MHPSS Specialist - Sinjar

The context

Hope Makers Organization for Woman is a local, woman-led organization that seeks to support Yezidi women and the Yezidi community in Sinjar. Established in 2016, HMOW has a history of providing Mental Health Support and Suicide Prevention services among other services that seek to support the community to build resilience and to recover.

Since the beginning of HMOW inception, its main goal was to support women and girls who are survivors of ISIS and survivors of gender-based violence in general, it focused mainly on providing safe spaces for them to be able to know themselves and overcome all that they faced through women's help to each other and through several psychological activities.

Hope Makers organization for Woman works to improve the psychological conditions of women and reintegrate them into society so that they are decision makers and can dream again and create a better future.

Our vision is to create a safe community for Yezidi women and girls, and to combat gender-based violence and discrimination by creating an environment where Yezidi women and girls are supported and respected. HMOW strives to create an environment where all women are empowered to be their own advocates and agents of change.

Our Mission is is to create a world where all Yezidi women and girls, are safe, respected, and valued. With a commitment to this goal, the organisation will continue to work to raise awareness and knowledge about violence against women, and create a future where equality for women is a reality.

Overall purpose

The MHPSS Specialist designs, implements, delivers, and supervises mental health and psychosocial support activities, ensuring quality control and supporting evaluations. This role provides technical guidance, training, and support to staff and partners, ensuring high-quality service delivery to affected populations. The Specialist works under the Project Manager and Program Officer supervision, closely with other program staff, and provides technical support to centre managers, social workers, and community mobilizers in the field. 

Responsibilities and scope of duties

• Work closely with the Project Manager (PM) and Program Officer to provide technical and program support to the staff in areas of MHPSS and Health.

• Proactively participates in relevant team meetings, as requested by the project manager.

• Provide follow-up to the day-to-day progress of activities at the field level.

• Report and monitor on the activities to the Project Manager and Program Officer.

• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with relevant partners and other project stakeholders working in the project area.

• Supports Project Manager in communication and collaboration with the community representatives, and the local authorities in the areas of intervention.

• Ensures documents are recorded and maintained confidentiality at all times.

• Ensures that confidentiality and consent processes are in place and adhered to.

• Assists in the development and implementation of the technical monitoring tools for the project activities.

• Ensures that any logistic processes related to MHPSS activities are conducted according to HMOW procedures.

• Responsible for implementing outreach components of the project.

• Responsible for following up on, and planning for the budget related to the proposed MHPSS activities, planning, and raising PRs whenever needed.

• Be respectful to the beneficiaries and their relatives, treating all people equally without discrimination, ensuring confidentiality, and always obtaining consent.

Specific goals and related activities

1. COORDINATION OF THE ACTIVITES

• The MHPSS Specialist is the main focal point of this project in the field.

• Prepare each stage of the activities and ensure that standards and instructions are followed.

• Provide scheduled and on-job training to needed staff on communication skills, health/MHPSS awareness activities and health topics based on a training needs assessment conducted in collaboration with the Project Manager and Program Officer

• Ensure activity data is collected and reported to the Project Manager and Program Officer

• Take the lead in organizing awareness-raising activities and support other field staff in organizing and implementing sessions.

• Should familiarize him/herself with the "I CAN Curriculum" and "Mother to Mother Working Groups" which will be used in the activity's implementation in the field.

• Take lead in conducting adolescent-focused MHPSS group sessions in accordance with global programs, such as I CAN approach and Mother to Mother

• Ad hoc cover for team members as befits their technical background

• Respect schedules and deadlines agreed upon with the Project Manager and Program Officer

1. REPORTING, MONITORING AND FOLLOW UP

• The MHPSS Specialist should familiarize him/herself with the project proposal to ensure that MHPSS activities are integrated seamlessly into the overall project plan.

• Centralize all the data collected by the field staff in the health facilities and ensure the reporting system (KOBO system) is being used properly.

• Report issues and constraints encountered by the field staff to the Project Manager and Program Officer and suggest operational solutions.

• Prepares a full schedule that covers the entire project period and includes all the details (number of sessions, targeted groups and areas, number of gifts/IEC materials given, dates, suggestions, and ideas, challenges, success stories. ) of the psychosocial activities mentioned in the project proposal and supporting documents.

