Mental Health Supervisor

About Doctors Without Borders

Doctors without Borders South Africa Mission NPC is a Global network of principled professionals who specialise in medical humanitarian work. Driven by our common humanity and guided by medical ethics, we work together in teams, small and large, to respond to the medical needs of people affected by conflict, disaster, epidemics, and those excluded from healthcare.

Doctors Without Borders seeks to employ a suitable candidate to assess, coordinate, implement, and monitor the mental health activities in the project and promote Doctors Without Borders services according to its principles, protocols, and standards. This will increase the target population's knowledge of their health, support preventive activities, and collaborate to improve services.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Participate in the planning, organization, and coordination of Mental Health and Psychosocial activities in close collaboration with the Mental Health Activity Manager and other medical team members.
2. Identify the gaps in mental health and psychosocial services in the community and at public health care units.
3. Support the mental health and psychosocial activities of stakeholders at community and public health care levels.
4. Review and develop technical tools and guidelines in collaboration with the Mental Health Activity Manager.
5. Oversee the administrative processes associated with supporting the stakeholders implementing MHPSS in collaboration with Doctors Without Borders.
6. Compile the data and statistics linked with mental health activities and report to the Mental Health Activity Manager.
7. Support MHPSS activities in the community and at external PUPs, ensuring appropriateness and continuity of care.
8. Prepare monthly and quarterly assessment reports for submission to the Mental Health Activity Manager.
9. Carry out any other ad-hoc activities as directed by the supervisor to accomplish project objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Qualitative Rapid / Needs Assessments:

1. Prepare periodic rapid mental health assessment plan for the target population consulting the Department of Health (DoH) concerning its Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) related to primary health care (facility and community) level prevention and management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) models of care programme.
2. Regularly conduct mental health assessments to have a better understanding of the context and updated information about the knowledge and perceptions of the target group on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and their health-seeking behaviour; and analyze the context (local culture, traditions, habits, health perception) to adapt health activities and support the social mapping (villages, populations, actors).

Collaborations:

1. Work in collaboration with the Mental Health Activity Manager, reviewing and developing the technical materials, tools, guidelines and documents, and coordinating and ensuring the implementation of all Mental Health standard protocols and procedures set by Doctors Without Borders to provide the most appropriate Mental Health interventions for implementing stakeholders. Work with the Health Promotion team to create mental health patient support groups through the community and CBO.

Community Engagement:

1. Develop strategies that ensure engagement with stakeholders, CBOs, and patients for the sustainability of the project activities.
2. Capitalize on the community engagement experience.
3. Assist with organizing meetings, conferences, trainings, and workshops with CBOs and other key stakeholders.
4. Assess, develop, and adapt mental health tools/materials, including digital, according to NCDs and general health needs, using/considering DoH and relevant stakeholder material as a reference.

Capacity-Building (Training and Mentoring):

1. Support the Mental Health Activity Manager in the identification, coordination, and delivery of training for stakeholders (DOH, CBOs, and others), developing learning objectives and training modules, consolidating the training outcomes, identifying gaps that need to be addressed in training resources, and ensuring a plan for training follow-up and monitoring.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

1. Conduct the monitoring and evaluation of MHPSS activities supported by MSF in the community and at public health care levels by collecting and analyzing relevant quantitative and qualitative mental health data. Together with the mental health activity manager, medical team, and DOH, support monitoring and evaluation of DOH mental health data recorded at the public health care level, identify gaps in recording and documentation, and work with the mental health activity manager to assist with problem resolution.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Essential – Degree in Psychology
2. Essential – At least 2 years experience in counselling
3. Essential – Experience working in rural communities
4. Essential - At least 2 years in management or supervisory role
5. Desirable – Working in collaboration with DOH and CBOs
6. Desirable – Post-degree clinical experience of at least two years
7. Desirable – Experience in assessment, strategy design, monitoring, and implementation
8. Desirable – Experience in qualitative methodologies
9. Languages: Essential: English and IsiXhosa or other Nguni languages

TO APPLY: Please email a one-page motivation letter, your comprehensive CV with details of 2 contactable referees to msfocb-butterworth-hrfin@brussels.msf.org

Closing date: 15 November 2024

Doctors Without Borders South Africa Mission NPC reserves the right not to make an appointment if a suitable candidate cannot be found. While we thank all interested applicants, further communication will only be limited to short-listed candidates.