Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Advisor

War Child believes no child should be part of war. Ever. Children have the right to grow up in peace, free from fear and violence, develop their full potential and become the young person they want to be. Through a combination of education, child protection and psychosocial support, War Child ensures a lasting impact. We unleash children’s inner strength with our creative and engaging approach. And inspire as many people as we can to participate in our cause. War Child implements its in 14 countries around the world, working in collaboration with organisations both local and global. www.warchildholland.org

War Child Holland is looking for a:

Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Advisor,

Syria Response Programme, Based in Amman, Jordan

(National Contract)

War Child is looking for a qualified and experienced Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Advisor (MHPSS), for our Syria Response Programme based in Amman, Jordan. This job offers you the chance to be part of a growing organisation offering a dynamic work environment and the opportunity to join a diverse team that is firmly dedicated to helping children affected by war. We are looking for someone who is committed to our cause, is able to work effectively with colleagues across departments and different locations and brings a can-do attitude.

Your Challenge

The MHPSS Advisor is responsible for the development, coordination and mainstreaming of psychosocial support programming for the Syria response. They will develop MHPSS competencies of staff within the WCH Syria programme and with local partners. The MHPSS Advisor reports to the Programme Quality and Development Manager and coordinates with the programme implementation department, as well as with other key functions within the country office. Strong collaboration and communication is expected with the Child Protection Advisor, the Education Advisor, and the MEAL team. The MHPSS Advisor is supported and coached by the Middle East Regional MHPSS Advisor in all technical areas and works with them and others in the Research and Development team (R&D) and the Global Programme Quality team to share best practices, promote internal professional development in teams and identify areas for strengthening MHPSS programming at a country-level, regionally and globally where applicable. They will work closely and collaborate with the Project Managers, partner focal points, and Regional thematic colleagues including the MHPSS team in the region. The post-holder will directly manage MHPSS Coordinator(s) and Officer(s) and will be responsible for their development and supervision of MHPSS technical activities, with the opportunity to build out the team as needed.

Result Areas

Result Area 1: Development, quality assurance and follow-up of mental health and psychosocial support interventions and Tools; ensuring MHPSS implemented activities are implemented at minimum standards and lead to better MHPSS outcomes for children and their families.

• Work collaboratively with MHPSS staff to identify MHPSS needs and issues to inform MHPSS programming,
• Set clear objectives and indicators for MHPSS activities and participate in the development of an M&E plan and tools in collaboration with the PQDM, MEAL Manager, supervisors, and local communities to guide implementation of high quality MHPSS programs,
• Lead on research activities around improving quality of MHPSS programme implementation (analysis, data collection),
• Provide ongoing support, guidance and advise program implementation staff in the field of MHPSS
• Lead in conducting MHPSS programme related assessments,
• Follow up on the quality of implementation of MHPSS activities, identifying opportunities and constraints and any adjustments needed, including additional staffing or staff training (including training modality), as well as sharing best programming practices and lessons learnt throughout the project cycle,

• Assist in designing and developing MHPSS and/or activities within WCH strategy, including contributing to relevant fund-raising and proposal-writing activities, identifying funding opportunities, building donor relations and having a thorough understanding of donor presence and mapping in areas WCH implements and seeks to work in the future,
• Ensure quality of MHPSS in the Syria programme: status, methods used and results achieved by proactively engaging with MHPSS colleagues and implementing partners at all points of programme implementation, as well as providing actionable feedback to the R&D team and making necessary contextual adjustments to , activities and interventions in coordination with regional and global MHPSS advisors,
• In line with quality programming and best practices, roll out and ensure appropriate information exchange and communication in regards to the MHPSS standards, methodologies and monitoring tools to ensure all MHPSS programming is responsive to needs and adapted to contexts,
• Work with CP and Education colleagues in the Syria program and regional advisors to foster integration of programming and mainstreaming of crosscutting issues,
• Contribute to the Syria Programme strategy, annual plan, proposals, reports and evaluations in relation to MHPSS.

Result Area 2: Delivery of psychosocial support capacity building; ensuring staff and partners have the capacity and feel supported in such a manner that allows quality MHPSS interventions to be implemented.

• In collaboration with the regional MHPSS Advisor, and based on staff capacity assessment, build the MHPSS competencies of War Child staff and partners staff through training, supervision and coaching in addition to continuous support to the project staff and local implementing partners (Psychological First Aid, community-based psychosocial support interventions, evidence based MHPSS interventions, life skills DEALS methodology, community mobilization and awareness raising on MHPSS),
• Develop Capacity Development plans together with project partner and establish plans to support

learning process and the retaining of trainees’ skills,

• Ensure quality implementation of WCH MHPSS through continuous liaison with implementing partners on the ground and advise on any technical issues related to MHPSS,
• Actively, follow up with partners and ensure quality regular monitoring and evaluation of MHPSS programs, and generate recommendations to improve the quality, status, methods used, and results achieved of MHPSS programming,
• Identify opportunities to strengthen internal policies, capacity-building training and sectoral standards through evidence-based recommendations and emerging best practices in the MHPSS sector as well as direct feedback and recommendations from partner organisations,
• Finalize training reports collected by the MHPSS technical officers, and evaluations to identify quality gaps, document best practices, lessons learned, recommendations, and advise the field programme team for improvement,
• Ensure all capacity development training requirements are met as outlined in WC training of trainers (ToT) guidelines, based on the global ToT criteria.

