Responsibilities and particular assignments
General Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the MHPSS Advisor, and Deputy Area Coordinator for Program the MHPSS Officer will play a pivotal role in supporting the MHPSS Program and project activities. In addition to this, they will be actively involved in enhancing the capacity of PSS staff. The Officer will also contribute to the professional translation and interpretation of psychosocial documents and checklists, facilitate training translation, and be accountable for collecting, analyzing, and reporting MHPSS data and achievements to the Project/Program Team.
Objective 1: Technical Support, Management and Coordination of the PSS activities
1. Technical Support and Management:
• Supporting PSS supervisors and providing support to all PSS providers in resolving implementation challenges.
• Providing expertise and guidance on evidence-based practices, interventions, and methodologies in psychosocial support to enhance the quality and impact of services.
• Managing the PSS team and activities in the to ensure smooth interventions and service delivery.
• Offering guidance and support during crises or emergencies to ensure timely and appropriate psychosocial support interventions.
• Advocating for the importance of psychosocial support, raising awareness, and mobilizing resources to sustain and expand PSS programs.
• Fostering a culture of continuous learning, reflection, and improvement within the PSS team.
• Identifying potential risks and vulnerabilities in PSS activities and developing risk management strategies.
• Promoting self-care practices and well-being strategies among PSS providers and supervisors.
• Equipping PSS providers and supervisors with conflict resolution skills and techniques.
• Supporting the development and implementation of tailored psychosocial interventions for target populations.
• Encouraging innovation and the integration of best practices in psychosocial support.
• Promoting community participation and engagement in PSS activities.
• Offering regular supervision and mentoring to PSS providers and supervisors for their professional development.
2. Coordination and support to program:
• Build partnerships with local organizations, governmental agencies, MHPSS TWG, and community leaders.
• Support program planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
• Conduct routine data collection and program reviews.
• Collaborate with project managers for logistic planning and arrangements.
• Establish collaborative relationships with local stakeholders.
• Coordinate services and referrals with partner agencies.
• Assist in developing, implementing, and monitoring PSS programs.
• Support planning, budgeting, and evaluation for program effectiveness and sustainability.
Objective 2: Monitoring and Reporting
• Ensure accurate documentation and timely reporting of PSS activities, outcomes, challenges, and successes to stakeholders, donors, and relevant authorities to demonstrate accountability and transparency.
• Establish robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the progress, outcomes, and impact of PSS activities, using data-driven insights to inform decision-making and program improvements.
• In close coordination with the M&E officer, enter weekly collective data about PSS activities in specific database
• Follow up weekly data entry by the PSS teams, and compiling the monthly report.
• Consolidate weekly data in monthly activity report (PMT)
• In the absence of the MHPSS Advisor, validate the database before sharing it to relevant departments (M&E officer, grants officer, project managers).
• With the support of the MHPSS Advisor, follow the progress, challenges and achievements towards project targets and indicators in PSS activities and inform line manager of any serious challenge in this regard
• Monitor the implementation of PSS activities on HF-level and within the MHT-project and report accordingly.
• Provide monthly reports of PSS activities within the MHTs and HF-level to the direct line-manager (MHPSS Advisor & Project Managers).
Objective 3: Capacity building and Training
• Conduct training sessions and workshops to build the capacity of PSS providers and supervisors, ensuring they have the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver effective support.
• Under the supervision of the MHPSS Advisor, develop and implement a training plan based on training needs assessment and project objectives.
• Provide basic technical PSS training and refreshers training for PSS Supervisors, PSS providers and CHWs (on MHT and HF-level) and ensure training needs are met and performance is evaluated.
• Provide on-job-training for PSS Supervisors regarding clinical strategies, clinical supervision, monitoring and evaluation of PSS activities.
• Provide adapted basic PSS trainings and information to the health teams (and other concerned departments)
• Discuss follow up cases with PSS supervisor and PSS providers and provide adapted guidance
• Follow up referred cases with partner organizations
• Attend all PSS related trainings given by the MHPSS Advisor and other stakeholder
• Attend the weekly MHPSS supervision/ on job training meeting.
• Assist with any other related activities as deemed necessary by the expatriate MHPSS Advisor.
• To assist and support the recruitment of the PSS Supervisor and PSS provider, as well as ensure timely performance appraisals of the team, it is essential to establish clear job descriptions outlining roles and responsibilities, conduct thorough screening and interviews to identify suitable candidates and provide necessary training and orientation for new hires.
Objective 4 : Demonstrate strong ethical and professional practice
• Enhance cross-cultural competence among PSS providers and supervisors to effectively engage with diverse populations, respect cultural differences, and deliver culturally sensitive psychosocial support services.
• Ensure adherence to ethical guidelines, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity in all PSS activities to protect the rights and dignity of beneficiaries.
• Respect beneficiary confidentiality at all times
• Support and guide on the psychosocial activities ensuring beneficiary’s’ personal safety.
• Respect and promote PUI Polices and code of conduct
• Address needs and requests of beneficiaries in a respectful and professional manner
• Respect and support the core principles of MHPSS Support and Humanitarian Standards, including internal PUI Intervention Framework
• Ensure and reinforce the quality of all PSS services
• Mainstream of protection throughout all actions; respect and ensure Do No Harm principle is being respected across all activities.
• Report to hierarchy any incident or act that causes any harm to beneficiary or to others.
Objective 5: Accountability
• Support timely, complete and convincing response to feedback complaints as per Program Manager instruction ;
• Lead technical resolution and suggest strategic adaptation (guidelines, SOP, etc.) based on feedback and complaints, in collaboration with PMs and DACo;
• Actively participate in Monthly Accountability Meetings ;
• Adhere to PU-AMI organizational policies (incl. CoC, Child protection policy, anti-fraud and anti-corruption policy, PSEA policy) and report any policy violations, suspicions, or allegations through the whistleblower mechanism
• Support investigation based on needs when required in coordination with the relevant regional and National teams.
