Save the Children Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Technical Advisor – (200001LS) in Kabul
Key areas of accountability:
- Support, mentor and advise on matters of mental health and psychosocial support within proposal development and programme design on fully focused MHPSS or integrated programmes.
• Input to programme design, country office technical strategy, training curriculums, learning agenda and research pieces
• Develop and adapt guidelines, manuals and training materials and tools to ensure quality delivery.
• Ensure that the MHPSS capacity is built in order to scale up response and deliver with increased impact and quality across multi-sector projects
• Capture evidence and learning from MHPSS interventions to advocate and inform future programming
• Develop methodologies and data collection techniques for assessments, indicators, programme management, evaluations, research
• External representation for SCI Afghanistan on MHPSS related activities in relevant groups and fora, including relevant donor meetings and working groups as required.
• Support provincial staff in the planning, design, implementation and monitoring of MHPSS activities that may include: recreational and psychosocial activities, individual support to vulnerable children and adults, and trainings of facilitators or support officers.
• Provide technical supervision and mentoring to case workers, community mobilizers that provide 1-1 support (counselling where possible) to beneficiaries where possible
• Lead the continuous assessment of MHPSS needs of children, adolescents and youths and ensure that these are appropriately reflected in program strategy and proposals.
• Support regular participatory activities with different groups of children, adolescents and youths to identify issues affecting children in their communities, and assist the teams to develop appropriate responses;
• Coordinate the designing of children, adolescents and youth and family assessments and psychometrics tools and supervise their administration.
• In cooperation with other Technical Advisors, ensure that the integrated MHPSS activities are implemented according to SC and international standards.
• Assist Save the Children in development and rolling out of MHPSS Monitoring &Evaluation tools,
• Support MHPSS team to identify severe cases to be referred to specialized psychological/psychiatric service providers
Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability
- Work with the regional/global MHPSS TA and MEAL team to develop MEAL plans
• Engage with the learning agenda to ensure learning from MHPSS activities are captured, analysed, utilized and shared.
• Work with the Regional MHPSS TA and MEAL team to identify and incorporate project suitable accountability mechanisms.
Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development
- Develop a capacity building strategy to build the quality and scope of MHPSS activities
• Support in ensuring appropriate staffing within the operations component of the project team, within budget parameters.
• In consultation with the Director of Programme Implementation, ensure all project staff understand and are able to perform their roles, identifying areas of development as noted earlier.
Representation & Advocacy & Organizational Learning
- Help shape broader sector strategies through influence of and leadership within inter-agency coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of children (and adults) are being addressed including representing Save the Children in inter-agency forums.
• Work closely with the Head of Advocacy, Comms, Campaigns and Media to share key advocacy messages and evidence and support the design of the SCI advocacy strategy and WG advocacy strategies.
• Document lessons learnt, best practice and case studies to shape in-country strategies and programme approaches, and contribute to broader sector learning.
• Pro-actively identify advocacy opportunities, case studies and research opportunities which link with wider organisational strategic objectives, and turn these into action.
• Lead on organisational level programme policy, innovation, learning or representation initiatives in consultation with relevant internal stakeholders
Safe Programming
• Ensure full compliance of Child Safeguarding Policy at field level and especially with SC engaged personnel.
• Set-up of safe mechanisms for responding to the needs of vulnerable children at individual level
• Respond to all Child Safeguarding Policy concerns expressed or discovered appropriately and effectively.
Competencies
Delivering results
Takes personal responsibility and holds others to account to deliver our ambitious goals for children, continually improving own performance or that of the team/ organisation.
Applying technical and professional expertise
Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practice within and outside the organisation.
Working effectively with others
Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives; knows when to lead and when to follow and how to ensure effective cross-boundary working
Communicating with impact
Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust with others.
Qualifications and experience
Required
- Advanced degree in psychology, mental health or other relevant field
- Minimum 5 years of experience in MHPSS field
- Knowledge of protection in humanitarian context
- Proven capacity to supervise, and coach staff in MHPSS technical skills
- Experience of designing proposals and collecting technical data
- Ability to analyse information, evaluate options, and think and plan strategically
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including team leading and influencing.
- Experience in capacity building and training of local communities, and protectıon stakeholders regarding education programming
- Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
- Excellent written and oral communication skills English
- Comfortable with high levels of ambiguity and able to take decisions independently in fluid context.
- Experience in a conflict context
- Commitment to Save the Children values and Child Safeguarding.
Desired
- Language skills in Dari/Pashto would be an advantage
- Experience in representing an organisation in the coordination mechanism in emergency contexts.
- Experience in working with IDPs and returnees
- Experience engaging in advocacy initiatives
Location: Kabul
Employee Status: Fixed Term
Closing Date: Jul 12, 2020