Deputy MHPSS Advisor at Premiere Urgence Internationale (PUI)

Location: Maiduguri, Borno

Background

• The PUI Nigerian Mission has been officially opened in April 2016, with a focus on meeting urgent needs, including improving access to food commodities for Internally Displaced People (IDP) and host communities (HC), later adding Primary Health Care and Nutrition activities
• This initial intervention was focused on populations living in MMC. The progressive sectorial widening allowed to start implementing an integrated approach from 2017 in Bolori II in food security, livelihoods, nutrition and health, with the support of ECHO, FFP, OFDA and CIAA/CDC, in line with PUI’s global strategy
• In 2018, PUI will further develop its comprehensive response by adding Outreach/Protection and WaSH to the existing country program in Bolori II, and will scale up its intervention with the opening of Kukawa LGA base, with the main objectives of reducing morbidity and mortality of the most vulnerable population and promoting protection amongst the whole affected community. The same donors will support the 2018 intervention
• In parallel, PUI is supporting the coordination mechanisms and is running the common logistics platform for all humanitarian actors funded by the logistics cluster (WFP) since 2016, and the partnership has been renewed to this date.

General Objective

• Under the supervision of the MHPSS Advisor, the Deputy MHPSS advisor will support all MHPSS activities of the 2 different teams
• Besides this, he/she will manage data records of activities, and work on capacity building of MHPSS staff (training and supervision)
• He will take part in working group meetings, coordination meetings, and provide professional translation/interpretation of MHPSS documents, checklists and in training translation when needed.

Responsibilities and Tasks
Objective 1: Support to Management and Coordination:

• Effectively manage daily program, including planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting.
• Support the management in the absence of the MHPSS advisor, and Manage Psycho-social workers and ensure that quality PSS services delivered.
• In the absence of the MHPSS advisor, manage PSS activities to make sure that activities run smoothly.
• Conduct routine project needs assessments (at PHCC and outpost level) and program reviews to ensure successful implementation.
• In consultation with the project managers, elaborate the necessary logistic planning and arrangements for the execution of the planned activities.
• Under the supervision of the expatriate MHPSS advisor, he/she will facilitate to build a sound, good and close relation with parties involved in the MHPSS project implementation at local level: clusters, NGOs, communities.
• Work with partner agencies in the provision and referral of services.
• Follows up the performance indicators defined, reports on progress to his/her immediate supervisor (MHPSS Advisor), indicates difficulties encountered in project implementation, and proposes improvements or reorganization on an as needs basis.

Objective 2: Support & Supervision of the PSS Teams:

• Familiarizes himself/herself with PUI Internal Rules of Procedure for the mission, and ensures that they are known and respected by each member of the MHPSS team.
• Support two PSS teams (Maiduguri, Mungono) in resolving the implementation challenges faced in the field.
• Ensures that agreed activities and procedures are regularly and timely performed by PSS teams.
• Follows up plans, organizes capacity building, and supervision of PSWs
• Plans, organizes and follows up the weekly/ monthly implementation chart, after being endorsed by the MHPSS Advisor.
• When needed, conduct field and monitoring visits to health facilities to follow up activities and monitor performance of psycho-social workers (PSW).

Objective 3: Monitoring and Reporting:

• In close coordination with the MHPSS Advisor and M&E officer, enter weekly collective data about MHPSS activities in specific database
• Follow up weekly data entry by the PSW, and compiling the monthly report.
• Consolidate weekly data in monthly activity report
• In the absence of the MHPSS advisor, validate the database with the support health coordinator before sharing it to relevant departments (M&E officer, grants officer, project managers).
• With the support of the MHPSS advisor, follow the progress, challenges and achievements towards project targets and indicators in PSS activities and inform line manager of any serious challenge in this regards.
• Monitor the implementation of PSS activities on HF-level and report accordingly.

Objective 4: Capacity Building and Training:

• Under the supervision of the MHPSS advisor, develop and implement a training plan based on training needs assessment and project objectives.
• Provide basic technical PSS/PFA-training and refreshers training for PSW and ensure training needs are met and performance is evaluated.
• Discuss follow up of cases, and case management with PSW supervisor, and PSW.
• Follow up referred cases with partner organizations
• Attend all PSS/PFA related trainings given by PU-AMI.
• Attend the weekly MHPSS supervision/ on job training meeting.

Assist with any other related activities as deemed necessary by the expatriate MHPSS advisor.
The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project’s needs.

Mandatory Requirements
Language Skills:

• Good command in English (speaking, reading & writing) Fluent in local languages – Hausa, etc.

Education Degree:

• Bachelor's Degree in Psychiatry or Psychology

Work Experience:

• Previous experience in management of MHPSS activities.
• Work experience with International Organizations and/or NGO in the field of MHPSS.
• Previous experience in managing PSS teams.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Good knowledge of IASC MHPSS guidelines
• Good knowledge of integration of mental health and psycho-social support services in primary health care settings
• Extensive knowledge of local MHPSS services and other health services
• Ability to train, mentor, supervise and build capacity of psycho-social workers.
• Computer skills: Excellent knowledge of the MS office software including Word, Excel, Outlook

Other:

• Accurate analytical skills
• Good team management skills
• Good reporting skills
• Good problem management skills

Transversals Skills:

• Excellent communication, conflict solving and diplomacy skills to manage relationship in potentially tense situations
• Strong motivation to help people in need
• Ability to make decisions and to exercise authority when required
• Understanding of the political situation in the area
• Ability to analyze and suggest improvements of the activities
• Ability to adapt or change priorities according to the changing situation within a mission or the organization itself
• Well organized and hard worker
• Able to manage stress and pressure
• Able to check validity of information, logical thinking
• Neutrality
• Reliability