Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Registered in 2008, Mercy Corps Kenya has developed a robust and diverse portfolio of programs aimed at sustainably improving the lives and livelihoods of Kenyans affected by poverty, resource scarcity and conflict. In Kenya, we deliver integrated programming to strengthen resilience, market and governance systems, address the root causes of conflict, and equip vulnerable populations - in particular youth, women, adolescents and marginalized social groups - with the skills, opportunities and resources they need to be healthy, productive, and drive the development of their communities.

Program Summary

With funding from USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Mercy Corps’ Nawiri Program is leading a consortium of Kenyan and international partners on an eight-year journey to sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition in Turkana and Samburu Counties of Kenya. Through a phased approach that emphasizes evidence gap analysis, as well as partnership, learning, and co-creation, the program takes a robust county-centered design with government leadership, active engagement from communities, the private sector, and civil society. Mercy Corps’ consortium brings together the global leadership, research capacity, technical expertise, and implementation experience necessary to partner with local institutions to test, adapt, and scale evidence-based solutions. Together we will sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition for vulnerable populations in Turkana and Samburu counties.

General Position Summary

The Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support officer will be responsible for integrating and mainstreaming MHPSS dimensions in the Nawiri Program. They will build on an evidence-based, psychosocial, developmental and multi-leveled approach in line with National, Regional and Global standards.

The role will encompass direct support to staff implementing various program interventions and services, alongside capacity building, coaching and supervision of the staff on MHPSS. The MHPSS Officer will act as Focal Point for MHPSS in Samburu and Turkana respectively and will participate in relevant local coordination platforms. They will lead County specific implementation of MHPSS strategies, develop and lead operational planning and implementation roll-out. They will work within tested frameworks including a systems approach, gender lens, adolescent and youth responsiveness, social accountability and evidence-informed frameworks.

They will work collaboratively with other technical teams including the Senior Peace and NRM officer, Health and Nutrition Coordinator, SBC Advisor and the GYSD Coordinator to rationalize the thematic scope of work to drive a community – centered Nawiri activity that meets the MHPSS needs of diverse participants (women, children, adolescents, youth, men, elders and their sub-groups) in their aspirations and motivations to sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition.

They will work across sectors of NAWIRI, with consortium team members and counties to build capacity in mainstreaming MHPSS and ensure Do-No-Harm principles are integrated across all program interventions. They will co-lead active learning and rapid adaptations that continuously lead to improved quality design and implementation of MHPSS interventions in the County. They will lead the MHPSS thematic scope’s utilization of evidence and data for decision-making, including coordinating thematic-specific assessments and appreciative inquiry. They will support the GYSD lead and Partnership and Capacity Strengthening Manager in the development and implementation of a capacity strengthening plan for county government entities and systems, ensuring contextually appropriate MHPSS dynamics are incorporated into county policies, and making the appropriate connections between evidence, Learning and M&E to ensure results can be tracked, analyzed and reported.

The MHPSS Officer continues to work with other team members to ensure active learning and shaping Nawiri’s contextual understanding of the complex causality of persistent acute malnutrition as it relates to the varied needs of children, women, men, girls, and boys. They ensure that MHPSS dimensions of food security, health and resilience are effectively addressed across all activities and components and therefore coordinate closely with partners to fulfill the goals of the program.

Essential Job Functions

Program Management

• Contribute to the formulation of MHPSS work plans and ensure the systematic integration of MHPSS priorities and interventions in program delivery

• Establish close relationships and patterns of collaborations with key stakeholders in the community around MHPSS priorities

• Coordinate and support the implementation of MHPSS or multi-dimensional needs assessments; ensure ongoing assessment/analysis of local context, priorities and needs related to MHPSS

• In collaboration with other program teams, contribute to the identification of the most relevant information needed for communities related to MHPSS awareness and knowledge and support the formulation and implementation of relevant community awareness and dialogues.

• Conduct/update MHPSS service mappings, provide quality vetting of potential referral options, and establish/maintain referral pathways and mechanisms in collaboration with County mental health focal person

• Review and contextualize MHPSS intervention packages, tools, activity plans and key messages, ensuring context relevance and sensitivity

• Contribute to developing additional resources and tools if and as required, in line with current evidence

• Contribute to developing monitoring plans for the MHPSS portfolio, and support relevant monitoring and reporting activities

• Using evidence-based resources, train, coach and support all Nawiri teams in integrating key MHPSS dimensions in their practice – including Basic Helping Skills, PFA, safe identification and referral, paraprofessional counseling etc, in line with the National SOP’s and standards of good practice.

