Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer at Save the Children Nigeria

Posted on: Sat 27-05-2023

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer

Job Identification: 1631

Location: Borno

Job Schedule Full time

Team/Programme: Programme Staff

Grade: 4

Contract Length: 12 months

Job Category Programme Operations

Reports to: MHPSS Coordinator

Staff reporting to this post: None

Role Purposes

The MHPSS Officer will be providing a range of psychosocial support services within the Nutrition and child protection sector directed towards enhancing the emotional health of mothers with postpartum depression through the maternal mental health programs in Save the Children response locations. To support the MHPSS unit to oversee quality improvements in Save the Children’s mental health and psychosocial support interventions for children affected by the conflict in NE Nigeria.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Key Areas of Accountability

Provision of counselling services:

The MHPSS officer will spend most of the time listening to, empathizing with, assessing, supporting and empowering mothers with psychosocial problems.
Develop positive and meaningful relationships with mothers and children through regular one-on-one and group counselling sessions depending on their needs.
Keeping confidential records of all the mothers and children in the program.
Track, analyse and compile all the sessions and track changes in the lives of depressed mothers and children.
Capacity strengthening of health workers on helping skills for encouraging, conducting assessments and referrals for mothers.
Work with the MHPSS Coordinator to collaborate and coordinate with specialised psychosocial support agencies to provide targeted support for mothers with advance mental health challenges.

Support to MHPSS programming activities with CP:

Support the MHPSS Coordinator to populate the MHPSS database
Ensuring assistance is provided to children affected by the conflict in a dignified, respectful, equitable and inclusive manner that supports their resilience
Assisting children in acute distress and alleviating their stress, for instance ensuring that all staff / partners are trained on PFA and feel confident to use it
The mainstreaming of inter-agency guidelines (e.g. IASC MHPSS guidelines) and standards (e.g. CPMS) across the different sectors of programme activities delivered by SC and its partners
The use of structured and manualised MHPSS techniques.
Ensure the participation of parents and caregivers in MHPSS activities.
Support structured MHPSS activities for groups of boys and girls of different age groups, with particular attention to survivors of SGBV, unaccompanied children and other children who present with signs of poor mental health and distress.

Proposed Outputs:

Individual and group counselling sessions with mothers and children where required to discuss complex cases.
Be available on call/skype if any urgent matters arise that a staff would like to share regarding their casework or his/her personal well being
Bi -monthly progress reports to the MHPSS Coordinator to highlight needs and gaps.
Development of peer/reflective practises with teams
Support current MHPSS practices, reflecting on a cross-sectoral approach.
Structured MHPSS activities for boys and girls, organised in age appropriate groups with a clear methodology or curriculum to promote mental well-being. Such activities must align with donor commitments in already-funded projects.

Qualifications

Minimum of B.Sc. in Psychology, Psychiatric Nurse, and any related Counseling or Psychological course.
Minimum of 4 years post NYSC cognate experience in a clinical setting, NGO and INGO.
Experience in Psychological First Aid, and other psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities
Experience working in Child Protection programs, including those with MHPSS component
Fluent in English and Hausa is desirable
Working knowledge of Kanuri and Shuwa is an advantage
Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills and discretion with confidential information
Ability to work independently and proactively.

Desirable:

Experience in humanitarian emergencies and/or a refugee/displacement-setting.

Behaviors (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity: