MHPSS Officer at GOALPrime Organization Nigeria (GPON)

Resumption availability: Immediately

GOALPrime Organization Nigeria (GPON) is a policy-driven humanitarian, non-governmental organization that implements its program through revitalized partnership. It is a non-profit organization with a mandate of making the lives of vulnerable people especially in the face of disaster or crises. GPON is presently operating in the North-eastern regional part of Nigeria where we have reached over 1,000,000 lives with relief materials, child protection services, GBV mitigation services, livelihood skill-building, health services, and Education support services.

For the next twelve months, GPON shall be implementing a Integrated CPiE and WASH project with funding support from the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund (NHF). This is a one-year project with an option to extend it. As a result, we are looking for people with the highest level of honesty and professionalism who share our humanitarian values for the above position.

POSITION SUMMARY

The MHPSS Officer will represent GOALPrime at coordination meetings with humanitarian actors, national and other key stakeholders. The MHPSS Officer will continue to identify and address gaps in MHPSS programming, provide training and technical assistance, and support partner organizations in implementing MHPSS programming in an emergency environment. Areas of training and technical assistance may include, but are not limited to, Psychological First Aid, crisis stabilization and self-care.

The position reports into the Protection Coordinator and has a dual reporting line to the Response Manager and Technical Advisor for oversight of project programming.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Specific activities may include but are not limited to:

Increase access to MHPSS resources and services

• Coordinate with INGOs, NNGO, government stakeholders and response actors to communicate GPON mission and to determine appropriate response objectives in line with the coordinated response objectives and IASC and related guidelines
• Assist with developing referral pathways to support GPON programming and partner programs

MHPSS Collaboration and Coordination

• Represent GPON at coordination meetings related to MHPSS, including the MHPSS Working Group and relevant sub-cluster meetings
• Identify potential partners to support and build relations for MHPSS programming.
• Feedback to CP Coordinator and Response Manager on potential future MHPSS interventions to support response strategy
•  Perform MHPSS assessment to support strategy and program development and coordinated response. Assessment to include analysis of pre- and post-crisis public and civil society MHPSS capacities and systems for host and refugee communities
• Ensure that any MHPSS response follows IASC, GPON policy and related guidelines
• Regular meetings with the Response Manager on technical issues (discussing proposed new direction with the Team Leader)
• Identify online courses on PSS and other related theme for staff to undertake in order to build their capacity.
• Develop and update work plans for the implementation of PSS activities.
• Regular follow up to ensure all services and action points listed in the case plan are carried out within agreed timeframes.
• Develop and put in place the necessary tools to evaluate the outcome of Psychosocial support intervention.
• Writing reports and record keeping of all information regarding activities (Data, weekly reports, monthly reports) respecting quality standards.

MHPSS Direct Service Provision

• Provide debriefing and crisis stabilization for GPON  workers as needed
• Provide capacity building for community covlunteer in PFA / PSS, staff care, trauma-informed care and related training
• Should an Emergency Medical Team be initiated, support the launch of the program

Protection

• Co-represent GPON in protection, child protection and related cluster meetings
• Work with the Protection Officer to support protection mainstreaming efforts and to strengthen safeguarding and protection capacities of local partners.
• Work in close collaboration with the child protection monitors to ensure that that the psychosocial well-being of children and young people is addressed
• Empower staff teams especially those managing Integrated CFSs and case management to be able to identify children with Psychosocial issues and how to provide psychological first aid in the absence of a psychologist.
• Support teams in addressing the special needs of beneficiaries that face psychological issue and the consequences this has on their families and community.
• Responsible for ensuring the provision of individual and group counselling/discussion for beneficiaries and care givers in orders to facilitate his/her community integration.
• Support staff’s teams in the case management to ensure the PSS spaces are according to standard and records management including database is effective.
• Identify and work with management to equip centres and office with relevant PSS materials including manuals or books, IEC among others.

REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced degree in psychology or related discipline, with coursework in mental health and psychosocial programming in humanitarian or low resource settings
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in mental health and psychosocial programming with significant experience in developing countries and in disaster/humanitarian crisis contexts
• Proposal development and review experience preferred
• Proven track record in developing strategies, designing programs, and conducting training and providing technical assistance in MHPSS
• Experience in humanitarian coordination from an MHPSS background
• Experience with IASC and UN Guidelines, community-based psychosocial support initiatives, and Psychological First Aid
• Fluency in Hausa and English required, proficiency in Kanuri is an advantage
• Willingness to travel and work in remote areas
• Able to work collaboratively across multiple teams and stakeholders
• Able to operate independently and as part of a team

Level of Contact with Children:

• High contact- the job responsibilities of this position require the post holder to have very frequent contact with children.
• It is expected that children who come in contact with GPON shall be protected at all times.

Note: GPON and GPON workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in GPON Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. Following these values, GPON operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation, and Combating Trafficking in Persons

GPON is an Equal Opportunity Employer GPON considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.