The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
DESCRIPTION:
The IRC began operations in Chad in 2004 to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the influx of refugees from Darfur into eastern Chad. Assistance to Sudanese refugees expanded to include the management of eleven camps in the east and one camp in the west, providing support to refugees and local communities in the areas of health, nutrition, and water, hygiene, and sanitation. In 2012, IRC expanded its geographic coverage to Guéra Province, where the organization currently works in five health districts and provides malnutrition prevention and treatment services to the local population, as well as family planning, response, and prevention activities related to gender-based violence (GBV). In May 2016, IRC established a presence in Lac Province to respond to the crisis caused by Boko Haram. In its 2022–2024 Strategic Action Plan, IRC Chad is committed to continuing to provide essential humanitarian services in health, nutrition, and protection/GBV, while improving the economic well-being and strengthening the resilience of beneficiaries, particularly women and girls. IRC Chad will continue to work closely with and support government actors and line ministries in key sectors to ensure that IRC’s actions are integrated into national policies, thereby fostering greater ownership of the initiatives undertaken.
Job Description:
Reporting directly to the Senior Health Coordinator, the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist based in Hadjer Hadid will be responsible for the overall management and implementation of a high-quality mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) program in all of IRC’s areas of operation, and more specifically in refugee camps. The Mental Health Specialist will work closely with the Ministry of Public Health’s mental health program, UNHCR, IRC, HIAS, and all members of the mental health working group in Chad to facilitate the coordination of mental health interventions in the country and strengthen their integration into the minimum package of services provided in health centers and hospitals. The mental health and psychosocial support specialist will supervise health workers in providing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services for patients with mental, neurological, and substance use disorders, using the guidelines of the WHO/UNHCR Mental Health Gaps Action Program (mhGAP), and will train new providers on the mhGAP model. She/he will develop standard operating procedures for providing psychological support and psychiatric care, as well as psychosocial support through group psychoeducation and community-based programs. She/he will represent IRC at all mental health working group meetings.
Key Responsibilities:
- Program Coordination:
- Coordinate mental health needs assessments;
- Organize regular meetings on mental health with health program managers and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) team, in collaboration with other technical coordinators;
- Ensure that mental health and psychosocial support are fully integrated into the various sectors of the health program (primary health care, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, environmental health) and other IRC programs (WPE and ERD);
- Coordinate the implementation of all interventions in the field of mental health and psychosocial support
- Contribute to capacity building for the MHPSS team to enable them to effectively carry out their duties and ensure a smooth transition;
- Participate in capacity building for local partners (Ministry of Public Health, NGOs, United Nations agencies, etc.) in the field of mental health and psychosocial support;
- Contribute to the development of new funding proposals for mental health and psychosocial support;
Evaluation and Monitoring of the Quality of Clinical and Community Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services
- Conduct a situational analysis to identify and assess mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs in IRC’s areas of operation in Chad
- Provide formative supervision and/or refresher training for healthcare providers and community health workers.
- Provide specialized mental health consultations and psychosocial support to people with specific needs, including survivors of gender-based violence
- Support the organization of community-based services to improve care, follow-up, and referrals between the community and health facilities.
- Conduct formative supervision of health workers to improve the quality of mental health services provided in health facilities and the community using IRC supervision checklists.
- Ensure that essential medicines and psychotropic drugs approved by the Ministry of Public Health (MSP)/WHO are available in health facilities and that they are properly stored and prescribed by providers.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Reporting
- In collaboration with the MEAL Coordinator, conduct a monthly analysis of mental health and psychosocial support data and share the database and report with the Senior Health Coordinator.
- Contribute to improving the quality of periodic health program reports and donor reports.
- Support the monitoring and evaluation framework for the mental health program through regular data analysis and supervision of program activities in the field;
- Document lessons learned, innovative approaches, and the generation of information and evidence to contribute to IRC’s overall learning;
- Work with the MEAL Coordinator and program managers to ensure that health data collection systems meet the requirements of IRC, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), and donors
Partnership, Coordination, and Representation
- Represent IRC at meetings with partners from the Ministry of Public Health, NGOs, and United Nations agencies working in the mental health and psychosocial support sector
- Participate in the development of the mental health working group’s roadmap
- Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Public Health in the development and review of national policies, guidelines, standards, protocols, and programs/modules.
Key Working Relationships:
- Direct Supervisor: Senior Health Coordinator
- Positions under direct supervision: Mental Health Manager in MIP with the Medical Doctor responsible for the health program
- Indirect supervision: Deputy Director of Programs
- Internal: Communications, Protection, ERD, Grants, Finance & Logistics Departments
- External: Government partners, humanitarian NGOs, and United Nations agencies
Job requirements:
- Advanced degree in clinical mental health, preferably a medical degree with a specialty in psychiatry and experience in neurology;
- Three years of professional experience in the development and management of mental health and psychosocial support programs, preferably in emergency situations or refugee camps;
- In addition to the clinical degree, an additional degree in public health is preferred.
- Knowledge of and experience applying the IASC MHPSS guidelines and best practices as part of previous professional experience.
- Experience in assessment, program design, technical training, and supervision using the WHO’s Mental Health Gaps Action Program (mhGAP).
- Flexibility in work;
- Ability to work independently while also being an excellent team leader;
- Technical expertise in program development and in assessing and facilitating training needs;
- Strong organizational and supervisory skills.
- Strong analytical skills demonstrating an understanding of current concepts, priorities, and issues related to monitoring, data collection, and program evaluation;
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural environment;
- Fluency in French is required; fluency in English is a plus.
Work Environment:
Security: He or she will be based in Hadjer Hadid and will travel frequently to IRC’s areas of operation. This is an unaccompanied position.
Gender Equality: The IRC is committed to reducing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that enable women to participate in the workforce, including parental leave, safety protocols that take into account the specific needs of men and women, and other supportive benefits and allowances.
The IRC is an equal opportunity employer. The IRC evaluates all candidates based on merit, without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.
French Version:
DESCRIPTION :
IRC a commencé ses opérations au Tchad en 2004 pour répondre à la crise humanitaire causée par l’afflux de réfugiés du Darfour à l’est du Tchad. L'assistance aux réfugiés soudanais s’est étendue à la gestion de onze camps dans l'Est et d'un camp dans l'Ouest en apportant un appui aux réfugiés et aux communautés locales en matière de santé, nutrition et eau, hygiène et assainissement. En 2012, IRC a étendu sa couverture géographique dans la province du Guéra où l’organisation travaille actuellement dans cinq districts sanitaires et fournit des services de prévention et de traitement de la malnutrition à la population locale ainsi que des activités de planifica...