Consultant - MHPSS Manager

BACKGROUND TO THE ASSIGNMENT: 

International Medical Corps, which has a history of providing healthcare services and training in Ukraine that dates back to 1999, is expanding its activities in the country and the surrounding region in response to the war there. 

The situation throughout Ukraine is deteriorating rapidly as the conflict intensifies, prompting a sharp increase in humanitarian needs as access to essential services and supplies are disrupted and more and more people flee their homes. In addition, millions of Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries, including Moldova, Poland and Romania, increasing pressure on host governments as they work to provide shelter and essential services to the new arrivals. 

Our response activities will include operation of mobile medical teams and providing emergency and primary health services, mental health and psychosocial support, gender-based violence services, child protection, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene. If requested, we also are prepared to deploy our Emergency Medical Team and mobile health facility to provide emergency and primary healthcare wherever it is needed. 

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: 

MHPSS Manager, under the supervision and guidance of the MHPSS Coordinator, is responsible  for the direct implementation of capacity building activities of local community actors and MHPSS interventions are in-line with national and global guidelines including IASC MHPSS guidelines.  

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Program Management 
MHPSS Manager, under the supervision and guidance of the MHPSS Coordinator, is responsible   

for the direct implementation of capacity building activities of local community actors and MHPSS interventions are in-line with national and global guidelines including IASC MHPSS guidelines.  Essential responsibilities include:   

• Work closely with MHPSS Technical Specialist and MHPSS Coordinator to ensure quality of program deliverables    
• Design and implement capacity building activities for IMC teams and partner teams, relevant local (including community and state) actors; working with IMC Programs Department Management Team to ensure timely delivery of all relevant project outputs and  meets stated goals   
• Provide mentoring and supervision for capacity building activities; assist Technical Specialist with relevant support for skill building of IMC mobile teams   
• Support coordination program activities with other IMC projects, programs and priorities; coordinate work with relevant BHA funded partners, local and international agencies located in the targeted area.  
• Coordinate with other IMC Ukraine Programmatic sectors (Health, CP, GBV, WASH, Nutrition) to harmonies  efforts   
• Provide Technical Supervisory support to IMC Psychologists and PCWs as necessary.  

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:   

Psychological Interventions and Case Management:   

• Provide individual psychological interventions, including short-term consultations to help beneficiaries cope with adversity   
• Implementation of structured psychological interventions in-line with evidence-based practices, IASC MHPSS and other international guidelines   
• Provide guidance and support to Psychologists and Caseworkers managing MHPSS caseloads    
• Assist in the development and dissemination of informational materials and messages on psychosocial well-being, (e.g. coping with distress and helping others)    
• Co-facilitate (with Psychologists and Caseworkers), and monitor MHPSS activities for parents/caregivers and older persons at community-based safe spaces.   
• Disseminate information about psychological wellbeing including stress management, positive coping and self-care within target communities.  

Coordination and System Strengthening   

• Work cohesively with MHPSS and IMC other program teams, communities, and identified community figures to ensure activities meet IASC guideline standards and are  implemented with safety and sustainability   
• Conduct/participate in MHPSS needs assessments consistent with IASC (2013) and  WHO/UNHCR (2012) MHPSS Needs Assessment Guidelines   
• Oversee and support in strengthening regional links and referral mechanisms for MHPSS  services, in coordination with the Ukraine MHPSS Technical Working Group   
• In close consultation with MHPSS Specialist, Coordinator and IMC Program Team, lead the outreach, coordination, development and monitoring process for behavior change campaign targeting   communities on positive coping and emotional well-being during COVID – 19 pandemic;   
• In consultation with MHPSS Specialist and Coordinator support in design of IEC materials psychological wellbeing including stress management, positive coping, self-care and self-harm prevention  within target communities.   
• Support in outreach, coordination and capacity building of relevant service  providers, including community-level focal points, on related topics guided by the Ukraine  MHPSS Technical Working Group.  
• In consultation with MHPSS Coordinator, collaborate with MHPSS Program Officer on  identification of regional MHPSS coordination and service gaps.  
• Co-facilitate/facilitate Mariupol MHPSS Technical Working Group Meetings, as needed and identified by MHPSS Coordinator. 

