Senior Mental Health Officer - Gambella

International Medical Corps focuses on the delivery of community-based primary health care.  We emphasize training and education, and prioritize hiring local staff – in fact, 96% of our field-based staff and health professionals are recruited from the local community. This helps to ensure that skills and knowledge are passed on and remain long after our programs have ended. Through the integration of specialties like emergency medicine, women’s health, nutrition services, water and sanitation, and mental health into the primary health care setting, we ensure that those we serve receive holistic, comprehensive care. The value of International Medical Corps’ integrated approach to community health and well-being and our emphasis on capacity building through training are critical for the long-term growth of ‘conflict and natural disaster-affected communities’ and ‘fragile states’.

Job Responsibility 

• Support and provide on the job training for general health care providers in mental health service provision.
• Identify, train and supervise local counterparts and volunteers.
• Support the manager to develop curriculum for and conduct training of trainers courses for physician Master Trainers.
• Develop and provide culturally appropriate community based mental health care services.
• Work within the framework of the IASC guidelines for mental health and psycho-social support in emergency settings.
• Collaborate informal service providers such as natural healers to facilitate information sharing and referral of mental health cases.
• Collaborate with community and existing institutional structures to ensure protection of those suffering mental illness.
• Monitor the quality of subsequent trainings and the curriculum, providing guidance and modifying the program as needed.
• Collaborate with local and regional officials and UN and other NGO agencies to promote effective coordination of health services
• Compile information and prepare written reports as necessary
• Support the IMC team in realization the overall project objectives.
• Organize different program events including MH campaigns, sensitization sessions, etc…
• Assist the PHC staff in creating a clinical mental health service that is integrated into their working week, through specially allocated clinical time or an equivalent mechanism.
• Respond to psychiatric emergencies in conjunction with PHC staff.
• Organize public awareness and de-stigmatization campaigns around mental health issues with support from local staff including refugee volunteers.
• Support refugee volunteers in the development of psycho-social activities in the community attached to the PHC programme
• Represent IMC as requested in various sessions including cluster and working group meetings
• Work collaboratively with other agencies, local and international and with relevant government bodies
• Implement other activities as per the direction of the mental health program manager.

Required Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

·  Ability to cope with stress; hardship; patience and flexibility.

·  Ability to effectively work with government, community leaders, international/national organizations, donors, partners and other International Medical Corps relationships.

·  Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English.  Advanced proficiency in the use of MS Office, Email and other computer applications

·   Able to establish and maintain healthy working relationships with colleagues in course of work.

·   Willingness to work additional hours in order to meet tight deadlines.

·   Ability and willingness to work in refugee camps where the project is implemented

·   Demonstrated experience and skills in ensuring community participation and mobilization in humanitarian programming

·   Lead and responsible for the MHPSS intervention at the camp under his/her supervision.

·   Create smooth relation and collaboration with IPs working in the camp.

·    Ensure implementation of all MHPSS planned activities upon expected quality and schedule at all levels.

·   Undertake assessment to identify gap and status of mental health intervention in the camp.

•  Provide technical support for mental health officer and ARRA health workers on proper and quality service provision.