CONTEXT:

MdM has been working in Iraq since the 1990s. During its first mission in the country, MdM was providing general and specialized medical services (surgery, training programs for traditional birth attendants). Since then MdM had several programs which included paediatric surgery, contributing to the renewal of techniques and knowledge of surgical, medical and paramedical staff in 1997, emergency medical activities in 2002, building local capacity on basic emergency healthcare services at community level in 2006. From 2009 to 2011, MdM supported an Iraqi NGO in the implementation of a program aimed at improving the skills of midwives and traditional birth attendants in accordance with recognized international standards.

In 2014, with the arrival of ISIL, MdM started to provide immediate healthcare support through curative and preventive care including MHPSS services to IDPs and host communities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I). Later, MdM expanded its support to the most vulnerable IDPs and host communities outside of the KR-I region, in Kirkuk Governorate in July 2015, and in Ninewa Governorate in April 2016. Since 2018, MdM has developed a program where activities are gradually handed over to the MoH.

The current program focuses on supporting the local health authorities in providing quality PHC services (including MHPSS and GBV response) and continue to strengthen the capacities of local public health authorities in Dohuk, Kirkuk and Ninewa governorates, to provide quality care and respond to  health needs of IDPs, returnees and vulnerable host communities.

This includes:

• A combination of direct and complementary services, especially related to general health, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), while contributing to the health system strengthening through capacity building at DOH level
• Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS),
• Gender based violence (GBV) integrated within the PHCC general health services, SRH and MHPSS services
• As a cross cutting approach MdM is planning to develop a community health based (CHB) approach to ensure community participation, while empowering individuals.

In 2020, with the start of the pandemic of COVID 19, MDM Iraq adjusted its program activities, to respond to the immediate needs of the most vulnerable populations due to COVID-19 outbreak while extending its support to additional areas of intervention. The COVID-19 activities targeted the DoH staff at the PHC level and surrounding communities with the aim to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

Taking the current context of Iraq into consideration the MdM Iraq team is reviewing the strategy and expects 2021 to be a transition year. While the current projects are ongoing in 2021 MdM Iraq aims to transition from a humanitarian approach to a more development approach, from the health promotion perspective. While the strategy is still being finetuned, MdM Iraq has identified four main pillars to guide the strategy between 2021-2023: 1. Community Health Based Approach, 2. Capacity-building at the DoH level, 3. Partnership with local NGOs and 4. Advocacy. The aim is to strengthen the resilience and capacity of the local community. MDM Iraq also aims to develop projects together in partnership with the local community aiming at a sustainable, effective and innovative change building on the capacities of an empowered community supporting future exit.

Main responsibilities 

Under the supervision of the MH Officer, the Psycho-social Support Counsellor (PSSC) provides psychosocial and/or psychological interventions in an individual or group settings.

Psycho-social Support Counsellor will liaise with the mental health team (Mental Health officer, Social Workers) on the implementation of MHPSS interventions and activities, more specifically:

To provide psychosocial support, counselling, and organize support activities:

• Assess and identify the psycho-social needs of people presenting in PHCC or referred by others and they are in need to MH intervention.
• Define/Develop appropriate activities according to the needs identified (individual counselling, the number of sessions, and the type of activity planned) and will follow up those persons.
• Organize group (peer support, psycho-education) and individual counselling activities, according to identified needs inside and outside the PHCC.
• To detect more serious forms of distress and other mental health conditions.
• Coordinate with MHPSS officer and social workers on cases requiring higher level interventions.
• Participate in regular meetings with Social Workers to ensure comprehensive follow-up of cases benefitting from MHPSS consultations.
• Ensure that the target population has access to mental and psychosocial support services.

Community mental health interventions in direct link with the MHPSS officer and the social workers:

• Participate in defining effective and culturally appropriate approaches and interventions on the community level
• Focus on information dissemination and collecting opinions to foster knowledge and self-care practices for communities in areas of intervention
• Initiate and facilitate group interventions and community-based events.
• To perform home visit services (door to door) when there is a need.

Analysis, detection and reduction of risk factors influencing the mental health status at community level:

• In collaboration with the mental health and medical teams, explore and detect potential risk factors influencing mental health status of the target population.
• Coordinate with Social Workers and other actors concerned to reduce and/or eliminate potential risk factors.

Data collection and archiving:

• Ensure that the MHPSS activities are well documented and archived in accordance to MdM standards.
• Upon to the needs, report the MHPSS activities and prepare weekly/monthly reports.
• Ensure that the MHPSS files are secured and stored in a wat preserve the confidentiality and the privacy of the cases.

Others

• Any other related MDM tasks as assigned by the line management.
• Under the guidance of the MH officer, Deputy MHPSS Co and MHPSS CO, support in the collection of information related to behaviours of the community to reinforce quality of MHPSS services
• Collaborate and participate, in any field survey, data collection and/or needs assessment organized by MDM in relation to MHPSS
• Participate in MDM internal meetings, trainings and individual meetings.
• The activities may change based on the changing context.
• To inform immediately security focal point in the case of any security problem.

 Working relations 

The Psycho-social Support Counsellor (PSSC) reports directly to MHPSS Officer and receives technical support from MHPSS Coordinator

S/he do not manage a team (no supervisory role).

S/he manages directly: No such staff to manage.

S/he works closely with the Field Office-Sinjar team which includes:

• Field Coordinator
• MHPSS
• Senior program officer
• Logistics, Security, Admin/Finance Officers
• Field Staff
• Drivers and Guard

S/he technically supervises:

• No staff

Skills required:

Education

• Degree or Diploma in psychology or counseling.

Professional experience

• At least 1 - 2 years of professional experiences in relevant field (clinical psychology, educational psychology or other related field)
• Strong communication and facilitation skills
• Experience working in humanitarian sector is an asset
• Proactive and ability to work with multicultural team would be highly appreciated
• Fluency in Arabic and Kurdish, English is an asset
• Be committed to MdM’s values as an organization and motivated by its non-statutory, Not for Profit model.

Required personal skills

Languages

• English:
• Arabic:
• Kurdish:

Employment conditions

• Position based in Sinjar (with regular travel to the field)
• 6 months contract( until 31-12-2021)

Submit CV and Cover letter  by Email to recruitment.iraq@medecinsdumonde.net

including the subject:

Ref: 2021-SJR-05

LAST SUBMISSION DATE ON April 14, 2021

please make sure to send your CV in PDF/word format (other formats or links arent considered) and write the reference (2021-SJR-05)on the subject of your email. Only Short-Listed Applicants Will Be Contacted Reviewing the application CVs will be on a rolling basis, as such; MdM reserves the right to fill the position before the closing date of the job advertisement.