Plan International is an independent non-profit organization that advances children’s well-being and equality for girls. Working in building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years and present in 70 countries, Plan International strives for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children while working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners. Plan International Ethiopia is looking for Mental Health and Psycho-social Support Counsellor for Afar Emergency Response Project who will be reporting to the Health and Nutrition Supervisor.

Dimensions of the Role

Organize and conduct the activities linked to the Mental Health and Pyscho Social Supports under emergency health project in the assigned districts within a CMAM approach with close supervision of health staff (HEWs/HWs) at health centre, health post, community and home level.

Accountabilities

Objective 1: Promote mental health and appropriate psychosocial supports among beneficiaries, stakeholders and communities

Key accountabilities:

Implement and facilitate awareness-raising sessions at centers and community levels, based on a guidebook; particularly on child development, mothering practices, mother and child interactions and breastfeeding practices

Participate in elaborating key messages and adapting them according to the context and the target population

Be able to describe MHPSS project and objectives in a clear, understandable and culturally adapted manner

Supervise daily the proper transmission of project information and key messages by beneficiaries to the community, by supporting them on awareness raising methods, sense of responsibility and motivation

Promote the full range of care practices including aspects of hygiene practice and infant & young child feeding practices (IYCF)

Objective 2: Organize and conduct mental health and psychosocial support with the beneficiaries

Key accountabilities:

Conduct group discussions and support groups with the beneficiaries on mental health, care practices and psychosocial issues, by using recommended guidelines and tools

Conduct stimulation activities (therapeutic play sessions and others) for mothers and children according to beneficiaries needs

Contribute to develop interactive teaching methods (like role playing etc.) for group facilitation, in order to have an impact on behaviour change

Stimulate group dynamic by favouring exchanges and participation among beneficiaries in group sessions on a particular theme

Be able of receiving and restraining expressions of strong emotions

Be able to observe, evaluate and analyse the content of a group session with an evaluation grid

Evaluate the beneficiaries’ knowledge and skills before and after the group sessions

Objective 3: Ensure centre-based and community-based individual psychosocial follow-up for beneficiaries

Key accountabilities:

Conduct individual support and counselling activities for the beneficiaries, according to an adapted action plan, and based on MHCP psychosocial approach of care practices

Ensure the follow-up and support of beneficiaries at household level, involving when necessary the family members

Be able to assess individual MHPSS skills and practices of the beneficiaries, by using recommended tools, scales and questionnaires

Be able to adequately refer beneficiaries to existing available resources in case of need

Contribute actively to MHPSS group supervision and case management sessions, by helping to identify beneficiaries’ difficulties and action plan for the follow-up

Objective 4: Contribute to capacity building for community key persons, stakeholders and local partners

Key accountabilities:

Participate to the development of standards and IEC material and training methods, for PIE and for training of trainers

Conduct training skills for beneficiaries and training for community key persons and members on specific topics, using MHPSS guidelines and participation learning techniques

Provide regular technical support to trained stakeholders and community key persons, about quality service delivery, by identifying on-the-job needs and supervising skills progression

Provide regular supervision to HEWs & HWs (and HDA supervisors if required) using MHCP tools.

Working with HEWS/HWS, organise regular planned bi-monthly HDA meetings to provide support, learning and evaluation of their community activity.

Objective 5: Participate in program monitoring by collecting and analysing information on field activities and beneficiaries’ MHPSS needs

Key accountabilities:

Contribute to needs and resources assessments, and be able to identify the most vulnerable groups in need of MHCP support

Collect information during the programme activities on the beneficiaries’ MHPSS needs, by using specific reporting tools and including this information systematically in each activity report

Maintain detailed and up to date programme records, and ensure the confidentiality of beneficiaries  information

Prepare (in collaboration with line manager) and implement work plan

Collaborate with PIE others sectors for all activities, reporting and meeting 

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• Health/psychological/social diploma and other relevant fields of study
• Minimum over 3 year’s relevant experience and with this at least 1.5 years relevant experience in an international NGO or similar organization Knowledge of policy and practice in the field of emergency nutrition intervention, MHPSS, IYCF and health.
• Experience in developing and monitoring budgets.
•  Computer literate in word processing and excel packages.
•  An understanding of child rights and their protection and fulfilment in the Excellent  verbal and written communication skills; both in English & Amharic

Desirable

•  Experience on pastoral community in particular in emergency project is an advantageous.