Protection-MHPSS Officer Full Time NEW

Background of IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. We began work in Ethiopia since 2000 and currently implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery, and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview:

Under the direct supervision of the WPE/CP Program Manager, the Protection-MHPSS Officer will ensure the quality of integrated WPE/CP and MHPSS activities including but not limited to case management (GBV) services, psychological intervention, Protection assessment and response (CDI), GBVIMS, Coordination platforms and referral, and implementing community-based mental health and psychosocial support. The position holder should adhere to GBV/CP guiding principle and follow the survivor’s centered approach. She/he will work to promote multi-sectoral services; health, safety, psychosocial support, and justice by supporting referral networks to improve a survivor’s ability to receive confidential, safe, and timely services that meet their needs and their best interest in Bordede woreda. The Protection-MHPSs Officer should supervise and provide capacity building trainings to the IDP and Host community, support coordination with other partners, and supervise the empowerment activities with women and girls. The position holder will directly report to WPE/CP Manager based in Harar.

Major Responsibilities

• Participate in CP/GBV/MHPSS rapid assessment and contribute to the integrated protection-MHPSS overall intervention strategy based on feedback received from women and girls throughout the response activity engagement.
• By strictly adhering to GBV guiding principle, managing, monitoring & supervising GBV related cases.
• Train and mentor frontline workers, community volunteers, and other staff on basic psychosocial support skills, PFA and trauma-informed care.
• Ensure culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approaches in all activities.
• Facilitate SH+ group psychological intervention sessions and monitor and evaluate the improvement.
• Recruit, supervise, and capacitate social workers formally and informally to facilitate the Protection-MHPSS activities.
• Provide age-appropriate specialized support and care for adult women, adolescent and girl child survivors through training, daily mentor, weekly meeting, applying quarterly caseworkers’ knowledge and skills assessment tools.
• The Protection-MHPSS Officer provides community-based, focused, and non-specialized psychosocial support, strictly adhering to the IRC`s survivor-centered approach and GBV guiding principles.
• Implement community-based mental health and psychosocial services
• Ensure proper and safe documentation of reported GBV incidents through the utilization of GBVIMS consent, case intake, action plan, follow-up plan, client satisfaction tool, and other case management forms. Accurately and appropriately, strictly follow data protection protocol and confidentiality.
• Build a relationship with all relevant protection partners and conduct mentoring sessions to service providers (health, legal, protection, psychosocial) in the camp and in the local community. Encourage greater communication, collaboration, and coordination among partners from all sectors.
• Work with partners to implement GBV Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) and supervise referral pathways to ensure survivors’ ability to receive confidential, safe, and timely services that meet their needs.
• Coordinate case management meetings only with service providers involved in its case assistance. Actively participate in monthly protection coordination meetings and participate in GBV safety audits & other assessments as requested.
• Enhance participation of Women and Girls at the Women’s and Girls’ Safe Spaces (WGSS) and MHPSS centers. Conduct regular review meetings with women and girls (and Women steering committee if applicable) to improve WGSS activities and response interventions.
• Assist in incident recorder or GBVIMS/CPIMS database – entering data and share quality data monthly to the WPE/CP program Manager.
• Assist in response related IEC and BCC materials, in collaboration with GBV team. Ensure the messages are appropriate for the community and conduct pre-testing before dissemination.
• Supervise response activity budget utilization, BvA, M&E, supply and logistical needs and ensure adherence to all relevant IRC logistic policies
• Critically identify areas of integration with other sectors of the IRC (livelihood, WASH, Health) to improve women and girls’ inclusion and participation.
• Other duties and responsibilities that can be given by immediate and technical supervisors.

Safeguarding Responsibilities:

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to establish team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Develop ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Educational Background

• Diploma/BSc/MSc or equivalent experience in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Public Health, Nursing, Women’s Studies/or other related fields
• Minimum work experience of 5 years for Diploma, 2 years for BSc and 1 year for MSc

Preferred experience & skills

• Experience in counseling violence against women and girls’ survivors and case management.
• Basic supervisory/managerial skills.
• Technical and report writing skills
• Clear understanding of gender, power abuse, and issues surrounding violence against women.
• Able to always maintain VAWG and protection principle.
• Experience in participatory techniques and community mobilization includes facilitating the training.
• Ability to lead, train, supervise, facilitate, and motivate other WPE/MHPSS field workers in their respective tasks in a professional, respectful, and supportive manner.
• Positive and professional attitude, able to organize, maintain composure and prioritize work under pressure, work overtime when needed and able to coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
• Able to organize, maintain composure and prioritize work under pressure, able to coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to details.
• Related work and field experiences in social service provision with women and girls, NGO experience is a plus.
• Ability to use MS Office, Excel, Email and PowerPoint applications very well.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Language Skills:

• Good command spoken and written English and knowledge of local is advantageous.