Mental Health Coordinator

MDM France

Details / requirements:

MEDECINS DU MONDE FRANCE seeks

A Mental  Health Coordinator

For Sindhupalchowk

Médecins du Monde (MdM) is an international humanitarian organisation whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over, including France. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care. 

MdM is present in Népal since 1995 through different health intervention (TB/HIV, maternal and new born program, Microfinance etc.). Since 2007 till 2015, MdM was implementing in Sindhupalchowk District a maternal and newborn health program according to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) strategy, to improve the maternal and newborn health in the district using an integrated approach, combining health service support, community awareness and microfinance activities.

On 25th April 2015 (12 Baisakh, 2072), a massive earthquake measuring 7.8 in the Richter scale was experienced in Nepal. Barpak VDC in Gorkha district, 80km northwest of Kathmandu was the epicenter. Continued aftershocks followed throughout Nepal with one reaching a magnitude of 6.7 the following day. On 12th May 2015, another large aftershock with a magnitude of 6.8 hit Nepal incurring more losses of lives and infrastructure, particularly in Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk districts. In Sindhupalchowk, more than 3500 people lost their lives, thousands of others got injured, and it is estimated than 70% of the infrastructures have been destroyed. More than 90% of the health facilities (75) were destroyed or damaged letting the population with no access to health services while leaving in very remote areas. 

The goal of MdM in Nepal is to offer emergency medical assistance to earthquake affected population and contribute to the recovery of the Health System

Program Objectives: Emergency and Early Recovery Response following the 2 consecutive earthquakes of April and May 2015 in Sindhupalchowk District, the most affected district:

  • Mobile clinics activities by land and by air
  • Construction of semi-permanent Health Facilities 
  • Refurbishment of health facilities and donation of medical supplies 
  • Support to the District Heatlh Office 
  • Provision of MHPSS services 
  • Restore Women’s cooperative previously established and supported by MdM and affected by the earthquake 

TASKS AND RESPONSABILITIES: 

Under the responsibility of the General Coordinator, the Mental Health Coordinator is in charge of the implementation, follow up and supervision of the different psychosocial and mental health activities of MdM in Nepal, as part of the comprehensive Primary Health Care package provided by MdM, through its partners, to the benefit of the populations affected by the earthquake.

Program Management 

Capacity building

  • Provide technical support in mental health related issues to MDMs’ and partners’ medical staff.
  • Develop or adapt specific didactic materials for technical topics and capacity building activities.

Primary health care level

  • Contributes to the overall planning, assessment and evaluation of the Mental Health component of the PHC programme implemented by MdM.
  • Develop the strategy to implement the MH component in the partner’s PHC trough the capacity building (in service training) and supervision of partner to ensure the sustainability of the integration of the MH component. 
  • Keep and improve a referral system for psychosocial and mental health cases from the Primary to the Secondary level.

Community level

  • Develop capacity building on Mental Health component for the Cooperative Women, FCHV and other focal person in a community level.
  • Ensure mental health components of the program is consistent and in link with the community needs.

Reporting and monitoring

  • Keep and improve the current data collection system for mental health activities according with the needs of  reporting
  • Centralize and report regularly all information regarding activities (data, monthly reports), respecting quality standards

Coordination

  • Is in charge of the coordination with Partners about the most appropriate psycho-social activities to be developed and proposed within the Mental Health care approach.

MdM Strategy

  • Develop the strategy to improve the knowledge’s and capacity of the community to respond on MH issues.
  • Contributes to the Organizational Development support of MdM’s partner to integrate and develop the MH component in its structure and in its long term strategy.
  • Participate to  the development of the general strategy on MdM activities with the General Coordinator, the Medical Coordinator and the team

Team management

  • Participate/ensure the recruitment of national Para-medical staff (as per the requirements), definition of the job description, interview the candidates, train the new staff, evaluate their performance
  • Support and supervise national mental health staff 
  • Emphasize on capacity building of the national medical team especially.

Coordination with UN agencies, NGOs, local medical authorities and local authorities

  • Participate to specific coordination meetings.
  • Represents MDM towards health local authorities and national/international health partners regarding mental health and upon request from the Medical Coordinator.
  • Participate to other strategic/coordination meeting.

This list of activities is not exhaustive and may change depending on the situation.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • Status: Employee 
  • Contract: Fixed-term contract   
  • Duration: 3-6 months  

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED:

  • Licensed Psychologist
  • Experience of 5 years minimum in a similar position
  • Knowledge of public health issues, in relation to Mental Health in situation of disaster.
  • Experience in negotiations with local authorities, partners and staff in difficult contexts is an asset
  • Ability to train staff on mental health/social issues
  • Ability to take effective decisions according to the context
  • Capacity to create relationships with the communities 
  • Ability to manage a team
  • Patience
  • Ability to transfer competences and provide capacity building.
  • Reactivity, anticipation, adaptability and capacity to take initiatives to changing requirements
  • Organisational skills, rigor
  • Good writing and communication skills inside the team and from widely-varied organizations and agencies
  • Team spirit
  • English fluent
  • French fluent

You are committed to MdM values as an organization and motivated by its non-statutory, NFP model.

INTERESTED?

Please send a CV to: info.mdmfrance@gmail.com

Deadline for submission is on: 31/08/2015

MdM stands up for the integration of people living with disabilities and fights against discrimination.

TELEPHONE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Overview

Category Development and Project
Openings 1
Experience 5+ years
Education Please check vacancy details
Posted Date 25 Aug, 2015
Apply Before 31 Aug, 2015
City