaboration with sector advisors and program leadership.
• Support mainstreaming of protection standards across sectors
• Regularly assess and provide feedback and recommendations to HQ technical advisors as well as field staff on the quality of MHPSS programmes and interventions during field visits and at other relevant times; follow the direction of HQ MHPSS regarding quality, strategy and technical guidelines.

Qualifications, Experience & Technical Competencies

• Degree in psychology, (global) mental health, social work or related field, Master's degree strongly preferred. Clinical licensure in relevant discipline desirable.
• 3 years’ experience in managing programmes in international MHPSS work, with at least 1 year in humanitarian emergency context.
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Sphere and IASC Standards and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols.
• Advanced planning, assessment and analytical skills.
• Experience in the design, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of community-based MHPSS programs
• Good report and proposal writing skills, including for institutional donors (ECHO, FCDO, USG, etc).
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)

Behavioural Skills

• Team-player with good inter-personal skills, who can coach and mentor staff, and work strategically and consultatively across sectors.
• Good numerical, report writing and administration skills. Problem solving ability.
• Ability to prioritise clearly and oversee multiple tasks
• Ability to oversee multiple tasks in high-pressure environments, prioritising and delegating as required.

Team Spiritual Life

Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, people we serve, and external contacts. Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based teams. Fully contribute to a rich spiritual team life, including team devotion, prayer, and words of encouragement.