Protection – MHPSS Officer Full Time NEW

Under the direct supervision of Camp manager and technical supervision of WPE Program Manager, the Protection-MHPSS Officer will ensure the quality implementation of integrated WPE and MHPSS activities in Bambasi IDP sites and Ura Refugee Settlement. The role includes but is not limited to case management (GBV) services, Self-Help plus (SH+) psychological intervention, women rise and SEL (Bambasi), Protection assessment and response (CDI), GBVIMS, coordination platforms and referral, and implementing community-based mental health and psychosocial supports. The position holder should adhere to GBV guiding principle and follow the survivor’s centered approach, promoting multi-sectoral services including 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 interests. The protection-MHPSS Officer should supervise and provide capacity building trainings to the Protection-MHPSS assistant and relevant stakeholders operating in the area including government counterparts & IDP community-based structures, support coordination with other partners, and supervise the empowerment activities with women and girls.

Location: Bambasi and Tsore

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.
• 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.
• Provide relevant training, guidance, mentoring to protection-MHPSS Assistant and service providers (health, legal, protection, psychosocial) and provide quality case management services, including age- appropriate, specialized support and care for adult women, adolescent and girl child survivors through training, daily mentorship, weekly meeting, applying quarterly case workers knowledge and skills assessment tools.
• Provide 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 database – entering data to camp IR and share quality data monthly to the WPE 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 (Sanitation, child protection, Health, and Water program) 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 and cohesion in IRC [team/office].
• Champion ongoing learning, transparent dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Job Requirements

Educational Requirements

• 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 with strong inter-personal 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.
• 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
• Excellent digital literacy, with a good knowledge of MS-office Windows including Word, Excel, Power point and Access would be an advantage.

Language Skills

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required and local language is advantageous.

Certificates or Licenses

• Renewed professional license

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be shortlisted and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

• Name of the position you have applied for
• Date of application
• Summary of your qualifications and experience
• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job
• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address
• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

Disclaimer: – Please note that IRC will never request applicants or candidates to make any form of payment at any stage of the recruitment process.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC 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.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.