Iraq: Mental health and psycho social support Consultant

Background/IRC Summary: Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (www.rescue.org) is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict development services for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. The IRC is currently working in over 25 countries around the world, addressing both the immediate and lifesaving needs of conflict affected people in emergencies and the reconstruction needs of post-conflict societies.

The IRC has long-term Iraq-based and cross-border programmes supporting IDPs and refugees. Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, the IRC currently addresses the needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) across 10 governorates in Iraq and war-affected Syrians from several operational bases in the region. Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, the IRC currently addresses the needs of conflict-affected populations from several operational bases across Iraq. IRC’s activities focus primarily on the protection and legal assistance, cash assistance and livelihood, distribution of non-food items, education and women and children’s protection, and form part of an over-arching humanitarian response in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and the region that seeks to assist refugees, IDPs and war-affected people survive conflict and displacement.

As part of the improvement of non-specialized mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services delivery in Iraq, the IRC is supporting quality MHPSS service delivery at both the camp and community level across its 10 operational governorates.

Job Overview/Summary: The MHPSS consultant will provide technical assistance and operational support to the IRC Psychosocial Protection Team working across 10 governorates inside Iraq. S/he will be responsible for preparing and implementing a country-wide needs assessment on needs for PSS for men and boys in Iraq. S/he will be responsible for developing standard operating procedures for the provision of PSS in Iraq, including how the Psychosocial Team respond to harmful gender norms, provide psychoeducation in group and community settings and identify clients in need. S/he will be responsible for strengthening the existing program by providing overall management and ensuring the safe provision of services that meet national standards. The MHPSS consultant will develop supervisory tools and provide in person and remote supervision to the team using a core competencies checklist and structured feedback.

Major Responsibilities:

Major responsibilities of the MHPSS Consultant are listed below:

• Lead a country wide MHPSS needs assessment for men, boys, women and girls, including the creation of tools, data collection methodologies (including a training to the national teams), and data analysis;
• Write a comprehensive report on the country wide needs assessment, which will be used to inform tools and PSS programming in these governorates;
• Develop service provision tools and/or adapt IASC tools for the PSS teams in our 10 governorates. These tools should be accessible and easy to use for immediate implementation by the field teams;
• Provide on the job and remote supportive supervision to the PSS Team using a core competency checklist and structured feedback;
• Develop a supervision system that can utilized by the Project Lead once the consultancy is complete;
• Develop SOPs for the provision of psychosocial support including but not limited to: responding to harmful gender norms, providing psychoeducation in group and community settings and identifying clients in need, as well as any other issue identified during the needs assessment. ;
• Review, adapt and finalize the current curriculum (developed by IRC and War Trauma Foundation);
• Adapt the curriculum for one-off PSS sessions, with support and collaboration with the Technical Advisor and the Protection Team;
• Train PSS and Protection teams on the new curriculum for one-off sessions;
• Build the capacity of PSS and protection teams through trainings on MHPSS, specifically trainings with guidance on the developed tools and their implementation; and
• Maintain contact with the MHPSS teams across Iraq to provide technical support on the implementation of the curriculums and programming to ensure quality provision of services.

Deliverables over the Course of the Consultancy:

• Comprehensive report on the country-wide needs assessment with recommendations
• Development of tools for service provision based on the existing group sessions curriculum, for the PSS/Protection teams in our 10 governorates for easy use and immediate implementation by field teams
• Finalized curriculum for PSS sessions to be used in all 10 governorates**,** including a separate condensed curriculum for one-off sessions
• Training of the national PSS team on the two curriculums

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Protection Coordinator

Position directly supervises: Technical supervision of PSS and Protection staff in the capacity of this project

Other Internal and/or external contacts: MHPSS Technical Advisor; Senior Protection Managers

Qualifications

Education:

• The qualified candidate must have a degree in psychology, mental health counseling or social work.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in MHPSS.
• Knowledge and experience in conducting assessments, data analysis, and program/curriculum design
• Previous experience training MHPSS staff on Psychological First Aid and conducting of group/ community sessions.
• Experience supporting male survivors of sexual violence, torture and LGBTI persons is desirable.
• Experience working in Iraq/KRI and/or the Middle East is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of and experience in using established inter-agency standards and guidelines in MHPSS, such as the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Proficient analytical skills that demonstrate and understanding of current concepts, priorities and issues in program monitoring, data collection, and evaluation.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, respect, non-discrimination and safety of beneficiaries at all times.
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, creativity and flexibility.
• Profound cross-cultural awareness and insight into mental health issues, ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently.
• Ability to work autonomously, take initiative and responsibly escalate issues.
• Excellent coaching skills, including the capacity to provide structured feedback.

Language Skills:

• Ability to communicate and write clearly in English and Arabic is required.
• Ability to communicate and write clearly in Kurdish and/or Turkman is desired.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Qualified Candidates should submit Cover Letters with their CVs attached electronically to marina.solecki@rescue.org with indicating the position they are applying for in the subject of the email.