Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) Program Manager at Premiere Urgence Internationale (PUI)

Overal Mission
General objective:

• The Mental Health and Psycho-social Support (MHPSS) Program Manager, under the responsibility of the Field Coordinator, provides technical support to the MHPSS team of PUI in Nigeria in order to integrate and improve the quality of MHPSS activities in our current health and community-based programs and to build the capacity of PUI health staff and the health system overall regarding MHPSS in our areas of intervention..

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Programs: In the frame of PUI response in Nigeria, ensures the implementation of MHPSS services and activities, following PUI policies and intervention frameworks, and aligned with established MHPSS national guidelines and internationally accepted standards. In collaboration with the Medical Coordinator and Protection coordinator, under the technical supervision of the MHPSS technical Advisor at HQ; provides technical support to the effective implementation, monitoring, quality assurance and appropriate reporting of MHPSS services and actions.
• Human Resources: provides training and technical support to the MHPSS teams as per the identified needs, as well as to other teams (health, protection, etc.) according to the needs. Participates in the recruitment process for MHPSS staff and ensures regular performance appraisals, supervision and feedback to the team. Manages 2 deputy PM and (indirectly) 11 psychosocial workers.
• Logistics and Administration: Abides to logistical and administrative procedures pertinent to the MHPSS PM’s role and responsibilities.
• Representation: Represents the organization before partners, authorities and local actors involved in MHPSS through regular participation at appropriate coordination and technical meetings, working groups and ad-hoc events as required.
• Safety: Contributes to efforts aimed at ensuring compliance with safety rules at the site, and transmits all information relating to safety concerns to his/her immediate supervisor.
• Strategy: Contributes to the development of new interventions on the basis of identified needs.

Specific Objectives and Linked Activities
MHPSS Program(s):

• Based on current and planned PUI health & protection activities in Maiduguri and Monguno, recommends and reinforces adequate MHPSS services for each facility supported by PUI (PHCC, health outpost and mobile health clinic) and psychosocial community based activities
• Enforces the adherence to established MHPSS SoPs based on prevailing national guidelines, international standards such as the Mental Health Gap Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG) and PUI policies.
• Supports / advises on an effective decision making, referral pathway and follow-up for serious mental health patients
• Provides technical guidance and support for the development of key MHPSS messages for education and outreach activities according to the needs
• Provides technical guidance to reinforce the screening and identification of beneficiaries in psychological distress in outreach and community based activities
• Conducts regular visits to the health facilities and outreach activities to assess the quality of MHPSS service delivery and activity implementation
• Verifies data collection and validates databases on a monthly basis
• Contributes to the compilation and quality of monthly reports
• Analyses MHPSS data and other sources of information to assess progress and recommends improvements
• Is involved in strategic development of MHPSS programming in the mission
• Contributes to the formalization of best practices regarding MHPSS activities for the purposes of continuous quality improvement and institutional learning (capitalization)

Technical Support to the MHPSS Team:

• Prepares job profiles and actively participates in the hiring process (interviewing, testing, etc.) for MHPSS positions and individual action plan and performance appraisals
• Prepares and plans a training curriculum for MHPSS staff based on their needs (psychological first aid - PFA, psycho-social counselling, individual and group interventions, etc)
• Provides practical training on main MHPSS protocols, including PFA, Problem Management Plus, mhGAP-HIG, etc. Identifies additional training needs and organizes training sessions and/or facilitates external trainings as needed
• Provides regular supervision sessions through one-on-one technical assistance to MHPSS staff members, team meetings including case studies, etc)
• Design the MHPSS framework of intervention for the mission, as well as activities files and any other needed technical documents
• Choose the MHPSS performance and quality indicators and monitor it all along the project

Logistic & Administration:

• Reviews lists of logistic needs to suffice MHPSS activities and services
• Complies with logistical and administrative procedures
• Manages the MHPSS budget, forecasts expenses and prepares purchase requests for activities
• Contributes to proposal writing by designing activities, planning the budget and the overall HR structure for MHPSS.

Representation OF PUI:

• Represents PUI at pertinent coordination meetings regularly and other relevant meetings
• Participates in Technical Working Groups as relevant to the enhancement of PUI activities Be pro-active in building working relationship with other MHPSS actors in the field
• Maintains good relations with all stakeholders in accordance to PUI humanitarian principles (neutrality, independence...)

Safety of People and Property:

• Ensures that MHPSS workers are informed on security measures / rules implemented by PUI.
• Contributes to data collection on security & safety by sharing important context information with the person in charge
• Ensures selection criteria, project methodologies and service delivery do not place beneficiaries, PUI staff or any other person in harm’s way; and alerts the manager without delay in case of impending danger to teams or beneficiaries
• Be aware & attentive to MHPSS team members well-being and specific needs and engage in team building activities

Strategy:

• Follows, analyses and reports on MHPSS identifies needs and country technical/programmatic improvement in order to contribute to strategic development of the mission
• Participates in assessing and identifying MHPSS needs, gaps and opportunities and advises on strategies to address them.
• Contributes to the design of new proposals, specifically for MHPSS activities; and relevant communication pieces to showcase PUI’s work related to MHPSS.
• The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project’s needs.

Qualifications
Mandatory requirements:

• Language skills: English, Hausa (knowledge of Kanuri would be an asset)
• Education degree: Master's degree in Clinical Psychology or Psychiatric Medicine*. A current and valid license / professional registration (as Psychologist or Psychiatrist) is required.
• Work experience: Experience in MHPSS in emergency, experience managing staff, *for psychiatrists: at least 3 years of experience in implementing psychosocial activities.
• Knowledge and skills: Trained in community based psychosocial approach and WHO Psychosocial intervention (such as PM+, Thinking Healthy), mhGAP training would be an asset.
• Computer skills: Able to use Office package.
• Other: Good writing skills, Good training skills, Knowledge of Project Management, Self-guided learning skills, Ability to motivate, supervise and guide others for knowledge and skills building

Assets:

• Transversals skills: Ability to work independently while keeping team spirit oriented behavior, Ability to withstand pressure, Open-minded & diplomatic skills, Analytical & Strategic skills, Capacity of organization and management of priorities, Proactive and trouble-shooting skills, Ability to work and manage issues professionally and with maturity:
  • Ability to analyze and suggest improvements of the activities
  • Well organized and hard worker
  • Able to manage stress and pressure
  • Understanding of the context of the area
  • Reliability
  • Neutrality
  • Able to check validity of information, logical thinking