Mental Health and Psychosocial Support delegate – Ukraine (Anticipatory recruitment)

Title: Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

Location: Ukraine and Surrounding Region

Employment status: Temporary Full time – 3 months

Salary band: $51,000$ – $54,000 / year

The Canadian Red Cross (CRC), an iconic brand and one of the most inspirational not-for-profit organizations on this planet, is seeking a Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to join our International Operations (IO) team.

You have a passion for helping others, and want to work with other dedicated individuals? By applying, you are taking a big first step to be part of an exciting organization.

At the Canadian Red Cross, we are guided by our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. We help people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and support them in strengthening their resilience.

Starting with the hiring process, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment where everyone can reach their full potential. We encourage all qualified persons to apply, particularly Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized people, and people with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and others who share our values and contribute to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

On February 24, 2022, a new phase of the armed conflict in Ukraine began, with the intensification and spread of the hostilities affecting many parts of the country. This is a high-intensity conflict between two states (and possibly others) involving heavy kinetic warfare, civilian casualties, millions of refugees, large-scale internal displacement and physical destruction. The hostilities have also triggered a large-scale humanitarian response given the needs, notwithstanding major concerns for the protection of civilians and essential civilian infrastructure as well as security risks for humanitarian workers themselves.

The Canadian Red Cross is seeking to build capacity around Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in response to the crisis in Ukraine and the surrounding region. Successful candidates will be expected to deploy for a period of 3-6 months, with the possibility of extension depending on the specific request. This role may involve deployment on a direct contract or seconded to another RCRC Movement Partner (International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or International Federation of the Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). You will be expected to work under pressure and against tight deadlines, with competing priorities and as part of an international and multi-cultural team.

In this role, you will:

• Assess the diverse mental health and psychosocial and protection needs, and capacities of the population based on factors as cultural, socioeconomic, gender, age, sexual orientation, and physical and mental capabilities
• Assess the capabilities, needs and priorities of the Host National Society in the area of protection and psychosocial support
• Develop/adapt assessment questionnaire and carry out assessments in protection and psychosocial support using a mixed variety of methodologies
• Develop an Emergency Plan of Action with budget and recommendations to support an emergency appeal operation, including offering technical advice on the EPoA to integrate MHPSS and Violence Prevention/Protection across all relevant sectors, including outreach.
• Develop and use standardized templates and procedures for follow up of referrals, and develop country-specific mental health and psychosocial support strategies taking age, gender and diversity into consideration
• Advocate for the importance of integrating protection and psychosocial support in a multi-sectoral setting
• Provide input to programs, interventions and strategies and appeals based on assessment findings that build on global minimum standards and identified best practices in MHPSS.
• Support and supervise delegates, focal points within Host National Society upon request in the areas of MHPSS and protection, and also support the develop volunteer profiles.
• Assist Host National Society in developing psycho-educational messages for various media
• Advocate for the importance of integrating mental health and psychosocial support and global protection minimum standards in a multi-sectoral setting
• Establish relations and coordinate with stakeholders, Movement partners and other agencies for common interventions such as developing guidelines for protection and psychosocial support
• Provide regular and timely reports, in particular to support operational direction/decision making
• Offer technical advice on actions to take as e.g. interventions that further the development of a culture of stress management and conflict resolution in the team

What we are looking for:

• University degree in counselling, social work, psychology or psychiatry, with current valid certification in good standing is required
• Good command of Ukrainian and/or Russian, is required. Fluency in spoken and written English.
• If driving for society business; a valid driver’s license is required with a satisfactory driver’s abstract.
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office Suite and other relevant software/programs
• Experience in the humanitarian sector in contexts different from the home country.
• Experience in planning, designing, implementing and delivery of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities
• Experience in conducting trainings in MHPSS, e.g. Psychological First Aid trainings
• Knowledge or the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, is considered an asset
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and ability to clearly present complex issues and pragmatic solutions to impact leadership and collaborators
• Able to work under pressure in a potentially dangerous environment.

Working conditions:

This is a field-based position. Working in countries of operation is very demanding, both physically and psychologically. Delegates can be confronted to several psychosocial risks, including concerns about their security, confinement, lack of privacy, cultural adaptation, long working hours, high workload, job security, internal conflicts and mobbing.

CRC supports a safe working environment and comfortable accommodations, however, delegates must be aware of and responsible for their own personal safety and that of employees under their supervision

• Difficult working conditions are expected, including:
  • Issues of access and mobility due to proximity to disaster affected areas.
  • Very basic living conditions with intermittent electricity, internet, and other basic services.
  • Long hours of work in a demanding context with limited resources
  • Stressful rapidly changing environment with limited information to make decisions.
  • In some contexts, legal frameworks and institutions to enforce the rule of law are largely undeveloped.
  • In some remote areas access to healthcare could be limited or non-existent
• Must be able to be Medical Cleared for travel in accordance with established CRC Medical criteria
• Successful completion of a Canadian criminal record check and vulnerable sector check.
• Full vaccination against COVID-19 is mandatory for this position and operation (the CRC will however adhere to its duty to accommodate those who are unable to be fully vaccinated for a reason related to a human right protected ground)

In line with the principle of neutrality, the CRC does not assign international personnel to a country of which they are nationals. If deploying to Ukraine, nationalities acceptable to all sides of the conflict in Ukraine will be prioritized.

If you require accommodation measures during any phase of the hiring process, please notify us as soon as possible. All information received in relation to accommodation requests will be kept confidential.