Mental Health Supervisor at Medecins Sans Frontieres

Main objective and responsibility of the position

• Participate in the planning, supervision and coordination of mental health/pycho-social related services in the programme in accordance with MSF standards in order to provide the most appropriate mental health support for patients.

Accountabilities

• Participate in the planning, organization and coordination of Mental Health activities, in close collaboration with the Mental Health activity manager and other medical team members, in order to ensure an efficient and effective implementation of the resources needed while maintaining high levels of quality in Mental Health MSF programs and activities.
• Coordinates activities of counselling services with other relevant actors and liaises with the local counterparts (like MoH, WHO, ICRC and NGO) on mental health matters, including referral services.
• Supervise the daily mental health activities and patient support according to MSF protocols and standards in order to provide the most appropriate support for clients with psycho-social needs
• Liaise with the other MSF team members of the project.
• Supervise, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication) of the staff under his/her responsibility in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required
• Oversee the administrative processes associated with psychosocial functioning.
• When needed, give psychological support to patients according to MSF protocols to improve mental health conditions of patients and enhance their functionality.
• Compile the data and statistic linked with MH activities and report to the MH activity manager
• Offer clinical counselling supervision to mental health counsellors in collaboration with the Mental Health Activity Manager.
• Ensure the patient’s related information is kept confidential

MSF Section / Context-Specific Accountabilities
Actively participate in the development, organization, implementation, monitoring&evaluation and oversight of a fully comprehensive program of MHPSS services for Sokoto project beneficiaries.

• Provide on-going support and clinical supervision to counselors providing MHPSS services at Noma Children Hospital and ITFC at Specialists Hospital, and other vulnerable/ target population defined by MSF OCA Sokoto project).
• Promote the capacity building of MSF staff or other identified key actors by providing tailored trainings, workshops or awareness sessions focused on MHPSS. (Considering diverse topics like: PFA, MHPSS, basic counselling skills, communication skills, Impact of trauma, importance of the relationship betwenn mother and child and feeding, psychoestimulation)
• Work in close collaboration with the Mental Health Activity Manager and other medical team members in order to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the resources needed while maintaining high levels of quality in MSF Mental Health programs and activities
• Work in close collaboration with the Mental Health Activity Manager and other medical team members to set, monitor and report MHPSS strategy plan.
• Supervise the daily mental health activities provided by counsellor educators (individual and group counseling and psychosocial activities) and support according to MSF protocols and standards in order to provide the most appropriate support for to patients with MH and psychosocial needs.
• Liaise with the other MSF team members of the project by coordinating psychosocial support as part of the Noma and ITFC MSF intervention and provision of care.
• Coordinate the case management protocols of patients and engage counsellors in the process.
• Conduct weekly meeting with staff and participate in medical team meetings and report MHPSS activities, challenges and successes, as appropriate.
• Assist the psychosocial team to consistently maintain a structured set of activities to enhance and speed the recovery of Noma (acute stage, admission, pre-post op, discharge and follow-up) and ITFC patients supported by MHPSS interventions.
• Demonstrate understanding psychosocial needs of beneficiaries throughout the treatment continuum.
• Complete a psychosocial assessment to identify strenghts and needs that will contrinute to a patient’s recovery and adjustment.
• Provide skills assessment and training to staff members and, if necessary, other medical staff in order to broaden the scope of mental health activities and interventions
• Work in close collaboration with MTL and MHAM to ensure highest quality of wrap around care and programming.
• Assess and monitor evolving needs of beneficiaries to enhance existing programing and support to meet changing circumstances with MHAM support.
• In addition to MSF humanitarian principles, MH Supervisor must be able to define, discuss and teach key ethical principles related to psychosocial practice in a medical setting (e.g. informed consent, confidentiality, benefit to the client, non-judgmental) and develop daily strategies to exhibit these principles in action in day-to-day activities.
• Based on need, provide supporrt to the project emergency team during intervention.

Data Management and reporting:

• Monitor data collection and ensure timely, consistent and accurate compilation of monthly MMR and weekly HIS data and MMR (including the use of any other data collection form set by MHAM, MTL).
• Develop and present evidence based proposal/s for improvement or change where there is deviation from international or MSF standards.
• Participate in continuing improvement of monitoring and evaluation initiatives
• Interpret data and trends to ensure optimal program delivery and counsellor effectiveness including modifying counseling/educational services and counsellor focus and responsibilities to address evolving changes
• Coordinate and follow through the MHPSS weekly schedule to ensure all objectives and recipient needs are met.
• Oversee MHPSS team data collection and completition of patient files/documentation and follow ups.

Team Cooperation:

• Maintain team work spirit, good communication and promote engaging and empowering working atmosphere.
• Work in close collaboration with all MSF team and the MoH staff (incentivized by MSF or not)
• Maintain respectful and collegial working relationship with MSF team and MoH staff
• Work closely with MHAM / MH Supervisors in other OCA Nigeria projects to develop best practices and share skills, expertise and experience to enhance cross project effectiveness

HR Management and team skills development:

• Support and implement continuing psychosocial and clinical education for designated staff (within and/or external to MSF as appropriate), in psychosocial care of broad range of recipients (Noma patients and caregivers, ITFC patients at Specialists Hospital and caregivers). This includes situation specific training in a variety of evidence based counseling orientations/disciplies, post training follow up and ongoing coaching.
• Demonstrate the ability to model, train, and monitor competencies needed to manage the psychosocial care for beneficiaries to include:
• Maintain teamwork and capacity building within the mental health staff and other staff within the project.
• Report any unethical behaviour within the team and take necessary follow-up action
• Complete onboarding, assessment/evaluation and/or performance improvement programs per MSF Nigeria Country specific guidelines and give feedback to staff
• Sets SMART goals/objectives and timely feedback and follow-up
• Liaise with MHAM/MTL and HR Manager to develop an induction program for all newly recruited staff and ensure follow up, specially folllowing MSF First 90 day protocols.
• Cover duty for any MH staff absent/excused from duty
• Set annual objectives for the counselor educators and follow up with mid-term and end of the year evaluation. Submit to the HR after signatures.
• To perform their duties observing the MSF policies and in compliance with relevant SOPs of the department and immediately reporting to supervisor whenever compliance is or cannot be met.
• Ensures that all staff under their supervision perform their duties observing the MSF policies and in compliance with relevant SOPs of the department. Reports to manager immediately whenever compliance is not or cannot be met.

Requirements (Qualifications / Experience / Knowledge)
To apply for this role applicants MUST meet the following criteria:

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Psychology, Counselling or related field essential.

Experience:

• Between 2 - 4 years of psychosocial counselling experience with at least one of those years practicing under the supervision of a certified counsellor / psychologist.

Languages:

• Both written and oral competency in English and Hausa languages are essential.

Others:

• Basic computer knowledge and skills (e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook), demonstrated leadership/ management experience, ability to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary setting.

Competencies:

• People management, commitment, flexibility, results, teamwork, and stress management.