Une consultation en santé mentale au Mexique par MSF.

Working as mental health activity manager in the field

From providing psychological first aid to survivors of natural disasters to counselling HIV patients, our Mental Health Managers play a vital role in our projects. As a Mental Health Activity Manager, your role will be to provide the most appropriate support for patients using strategies and tools adapted to the context and culture.

This is an exciting and diverse role involving some or all of the following.

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Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate and ensure that mental health activities with patients are performed with regular follow-ups, and ensure that the mental health team remains calm and neutral during sessions regardless of personal feelings/beliefs, and that the interpreters are trained in terminology and appropriate behaviour during sessions
  • In collaboration with other medical team members, identify the mental health support needs in the target population and participate in defining, planning, organising and updating the appropriate MSF strategy and the mental health activities and the budget
  • Map and update the details of existing mental health services, including other NGOs, local NGOs, community groups and government health services, and maintain good and regular communication and collaboration with other components of the project
  • Identify possible advocacy issues and inform the Medical Coordinator and Project Coordinator before taking any action
  • Ensure, in collaboration with the medical department, that the mental health department participates in counselling as well as Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) and voluntary counselling and testing activities when needed
  • Ensure that psychiatric patients coming to MSF facilities receive proper treatment, including psychotropic medication and psychosocial support either within an MSF programme or via an alternative resource
  • Ensure the implementation of all MSF standard mental health protocols and procedures
  • Manage, train and supervise the mental health team through activities such as recruitment, defining job descriptions, capacity-building, briefing/debriefing and evaluation of staff

Depending on our activities and needs, your responsibilities may be adapted and evolve according to the specific projects.

Requirements:

You will not face these challenges alone; other MSF team members (both international and locally hired staff) will provide technical support, including comprehensive guidelines and protocols.

  • Master Level Degree or equivalent in Psychology with relevant trainings for clinical practice, specialization in clinical psychology, counselling, psychotherapy, psychopathology, neuropsychology or related subject
  • A clinical training component with a set number of supervised clinical hours completed (to be documented in the CV). The training should include face-to-face clinical patient care (individual and group sessions) with appropriate supervision and developing key psychotherapeutic skills/ techniques.
  • Two years’ relevant professional experience with adults including behavioural techniques or counselling
  • Recent clinical experience (at least six months within the last 24 months)
  • Experience working with vulnerable populations in an intercultural context
  • IT skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
  • Fluency in English and/or French; any other languages are an asset (Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian)
  • Available for a minimum of 6 months
  • Commitment to MSF’s work and values
  • Strong team player
  • Willingness to work in all kinds of contexts worldwide, including unstable areas
  • Adaptable and able to work in a multicultural team
  • Flexible and able to manage stress
  • Self-driven with a solution-oriented approach
  • Ability and experience in training others, coaching and supervision

Assets:

  • Experience with post-traumatic stress disorder, or victims of trauma or violence
  • Additional psychotherapy training/diplomas such as cognitive therapy, clinical social work or counselling
  • Experience working in context similar to our fields of intervention
  • People management experience

We encourage applications from people of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, backgrounds, religions, beliefs, abilities and all other characteristics of diversity.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo reference and criminal record checks.

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