• ensures the realization of the implementation schedule, including the logistical needs.

• ensures proper data collection in terms of PSS sessions, attendance sheets, activity photos, and service provision.

• Support other monitoring and evaluation efforts in collaboration with the MEAL department.

• follows up on the indicators of MHPSS activities and reports to his/her manager any delays/challenges in reaching the targets that are set in the proposal.

• Carry out other monitoring\ supervision duties according to the Project manager and the Program Officer request

1. OTHER DUTIES

• Conduct regular Assessments to ensure the appropriateness of the activities and that these are reaching the most vulnerable people within the scope of the project under the supervision of the Program Officer

• Support in creating IEC (Information, Education and Communication) materials for the awareness activities – nutrition, hygiene, prevention and treatment of diseases, access to the Health Systems, ANC, PNC, MHPSS related topics, harmful practices.

• Other activities as requested by the Project Manager and Program Officer

• He/She is aware of the security rules and social and political situation in the field at any time and provides feedback to the Project Manager and senior management team.

• Participate in team coordination meetings.

• Representing HMOW with other stakeholders when required from the PM.

• Support the management team in compiling information and designing new projects and activities whenever needed.

1. SET UP MANAGEMENT OF AN EFFICIENT REFERRAL SYSTEM

• Ensure confidentiality is always kept, including appropriate procedures and storage of documents under the supervision of the Program Officer

• Ensure consent processes (including standardized case management consent forms) are utilized for referrals.

• Regularly monitor the field staff on the confidentiality and consent processes

• Support the identification and referral of protection cases by the team.

• Monitor the team's liaisons with other stakeholders on a regular basis (e.g. non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governmental bodies, and community-based organizations (CBOs) in the areas of operation to ensure coordination and avoid duplication of activities

• Support the PM and PO in identifying the 3Ws Matrix (Who is doing What, Where), as well as all Referral Pathways from the Clusters/ABC (Hospitals, health centers, PHCCs, Mental Health, GBV, Protection, and Child Protection)

• Lead the implementation of service provider mappings for the areas of intervention if the information is not up to date or not comprehensive (e.g. every 2-3 months) under the supervision of PM and PO

• Ensure that all data concerning the referral and the follow-up are being recorded.

Required knowledge and skills

Education / Training

• Diploma/bachelor's degree in psychology, Social Science, or any relevant field. (Required )

• Case management/GBV training (Required )

• Training of Trainers (Desirable )

• Training on PM+ or other low-intensity interventions (Desirable )

• Training on gender-based violence, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, child protection, safe case identification and referrals (Desirable )

• Psychological first aid (Desirable )

Professional experience

• At Minimum two Years of experience in MHPSS service Provision in Iraq (Required )

• Ability to deliver training programs for staff, on MHPSS-related topics (Required )

• Experience in health/MHPSS awareness activities (Required )

• Experience working in the Iraqi Governorates, especially in Sinjar Area (Required )

• A minimum three years' experience working for an NGO or INGO & in a relevant position (Required )

• Experience in designing awareness sessions (Desirable )

• Experience working within the health sector preferably in Sinjar governorate (Desirable )

• Familiar with community-based MHPSS interventions (Desirable )

• Experience in working with adolescents (Desirable )

Knowledge and skills

• Strong organizational skills (Required )

• Ability to work in teams (Required )

• Good communication skills (Required )

• Data management skills (Required )

• Knowledge of the Iraqi Health system (Desirable )

• Knowledge of the humanitarian context (Desirable )

• Knowledge of assessments and reports (Desirable )

Languages

• English

• Arabic

• Kurdish (Kurmanji)

Software

• Microsoft Office

• KOBO

Required Personal Characteristics (fitting into team, suitability for the job and assignment/mission)

• Integrity

• Good organization skills

• Willingness to join home visits when needed

• Resilience to stress

• Appreciation of staff wellbeing

• Reactivity and anticipation

• Ability to work in an international cross-cultural team

• Continuous learning attitude

How to Apply:

All candidate should submit there CVs and Motivation Letter to:

hrhmowhr@gmail.com

The CVs and Motivation Letter should be submitted PDF Files

At the subject line write: (MHPSS Specialist - Sinjar )

Dead Line: 17/08/2024