Result Area 3: Internal and external coordination and representation – to ensure mental health and psychosocial support is mainstreamed and MHPSS sectoral trends, new materials and emerging resources are utilised to improve the quality of MHPSS programming and raise the organisation’s profile to be recognised as a leader in MHPSS programming.

• Coordinate, communicate and collaborate with other team members internally at country-level, regionally and globally (mainly CP and Education teams), to ensure that MHPSS is integrated, connects, and mainstreamed in other areas of WCH work,
• Critically reflect and evaluate the quality of programming and projects, sharing best practices and lessons learnt internally and externally as a foundation for improved future programming,

• Foster existing, and actively develop new relationships and networks to represent WCH externally, in relevant platforms/networks focused on MHPSS themes, including MHPSS working groups, technical committees, and cluster groups and ensure synergy and coordination with relevant actors. Support work around advocacy and communications to highlight War Child Holland’s Vision and Mission and to raise external awareness for programming and results.
• Contribute to the development/revision of MHPSS materials developed in working groups/platforms/networks/WCH global MHPSS working groups.
• Share MHPSS material and other useful and relevant information, including tools and methodologies, with staff and partners.

Knowledge and Experience

• Relevant academic background in Psychology preferably a Masters in Clinical Psychology or Counselling Psychology,
• Deep knowledge and understanding of current principles, best practices and global standards in MHPSS,
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Mental Health and psychosocial programming in an (I)NGO, preferably with children in conflict and post-conflict environments,
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in MHPSS project management,
• Minimum 3 years in staff capacity building, facilitation, training and competency building (both face- to-face and remotely),
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation of projects,
• Fluent in Arabic and English, both Oral and written is a MUST,
• Previous experience working in Northern Syria is an asset.

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to express oneself skilfully in written and oral English and Arabic,
• Strong critical analysis and strategic thinking skills,
• Leadership, Planning and coordination ability,
• Familiarity with creative methodologies,
• Positive, respectful attitude, and collaborative approach to diversity. Culturally sensitive
• Monitoring and Evaluation ability,
• Ability to design and deliver learner-centred participatory training programmes,
• Excellent communication skills; ability to give and receive feedback,
• Affinity with children and young people,
• Result-oriented,
• Work well within a team, but also able to work independently,

• Flexible in undertaking new tasks and comfortable in a flexible working environment.

Location

Amman, Jordan. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in Jordan.

Travelling to country offices of War Child Syria Response, its affiliates and elsewhere is required to fulfil the obligations of this role.

We Offer 

Working as part of a multinational, multilocational team, committed to support children affected by violent conflict, who are hands on to make change happen!   A dynamic and challenging work environment, with opportunities to grow and enhance your skills.

Contract

Please note this position is open to those who have the right to work in Jordan; national terms and conditions apply. This is a national contract with corresponding benefits, for a duration of 12 months and with the intention to prolong depending on performance and fund availability.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to apply by 15 February 2023 by uploading their CV and a short cover letter, in English, using the following hyperlink: https://warchild.onlinevacatures.nl/en/job/263002/apply

Disclaimer: Only applications received via our website following the link above will be processed. War Child will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and reserves the right to close the vacancy if a successful candidate is identified prior to the deadline. During our selection process the closing date for the vacancy might be extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain live.

By submitting your application you certify that all of the statements made in your application are true, complete, and correct and are made in good faith. You understand that falsifying, misrepresenting or intentionally withholding information will be ground for rejection of your application or withdrawal of any offer of appointment or, if an appointment offer has been accepted, this will be ground for employment sanctions, such as, but not limited to, instant dismissal. In addition, you understand that you need to submit a Criminal Record Certificate and failure to submit, will result in no establishment of an employment relationship. War Child is an international organisation, and we are committed to be a diverse and inclusive employer, placing human and child rights at the Centre of our existence and work. We hire our new colleagues based on their talents, competences and shared values; we do not distinguish them based on their age, gender and gender identity, race, color, ethnicity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, disability etc.

The safety of children is essential to War Child. War Child does not tolerate or accept any form of abuse.

This subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures.  Moreover, the accepted candidates will be required to state their commitment/intent to be aware, consider and adhere to the minimum standards applicable in development and humanitarian settings, such as humanitarian values and principles, Sphere Humanitarian Charter,

Standards in the Humanitarian Standards Partnership, Core Humanitarian Standard, International Humanitarian Law, Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief and IASC Six Core Principles Relating to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

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