• Using evidence-based resources, design, plan, coordinate and contribute to implementing mental health promotion and wellbeing activities targeting frontline workers

Team Management

• Provide supportive supervision to MHPSS front line volunteers, this includes weekly/bi-weekly individual supervision, monthly group supervision and monthly live/observation supervision following the National and Global standards related to providing supportive supervision.

• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance to attain the objectives.

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Influence and Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO forums and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Field Director, Deputy Field Director and Purpose lead

• Coordinate activities with consortium partners, Local Implementing Partners, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

• Participate in local MHPSS coordination platforms, and other relevant coordination forums

Safeguarding

· Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work

· Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members

· Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

Security

• Work closely with the County and Country team’s security focal points to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.

• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

The MHPSS Officer will not be responsible for providing any counseling or person-focused therapeutic support to staff, this remains the responsibility of the P & C department

 Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Operational and administratively directly report to: Deputy Field Director

Works Directly With: Field Director, Deputy Field Director, NRM and Peace Building team, Systems Strengthening Team, Gender, Youth and Social Dynamics Team, Food security and Livelihoods Team and other thematic officers across the consortium and Local implementers partners.

 Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

 Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• A university degree in psychology, social science, mental health nurse, mental health or relevant degrees

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in mental health & psychosocial support (MHPSS) field in the humanitarian context, experience in working in ASAL areas is an asset.

• Minimum of 1-year experience providing supportive supervision to MHPSS staff.

• Membership with Kenya Counselors & Psychologist Association or any relevant Body

• Proficiency in verbal and written English. Understanding of the local language is an asset

• Proven capacity to train, supervise, and coach staff in MHPSS technical skills and coordination, based on evidence-based approaches and intervention packages

• Comfortable with high levels of ambiguity and able to take decisions independently in fluid context.

• Experience working within a development-oriented NGO in environment and pastoralist contexts.

• Practical experience in the facilitation of multi-stakeholder MHPSS activities.

• Strong communication and analytical skills

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working within a multidisciplinary team and ability to liaise with government, community leaders, and other stakeholders at all levels including team leading and influencing.

• Skills in organizing and facilitating community dialogues, workshops, and training events

• Proven ability to conduct him/herself professionally under pressure.

• Knowledge on Conflict Sensitivity and Do No Harm approaches.

• Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Core Competencies: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Listening: Ability to actively listen (i.e., seeks to understand, asks good questions, paraphrases, and is in tune with speaker’s emotional state)

• Vulnerability & Courage: Ability to share lack of knowledge, mistakes, or failures; give and receive feedback; and raise difficult questions or concerns

• Curiosity: Ability to articulate and explore novel areas of learning that would contribute to greater effectiveness

• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand, affect, connect, and leverage various parts of a system while maintaining sight of the whole system

• Critical & Reflective Thinking: Ability to analyze and understand situations from a variety of perspectives

• Flexibility: Ability to accept the unexpected and adjust to what the situation now requires rather than what was required

• Improvement: Ability to recognize and develop personal strengths and areas in need of improvement and adjust style and approach depending on what the situation requires

• Decision-Making: Ability to make informed, timely decisions based on a mixture of analysis, evidence, and experience.

• Honest Reflexivity: Committed to engaging in and modeling honest reflexivity

 Success Factors

The successful candidate will be extremely collaborative, can work independently and take initiative in tasks and self-learning, be proactive in communications, and demonstrate innovative thinking. They will be able to effectively work across departments, and disciplines, often without direct supervisory authority. They will have excellent communication abilities in written English, including concise analytical and technical writing, and can communicate USAID Nawiri’s strengths and overall vision. They will also be able to work closely with a diverse team of individuals with varying backgrounds and objectives, having an excellent team and interpersonal relationship skills, along with a positive mindset. They will be expected to travel to locations within the program geographies, as required, in meeting the demands of the position.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The positions will be based in Maralal (Samburu County) and Lodwar (Turkana County) and requires frequent travel to field offices to support program staff. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.

 Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.

 Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

 Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org)