Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist (MHPSS) – Zimbabwe

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist (MHPSS) – Zimbabwe

The Mental Health Psychosocial Support Specialist (MHPSS) will strengthen the quality of psychological services provided at the local torture treatment center and build the center’s capacity to better meet the needs of the MHPSS for torture survivors. Activities include, draft MHPSS documentation, revision of assessment procedures, training, clinical supervision, program evaluation support.

This position is focused on supporting CSU MHPSS staff in intervention development and collaborating on the writing of a unified MHPSS framework, training and empowering service delivery staff, rather than direct service delivery by MHPSS professionals.

About the project:

Helping Survivors Heal is a capacity development project that supports the work of 12 organizations for the rehabilitation of victims of torture around the world in the field of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) by providing subgrants and technical assistance.

Organization:

The Center for Victims of Torture works towards a future where torture ceases to exist, and victims have hope for a new life. We are an international non-profit organization dedicated to the treatment of torture survivors. We offer rehabilitation services to those who have been tortured, we train partners around the world who can prevent and treat torture, and we advocate for human rights and an end to torture. We are headquartered in Minnesota, with US offices in Georgia and DC, as well as offices in Africa and the Middle East.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Clinical Support: Collaborate with partner center staff to develop MHPSS services. Support the development of a unified MHPSS approach and effective clinical guidelines, practices and tools when necessary
• Case Consultation: Provide individual and group input on MHPSS treatments to CSU MHPSS practitioners including case discussions, live observation, support to CSU supervisors, acting as a role model for practitioner partners, emphasizing self-care components.
• Training: Design and implement training programs for local MHPSS practitioners, including formal training, mentoring, modeling and supervision. Continually assess counselor development and tailor training to their needs. Build the capacity of staff to design and conduct training.
• Assessment: In collaboration with MSM and partner research teams, develop clinically appropriate assessment tools and strategies. Support the project team in data collection and assessment of existing organizational systems and methods of providing mental health services. Support the implementation of the Institutional Strengthening Plan (ISP) and the annual work plan, in cooperation with the staff of the partner center.
• Reporting: Write and submit regular reports on clinical and training activities. Mentor staff for report writing.
• Other duties: Participate in other programs and activities of the entire organization, meetings and trainings. Complete administrative responsibilities such as expense reporting and time sheet submission. Perform other duties assigned to him.

Qualifications:

Education, experience, certificates, licenses or registrations required

• Advanced degree (master’s degree, doctorate or equivalent) in clinical psychology, clinical social work, clinical counseling
• 4 years of experience in providing mental health/psychosocial support services to diverse target groups including survivors of torture and trauma, prisoners, adults, families and adolescents.
• 4 years of experience in providing training on MHPSS topics to participants with different professional backgrounds and knowledge.
• 3 years of experience in supervision of MHPSS practitioners
• Experience in working with local partner non-governmental organizations and negotiating multiple relationships within and between organizations.
• Years of experience in writing MHPSS documents (such as guidelines, manuals, uniform approaches, etc.)

Education, experience, certifications, licenses or registrations preferred

• 6 years of experience in providing mental health/psychosocial support services.

• 5 years of experience in the supervision of MHPSS practitioners

• Experience working with an organization run by torture survivors.

Competences (knowledge, skills and abilities)

• Understand MHPSS and human rights
• Experience working/living in (identified context) is preferred.
• Experience conducting program needs assessment, program development, program evaluation and reporting.
• Flexibility, adaptability, diplomacy and self-sufficiency to work within a local partner organization.
• Training and experience in cross-cultural sensitivity and adaptation
• Proven flexibility to adapt to changing program requirements, client needs and political climate.
• Understanding and extensive experience in implementing culturally appropriate mental health interventions, including individual, group and community-based approaches for people who have suffered torture and trauma.
• Understanding and experience in developing curricula and providing training for mental health counselors in counseling approaches, awareness of the effects of trauma and conflict, and designing interventions.
• Gratitude and desire to participate and receive clinical supervision
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and time management (including the ability to meet deadlines)
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word and Excel)
• Fluency in English is mandatory (oral and written)
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Possibility of traveling by car up to 8 hours per week.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Case consultation, oversight responsibility, and quality of care for client relays to CSU MHPSS practitioners.

Working environment:

• A typical office environment
• The time spent at the computer is about 30%
• The time spent in virtual meetings is about 15%

Travel: Ability to travel to various locations within major cities, rural and metro areas, surrounding communities, etc.