Country MHPSS Officer

General Purpose of the Position

The Country MHPSS Officer will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality psychosocial services, (e.g., Individual interventions, Child and Adult Counselling, Case Management, Psychosocial Group Work facilitation and Focused PSS Interventions) to children and adults who access JRS services. Furthermore, their responsibility covers active participation in the call for proposals, ensuring alignment with the overarching Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) country strategy, they play a crucial role in advancing initiatives that address critical mental health challenges and contribute to the overall objectives of the program.

Main Responsibilities of the Position

1. Protection & Psychosocial Support

• Ensures that JRS’s Biopsychosocial Model: Holistic Approach is delivered effectively and is operating within best practice standards;
• The individual takes the lead in the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) country strategy while actively participating in crucial stages such as the call for proposals and concept note development, they contribute expertise to assess and refine project ideas, ensuring they align with strategic goals;
• Works closely with the Country Education Officer, Country Inclusion Officer, and Project Directors to ensure all psychosocial services are operating consistently across the country;
• Works closely with the Country Director in mapping and coordinating support and debriefing for staff, identifying, and addressing professional development needs and ensuring high quality front line psychosocial support;
• Collaborates closely with the Regional Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (Regional MHPSS Officer) to facilitate seamless coordination for technical interventions, ensuring alignment with established tools and training protocols. This partnership aims to enhance the effectiveness of our interventions by leveraging the expertise and resources provided by the Regional MHPSS Officer;
•  Provides inputs into performance management responsibility for the broader psychosocial team members, organisation and structuring of psychosocial interventions, child protection/safety and best practice oversight for the team;
• Facilitates the intervention to vulnerable young people impacted by the refugees, migrants and host community Crisis and their families by networking with key external medical, psychosocial and education stakeholders to help build referral networks;
• Ensures that confidentiality and the right to privacy is maintained regarding confidential project and beneficiary information.

2. Case Management and Referral

• Supports and follow up Case Management Model;
• Supports the social workers to Identify the psychosocial needs of JRS patients;
• Coordinates with the social workers Educational Team and clinical psychologists to set a case management plan in the centers;
• Supports the social workers on the process of referral cases and high risks to competent professionals. Support the Social worker to create a mapping service for each area;
• Assists the clinical psychologist in executing interventions by actively contributing to the development and implementation of comprehensive care plans. Additionally, provides crucial support in facilitating case discussions during technical supervision sessions. This collaborative effort is designed to enhance the quality of psychological care and ensure that interventions are aligned with best practices and professional standards under the guidance of technical supervision.

3. Management

• Provides technical support, coordination, and PSS practice supervision to JRS MHPSS team in Lebanon;
• Supports and review internal systems for managing and implementing Biopsychosocial Model interventions such that best practices, impact, and efficiency is achieved;
• Works with the JRS MHPSS Team and other members of the psychosocial team to develop effective operational plans to enhance access to psychosocial services as integral to the education programme;
• Assists the Country Director and Project Directors, in the overall management of the JRS Lebanon’s psychosocial interventions, including administrative, coordination, and project development functions;
• Provides an essential aspect of Staff Care for front line PSS team members.

4. Reporting and proposal

• The role involves actively assisting the Country Director and Project Directors in formulating the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) country strategy, which includes a comprehensive plan for addressing mental health and psychosocial needs within the region or country of focus. This requires collaborating closely with key stakeholders to identify priorities, gaps, and opportunities in MHPSS programming. During the call for proposals, the individual describes upon their previous experience to provide valuable insights and guidance, ensuring that proposed projects align effectively with the overarching strategy and objectives;
• Follows up with the country MEAL officer on the monthly achievements of the MHPSS team across indicators and targets;
• Supports the country MEAL officer and the country programmes officer in developing monitoring tools and indicators;
• Follows up and optimize the referral process and tools;
• Prepares clear and concise quantitative and narrative reports of all MHPSS activities undertaken, in accordance with structured reporting requirements and informal reporting needs;
• Follows up with the MHPSS team on the utilization and quality of tracking tools;
• Supports the maintenance of project documentation and information, including the preparation of Arabic and English translations of technical documents.

Availability

Undertakes any other duties as assigned by the country director that are within the ambit of the position.

Qualifications, Skills, and Attributes

• MA in Clinical Psychology with a clear practicum path (at least 500 hours);
• A minimum of 3 years work experience in the field related to psychosocial support;
• Developing family-centred, goal and strength focused, recovery-oriented care plan;
• Mental health in complex emergencies (IASC guidelines, Psychological First Aid, mhGAP…);
•  Experience providing clinical supervision or leading trainings;
• Proficiency in responding to calls for proposals;
• Community-based approach in mental health;
• Compassion and strong commitment for refugees and other displaced people;
• Training and supervision experience required;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within different cultural environments;
• Trustworthy, good listener, creative, flexible, detail oriented, and can maintain confidentiality;
• Integrity, honesty, and a good team worker;
• Strong ability to work independently, organize work, meet deadlines, and work under pressure;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, planning, and organizational skills;
• Ability to work under pressure and within strict timelines;
• Strong dedication and commitment to staff care and support;
• Fluency in verbal and written Arabic and English;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel;
• Ability and willingness to travel to JRS project sites and adapt to modest living and working conditions;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Core Values and Ethics

• Commitment to JRS’s mission, vision, and values; ability to convey with enthusiasm JRS’s role in accompanying and serving forcibly displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity;
• Trustworthy and good listener;
• High sense of discretion in dealing with confidential matters at all times;
• High integrity and honesty; ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with people, situations and information;
• Acceptance of diversity and inclusion as core values.