Capacity Building, Mentoring and Training   

• Lead the process of developing MHPSS capacity assessment tools for local and regional government, local/national society organizations and relevant departments of international humanitarian NGOS;   
• In consultation with MHPSS Technical Coordinator, design and roll-out MHPSS capacity building  action plans that focus on building critical skills around psychosocial support and emotional/mental well-being.  
• support MHPSS Technical specialist in delivering MHPSS related knowledge and skill-based workshops/training for selected service providers such as local and regional government agencies, IMC and partner staff, national and international NGOs and others working with vulnerable populations, including provision of groups support, and communication approaches with children and adults;    
• Support in provision of training, guidance and support to identified service providers, IMC and  partner staff in delivery of psychosocial focused, group-based curriculum for children, adolescents, parents/caregivers and older persons   
• In consultation with MHPSS Technical Specialist, develop capacity building plans for IMC MHPSS team and lead/co-lead delivery of identified training needs to support development of their capacities to work in the area of MHPSS, in-line with international guidelines and best  practices.   
• Provide technical mentoring and supervision of Psychologists and Protection Caseworkers and  develop their capacities to work in the area of MHPSS, in-line with International guidelines and best practices.    
• Participate in the process of short – listing, selection new Psychologists/CWs; 
• Evaluate work of Psychologists and Case workers (if needed);  

Grant Management  

• Work closely and coordinate with IMC Operations, Finance  department to ensure compliance with grant  requirements and that financial and logistical controls are implemented according to IMC protocols  

• Ensure high quality IMC and donor reports on activities, indicators and achievements  

• Support the MHPSS Coordinator in the development and design of new projects for follow up funding that respond to needs identified   

• In collaboration with MHPSS Coordinator, manage program budgets, develop and maintain work, spending, procurement and M&E plans to ensure the program is implemented according to schedule and budgets, and that program objectives and targets are met 

Reporting  

• Contribute to regular reports including participation in writing success stories, review and  analysis of IMC Ukraine MHPSS curriculum implementation and other related psychological  interventions within MHPSS  programming   
• Support tracking of beneficiaries using agreed M&E tools.   
• Regularly document outreach and community mobilization activities using agreed tools to highlight key protection, safety and social-emotional concerns affecting children, youth, families, adults and older persons.   
• Participate in routine reporting and planning meetings to ensure adherence to standards of care and reporting requirements are followed.  

Other ad-hoc duties as required by supervisor   

Payments are delivery-based. Any deliverable not meeting the required specifications will have to be reworked and resubmitted at no additional cost. Payments are made upon submission of progress reports on completed tasks, outlined against planned outputs. Based on the report and satisfactory performance, payments will be certified by the supervisor. 

Title Rights:

International Medical Corps shall be entitled to all property rights including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks with regard to material, which bears a direct relation to, or is made in consequence of, the services provided to the organization by the consultant.

Insurance: 

Consultants are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering their period of service on behalf of International Medical Corps as they consider appropriate.  Consultants are not eligible to participate in life or health insurance schemes available to International Medical Corps employees 

Taxation:

International Medical Corps undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contributions payable by the consultant on payments under this contract.

Termination of Contract:

Either party may terminate this contract before the expiry date of the contract by giving notice in writing to the other party.   

The period of notice shall be 5 days in case of contract less than 2 months duration and 30 days in the case of contracts for longer periods; provided however that the in the event of termination on the grounds of misconduct or the in the event of termination on the grounds of misconduct or poor performance by the consultant, International Medical Corps shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. In the event of the contract being terminated prior to its due expiry date, the consultant shall be compensated pro rata for no more than the actual amount of work performed to the satisfaction of International Medical Corps. 

International Medical Corps, which has a history of providing healthcare services and training in Ukraine that dates back to 1999, is expanding its activities in the country and the surrounding region in response to the war there.

The situation throughout Ukraine is deteriorating rapidly as the conflict intensifies, prompting a sharp increase in humanitarian needs as access to essential services and supplies are disrupted and more and more people flee their homes. In addition, millions of Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries, including Moldova, Poland and Romania, increasing pressure on host governments as they work to provide shelter and essential services to the new arrivals.

Our response activities will include operation of mobile medical teams and providing emergency and primary health services, mental health and psychosocial support, gender-based violence services, child protection, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene. If requested, we also are prepared to deploy our Emergency Medical Team and mobile health facility to provide emergency and primary healthcare wherever it is needed.

The position is based in Poland and may require in country travel based on security.

Code of Conduct

As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards.

Safeguarding

It is all staff shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report.

Equal Opportunities

International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.