The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
DESCRIPTION:
The IRC began operations in Chad in 2004 to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the influx of refugees from Darfur into eastern Chad. Assistance to Sudanese refugees expanded to include the management of eleven camps in the east and one camp in the west, providing support to refugees and local communities in the areas of health, nutrition, and water, hygiene, and sanitation. In 2012, IRC expanded its geographic coverage to Guéra Province, where the organization currently works in five health districts and provides malnutrition prevention and treatment services to the local population, as well as family planning, response, and prevention activities related to gender-based violence (GBV). In May 2016, IRC established a presence in Lac Province to respond to the crisis caused by Boko Haram. In its 2022–2024 Strategic Action Plan, IRC Chad is committed to continuing to provide essential humanitarian services in health, nutrition, and protection/GBV, while improving the economic well-being and strengthening the resilience of beneficiaries, particularly women and girls. IRC Chad will continue to work closely with and support government actors and line ministries in key sectors to ensure that IRC’s actions are integrated into national policies, thereby fostering greater ownership of the initiatives undertaken.
Job Description:
Reporting directly to the Senior Health Coordinator, the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist based in Hadjer Hadid will be responsible for the overall management and implementation of a high-quality mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) program in all of IRC’s areas of operation, and more specifically in refugee camps. The Mental Health Specialist will work closely with the Ministry of Public Health’s mental health program, UNHCR, IRC, HIAS, and all members of the mental health working group in Chad to facilitate the coordination of mental health interventions in the country and strengthen their integration into the minimum package of services provided in health centers and hospitals. The mental health and psychosocial support specialist will supervise health workers in providing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services for patients with mental, neurological, and substance use disorders, using the guidelines of the WHO/UNHCR Mental Health Gaps Action Program (mhGAP), and will train new providers on the mhGAP model. She/he will develop standard operating procedures for providing psychological support and psychiatric care, as well as psychosocial support through group psychoeducation and community-based programs. She/he will represent IRC at all mental health working group meetings.
Key Responsibilities:
Program Coordination:
Coordinate mental health needs assessments;
Organize regular meetings on mental health with health program managers and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) team, in collaboration with other technical coordinators;
Ensure that mental health and psychosocial support are fully integrated into the various sectors of the health program (primary health care, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, environmental health) and other IRC programs (WPE and ERD);
Coordinate…