Mental Health and Psychological Support Specialist (MHPSS) – Chad At INTERSOS

INTERSOS is a Non-Governmental Humanitarian Organization, non-profit, which aims to assist victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. INTERSOS bases its action on the values ​​of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equal rights and opportunities for all peoples, respect for diversity, coexistence, attention to social groups the most vulnerable.

Terms of reference

Job title : Mental Health and Psychological Support Specialist (MHPSS)

Code : SR-31-6739

Country: Chad

Duty station: N’Djamena (50%) and Lake Chad (50%)

Date of taking office: 19/06/2023

Contract duration: 5.5 months

Under the supervision of: Project Manager

Direct supervision of: 12

Dependents: non-family duty station

General context of the project

Since 2015, the humanitarian situation in Chad from the Lac province has been characterized by attacks and incursions by non-state armed groups (NSAGs) which have caused continuous internal and cross-border displacement of populations. Between 2019 and 2021, NSAG attacks and incursions into villages and IDP sites have worsened, leading to a deterioration of the security situation in Lac province, which has a population of around 657,000 people and 406,573 IDPs ( IDP), 19,415 cross-border displaced persons/refugees (from Nigeria and Cameroon) and 29,263 registered returnees (UNHCR, February 2022). The majority of these IDPs live in host sites and communities. Displacements are also caused by inter-community conflicts.

According to the Protection Cluster, 1,544 cases of protection incidents were recorded in 2021, of which 87% are damaged by GANE. According to the INTERSOS Protection Analysis Report for 2021, between January and December 2021, 480 child protection incidents were reported, including 45% abductions, 39% family separations, 6% arbitrary arrests, 2.5% of early marriages with GANE members. Most child protection incidents have been attributed to NSAG. About 40% of the victims are girls. According to the PM INTERSOS 2021 report, several child protection issues were reported, such as: family separation: 190 childhood cases; absence of civil status documents: 95% of children attending Friends of Children’s Spaces (CFS) in IDP sites do not have birth certificates, preventing them from accessing basic services and formal education; education: 83% of children of school age do not have access to education; Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG): 10% of children are used by armed groups; child exploitation: 13% of children are engaged in domestic work (professional exploitation) among which children are exploited by Marabouts (religious leaders); mine risk: child marriage: 2 out of 3 girls are victims of this traditional practice. In 2020, according to the Lac 2020 GBV Sub-Cluster Dashboard, the GBV situation was as follows: 1,295 GBV cases documented, representing a 30% increase in cases in 2021. According to the GBV Task Force, 1,688 GBV cases were documented in 2021 (29% psychological/emotional abuse, 28% denial of resources, opportunities or services, 3.5% rape, 6% physical assault, 29% sexual assault, 4.5% forced marriage). About 60% of GBV cases occur during livelihood activities and on the way to access basic social services. Traditional practices used are a reality, such as child marriage which is used as a negative coping strategy . The environment of impunity for GBV has a negative impact on the reporting of these cases and affects behavior change. In addition, there are cases of violence and abuses against IDPs and indigenous populations, the most frequent being abductions and use by NSAGs (mainly women and children). According to the INTERSOS 2021 protection monitoring report, 450 people (70 men, 164 women, 78 boys and 138 girls) were victims of abduction. All of the above severe impact in terms of psychological distress for the displaced and the host community, which also leads to mental health problems, especially for the most vulnerable (mental health GGT province du Lac, December 2021). According to the HNO/HRP 2022, 614,000 people (23.5% women, 49.7% children, 3.6% elderly and 5% disabled) need protection services, with approximately 70% of cases requiring psychological support services. According to GGT Lac Santé Mentale, 946 patients were treated for a mental disorder in 2021 in various state and humanitarian structures, including 58.2% women/girls and 41.8% men/boys. Access to services adequate protection is limited, due to the low presence of service providers, the poor condition or unavailability of structures, and the long distances traveled to reach the few available services, and low or no income from the target population to pay for these services.​

General objective of the position

The Mental Health and Psychological Support Specialist (MHPSS) is responsible for supervising clinical psychologists in the implementation of psychosocial support / mental health actions

Main responsibilities and tasks

• Implementation and/or development of tools for psychological care;
• Establishment of the supervision system for the psychosocial management of cases at the level of health facilities and the 12 intervention sites of the Lac project;
• Make the consultation plan for individual cases and provide psychosocial care for cases;
• Refer patients as needed to partners for holistic, adequate and comprehensive care, according to the areas of intervention;
• Have consultation tools by collaborating with local clinical psychologists;
• Check, promote and foster the bond of trust between the patient and the other stakeholders in the patient’s environment via clinical psychologists;
• Support all teams on aspects of psychosocial support, as well as on protection issues related to their vulnerabilities;
• Check the functionality of the mechanisms allowing the participation of the patient in his care and the reappropriation of his power and his autonomy as well as the participation of his family;
• Train medical staff in recognizing or diagnosing the symptoms of psychological disorders to guide or refer patients to the mental health specialist;
• Train the actors intervening in the sites on psychosocial support, its symptoms and the need to consult a specialist in the event of the manifestation of psychological disorders;
• Coordinate with other organizations and other partners for case management

Provide the weekly and monthly report of mental health activities to the Project Manager;

• Training supervision of local service providers for psychological care in health facilities;
• Make a monthly report on the co-construction of patient needs with medical centers known as FOSA.

Profile required

Education

Bac+5 in Clinical Psychology or Psychiatry (or in a similar field)

Professional experience

• Have a solid professional experience of at least 5 years in the management of mental health activities with displaced persons and children;
• Have work experience around an issue related to violence with a disadvantaged population following an armed conflict or natural disasters;
• Have experience working in humanitarian contexts characterized by volatile security;
• Be available to organize regular missions in the field.

Professional requirements

• Rigorous and organized in the management of the service, respect of deadlines.
• Interpersonal skills for external and internal interactions.
• Autonomy and adaptability required.
• Availability to work under pressure.

LANGUAGES

• Fluent French (spoken, read, written)
• Knowledge of English (desirable).

Personal requirements

• Spirit of adaptation to simple living conditions, to a hot/very hot climate and to security constraints;
• Sense of organization, management and planning;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, diplomacy and partnership approach
• Flexibility and ability to work in a difficult context, under pressure and in an often uncomfortable environment;
• Ability to communicate and work in a team and in a multicultural context;
• Ability to work in a highly volatile security environment and under basic living conditions;
• Respect for INTERSOS values/mission.