Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer- Ukraine Crisis

TITLE: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer

REPORTS TO: Team Lead, Ukraine Crisis

LOCATION: Poland

POSTION: Full-time (Immediate through end of August)

ABOUT AMERICARES

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. Each year, Americares reaches more than 90 countries and all 50 U.S. states with over $600 million in innovative health programs and quality medical aid. Americares is the world’s leading non-profit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies.

Americares global health programs seek to confront crisis and create change by creating pathways to health and opportunity. We aspire to support individuals, families and their communities to realize improved health outcomes that lead to years of good health, so they can reach their full potential.

In response to the Ukraine Crisis, Americares is addressing health needs of individuals and families inside Ukraine, fleeing Ukraine and host communities. Americares programming focuses on delivering medicine and medical supplies, reinforcing health services and addressing mental health and psychosocial support of affected populations.

POSITION SUMMARY

Americares is supporting local organizations in Ukraine and working directly with organizations in Poland and other neighboring countries to provide MHPSS services through training and technical assistance and financial support. The MHPSS Officer will represent Americares at coordination meetings with humanitarian actors, national and local MHPSS partners and other key stakeholders. The MHPSS Officer will continue to identify and address gaps in MHPSS programming, provide training and technical assistance, and support partner organizations in implementing MHPSS programming in an emergency environment. Areas of training and technical assistance may include, but are not limited to, Psychological First Aid, crisis stabilization and self-care.

The position reports into the Team Lead in Poland and has a dual reporting line to the headquarters MHPSS Senior Technical Advisor for oversight of all MHPSS programming.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Specific activities may include but are not limited to:

Increase access to MHPSS resources and services

• Coordinate with local NGOs, government stakeholders and response actors to communicate Americares mission and to determine appropriate response objectives in line with the coordinated response objectives and IASC and related guidelines
• Assist with developing referral pathways to support Americares programming and partner programs

MHPSS Collaboration and Coordination

• Represent Americares at coordination meetings related to MHPSS, including the MHPSS Working Group and relevant sub-cluster meetings
• Identify potential partners to support and build relations for MHPSS programming.
• Feedback to Team Lead and MHPSS Senior Technical Advisor on potential future MHPSS interventions to support response strategy
• Perform MHPSS assessment to support strategy and program development and coordinated response. Assessment to include analysis of pre- and post-crisis public and civil society MHPSS capacities and systems for host and refugee communities
• Ensure that any MHPSS response follows IASC, AC policy and related guidelines
• Regular meetings with the MHPSS Senior Technical Advisor on technical issues (discussing proposed new direction with the Team Leader)

MHPSS Direct Service Provision

• Provide debriefing and crisis stabilization for local NGO workers as needed
• Provide capacity building for local NGOs in PFA / PSS, staff care, trauma-informed care and related training
• Should an Emergency Medical Team be initiated, support the launch of the program

Protection

• Co-represent Americares in protection, child protection and related cluster meetings
• Work with the Protection and Safeguarding Officer to support protection mainstreaming efforts and to strengthen safeguarding and protection capacities of local partners.

REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced degree in psychology or related discipline, with coursework in mental health and psychosocial programming in humanitarian or low resource settings
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in mental health and psychosocial programming with significant experience in developing countries and in disaster/humanitarian crisis contexts
• Proposal development and review experience preferred
• Proven track record in developing strategies, designing programs, and conducting training and providing technical assistance in MHPSS
• Experience in humanitarian coordination from an MHPSS background
• Experience with IASC and UN Guidelines, community-based psychosocial support initiatives, and Psychological First Aid
• Fluency in Polish and English required, proficiency in Ukrainian or Russian is an advantage
• Willingness to travel and work in remote areas
• Able to work collaboratively across multiple teams and stakeholders
• Able to operate independently and as part of a team

As a global health organization, we are committed to ensuring a safe environment for our staff, partners, and visitors. All Americares staff and visitors who are on-site at any of our locations or will be traveling for work are required to be fully vaccinated (which includes a booster, when eligible) against COVID-19 unless an exemption required by law is applicable.
Americares is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
To request a disability accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact us at [email protected].