MHPSS Coordinator

MH Coordinator will be in charge of the overall management of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities as part of a wider project, within the targeted health care facilities in the Bekaa valley. The MH Coordinator will be responsible for the planning and implementation of activities, including trainings; documentation; monitoring and evaluation as well as ensuring the quality of service provision according to relevant guidelines. The MH Coordinator will report to the Country and Assistant Coordinator. In addition to managing the specific MHPSS staff (case workers, psychiatrists, psychotherapists), the MH Coordinator will work in close coordination with the Public Health Officer, M&E officer, field staff and relevant health centre staff.

WORK COORDINATION AND DECISION MAKING

The MHPSS Coordinator reports directly to the Country and Assistant Coordinator. Under their supervision, the MHPSS Coordinator will coordinate with the MHPSS Officer, Psychiatrist, Psychologist and health centre (HC) staff.

The MHPSS Coordinator should take decisions related to the accountabilities and tasks outlined below while coordinating directly with the Country Coordinator. Any decision beyond her/his realm or responsibility should be discussed with the Country Coordinator.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING

• Assure the sound implementation of humedica’s Mental Health (MH) component and that beneficiaries receive the MH services they require
• Develop and oversee MH strategies and their implementation and support the project development
• In coordination with humedica Lebanon management team and pharmacists, ensure that all required psychotropic related measures are in place (consumption, reporting, monitoring storage, availability for beneficiaries and any other pharmacy related needs)
• Develop monitoring and evaluation tools in coordination with humedica’s M&E Officer and oversee their application in the field.
• Make sure that all planned activities are in line with project indicators, objectives and timeline.
• Ensure the utilization and implementation of measuring tools to assess success of MHPSS activities and related trainings in accordance with indicators of program.

STAFF SUPERVISION

• Oversee and organize the work of MHPSS staff, psychologists, psychiatrists, MHGAP General Practitioners (GPs), case workers, in coordination with concerned staff at health centres
• Provide technical supervision and mentoring to the MHPSS Officer to ensure quality of services
• Conduct field visits and support targeted facilities
• Assist in the preparation and monitoring of the fulfilment of staff schedules and duties
• Conduct weekly meetings with the MHPSS staff in targeted facilities
• Provide technical oversight, following the MHPSS standards of practice

CAPACITY BUILDING TASKS

• Strengthen the capacities of the PHCC staff and Social Worker on safe identification and referral of Mental Health (MH) cases based on MOPH MhGAP guidelines.
• Ensure that adequate information and data is being provided in the most effective and efficient manner in order to ensure a solid understanding regarding the MOPH MhGAP guidelines

• Provide technical supervision through mentorship to health centres (HC) staff trained on MhGAP to ensure appropriate assessments of beneficiaries and referrals to appropriate care
• Identify and report any shortcomings and technical issues to the direct supervisor in order to take corrective actions accordingly and within the right timeframe
• Provide the Mental Health Team in the HCs with capacity building trainings on various Mental Health topics according to their needs and the needs of the beneficiaries
• Support the supervision of the work of the Mental Health Team in the HCs and provide technical support
• Develop a structured capacity building plan for staff working under humedica’s MH component
• Monitor the quality of services provided by humedica’s MH component (psychologists, psychiatrist, social workers and MHPSS Officers and suggest improvements accordingly)
• Develop SOPs tailored to addressing the MH needs of vulnerable groups and provide adequate trainings to the Mental Health teams
• Ensure harmonization of humedica’s MH interventions across health projects

• Supervise outreach activities and support the team to conduct MH assessment at field level

REPRESENTATION AND NETWORKING

• Use RIMS to refer cases based on their needs to case management units or specialized service
• Attend and represent humedica in relevant coordination meetings on all issues interrelated with MH and PSS. Represent humedica in front of partners related to our MHPSS activities.
• Conduct bilateral meetings with MH actors in humedica’s operational areas in Bekaa to ensure complementarity in service provision and prevent duplication
• The MHPSS Coordinator will also be responsible to strengthen relations and coordination with the mental health taskforce at MOPH and UNHCR in Bekaa and attend relevant meetings

REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATION

• Conduct monthly reporting of MH activities on Activity Info
• Follow up on the data documentation, monthly data collection and segregation of MH cases
• Regularly update the Country Coordinator on the overall progress of the Mental Health indicators
• Submit monthly reports to MOPH using standardized templates in a timely manner
• Submit monthly reports on key indicators to the M&E Officer
• Support the Country Coordinator in writing donor reports and drafting proposals

MISCELLANEOUS

• Demonstrate a high level of professionalism while working or coordinating with beneficiaries, their family members and all internal or external parties. Any incident or work-related conflict should be immediately reported to the Country and Assistant Coordinator. The MHPSS Coordinator should avoid engaging in any work-related communication which might jeopardize the relationship of humedica with any party
• The MHPSS Coordinator should demonstrate a high level of cultural sensitivity, professionalism, politeness and objectivity when dealing with the beneficiaries under all circumstances;
• The MHPSS Coordinator should be able to provide structured clinical assessment plans and develop consistent treatment plans
• Under the supervision of the Country Coordinator, discuss and resolve any issues that the Mental Health Team may face
• Under the supervision of the Country Coordinator, adjust the Mental Health strategic interventions as necessary, in order to meet the Mental Health targets
• Closely monitor the progress of the Mental Health indicators in order to make sure that the Mental Health targets are reached, ensure a healthy, open and safe working environment for the Mental Health Team
• Promptly respond to any other request that the Country Coordinator may have

REQUIREMENTS:

• University degree in Psychology required
• Preferably experience in NGO work
• Strong experience in working within the field of Mental Health and profound knowledge of the guidelines and strategies of National Mental Health Program
• Profound knowledge of the Mental Health Gap Action Programme
• Strong experience in management and staff supervision
• Fluency in Arabic and English language is mandatory
• Belief in a comprehensive and holistic approach towards positive mental health
• Ability to cope with difficult security context
• Good coordination and communication skills are key factors to this position
• Excellence in organizing, planning and prioritizing tasks
• Ability to identify strengths and weaknesses of programmes and to propose practical solutions for the continuous improvement of providing quality services
• Strong ability to observe, analyse, report and take initiative
• Ability to work with a team as well as to work independently
• Ability to seek, collect, and critically analyse data and information needed to achieve the tasks
• Clear commitment to the project theme
• Ability to communicate any technical or non-technical topic with clarity and to share any important project information with the team
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly MS Word and Excel
• ​​​​​​​Ability to self-reflect on your work, to recognize what needs improvement and to propose solutions

​​​​​​​CONDITIONS OF ENGAGEMENT:

The MHPSS Coordinator will be part of a team located at Bekaa office in Zahle area. However, daily field visits to humedica’s supported HCs and its catchment areas to assess the mental health status of refugees is an integral part of the job description. The position is a full-time position with 5 days per week from Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm.