TITLE: Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Technical Advisor
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programme Development and Quality LOCATION: Juba, South Sudan GRADE: 4 CONTRACT LENGTH: 1 Year with Possibility Of Extension.
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: The post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the policy checking/vetting process of staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
The MHPSS Technical Advisor will use their technical expertise, in-depth contextual understanding, and relationship building skills to define and deliver Save the Children’s strategic vision for high quality, integrated MHPSS programming in South Sudan, in line with global standards and latest research. This builds on a growing and increasingly well-documented recognition of the critical MHPSS needs in South Sudan, and of the gaps in available national and local services, NGO responses, referral mechanisms and documentation for this constantly growing challenge.
The main purpose of this role is to provide strong technical leadership in South Sudan on MHPSS. The aim is to enhance the quality of MHPSS work delivered by SCI and its Partners across sectors and themes, bringing measurable and lasting changes in the lives of children.
The role will lead country office (CO) level strategy development and will oversee the technical design and implementation of high quality programmes that deliver change for children in both emergency and development programming. The role supports national advocacy and influencing, while driving strategic partnerships for new business development. It supports the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems to demonstrate impact, while sharing learning across programmes, teams and partners. The role will work closely with operations colleagues and with partners in South Sudan, building their capacity and building ownership and agency of local organisations. This role includes a focus on external representation on priority issues around mental health promotion, prevention and access to the care, and the strengthening of an effective and sustainable MHPSS continuum.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work beyond the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Deputy Programme Development and Quality Director
Staff directly reporting to this post: None
Role Dimensions: The role will work in close coordination with South Sudan Sectoral and Thematic Advisors and with Regional, Global and Member Office MHPSS Technical colleagues.
The role is expected to foster relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including the Country Office Programme Development & Quality and Operation teams, advocacy colleagues, Regional Advisors, Global Advisors, Save the Children Member Offices, technical counterparts in other organisations, donors, academia, etc. The role is also expected to engage with internal technical working groups and communities of practice.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Strategy and Leadership
- Provide overall strategic and technical steer to MHPSS programming in South Sudan, in line with the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) priorities, humanitarian response priorities, and aligned with Regional MHPSS Steer and Global MHPSS Strategic Framework
- Lead on the development of a country-level MHPSS strategy framework and/or multi-sectorial, integrated action plans, informed by up-to-date appraisal of MHPSS assets and resources, commitments, needs and gaps in country building on accessible entry points for integration of MHPSS across sectors
Programme Development
- Support programme development and lead on the identification and design of MHPSS initiatives or components across sectors and themes at national or sub-national level.
- Identify and integrate appropriate evidence-based/evidence-informed, cross-sectoral MHPSS intervention packages relevant to the context and identified needs into programme development opportunities
- Ensure that sufficient resources are earmarked to build capacity, monitor, quality-assure, capture evidence and learning, and strengthen quality and need-based MHPSS programming.
Programme Quality and Technical Support
- Provide overall technical oversight of MHPSS programme delivery; identify core strengths and areas for improvement
- Monitor, mentor and coach MHPSS technical competencies of SCI and Implementing Partner staff through regular onsite observation, technical consultations, technical supervision and evaluations
- Build and implement relevant capacity strengthening plans across sectors based upon identified competencies and gaps (i.e., support training, coaching, mentoring and technical supervision and monitoring plans across sectors)
- Lead on the development or contextualization of MHPSS training modules, implementation tools and technical resources, informed by evidence and aligned with regional and global guidance
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
- Lead on the development or contextualization of MHPSS assessment, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning guidance, tools and protocols aligned with regional and global guidance and provide technical support their implementation and reporting.
- Work with the MEAL TA and MEAL team to formulate/select MHPSS indicators and to develop indicator tracking plans for all grants, inputting into the development of additional M&E tools as necessary to monitor project progress
- With the MEAL team, ensure ethical, safe, appropriate, timely and accurate data collection against agreed indicators to enable both internal and external reporting
- Document lessons learnt, best practice and case studies to shape in-country strategies and program approaches, and contribute to broader sector learning.
Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development
- Lead on designing/advising of appropriate staffing within the PDQ and Operations teams to deliver MHPSS commitments that are of high quality and safe.
- Advocate to establish and/or provide technical support an appropriate technical supervision system for staff delivering MHPSS across sectors and levels of mental health and psychosocial care
Representation & Advocacy
- Act as a focal point for South Sudan on MHPSS related activities and represent SCI in relevant groups and fora, including relevant donor meetings as required.
- Help shape broader sector strategies through influence of and leadership within inter-agency coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed.
- Pro-actively identify advocacy opportunities, case studies and research opportunities which link with wider organizational strategic objectives, and turn these into action.
- Lead on organizational level development of program policy, innovation, learning or representation initiatives in consultation with relevant internal stakeholders
Safeguarding
- Ensure full compliance of Child Safeguarding Policy at field level and especially with SC engaged personnel.
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:
- Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving results together with children and role modelling Save the Children values
- Strong results orientation, with the ability to respectfully challenge existing mindsets where necessary to achieve change for children and families
- Creates and contributes to an environment in-country that leads, enables and maintains SCI’s culture of child safeguarding
Ambition:
- Sets ambitious and challenging goals for self and team, takes responsibility for own personal development and encourages team to do the same
- Widely shares vision for MHPSS in Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- Future oriented, thinks strategically and on a global scale
- Lead and drive a culture of programming for impact
Collaboration:
- Builds and maintains effective relationships with own team, colleagues, members, donors and partners
- Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
- Develops and implements innovative solutions to adapt and succeed in ever-changing and uncertain global and working environments.
- Takes effective, considered and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organization.
Integrity:
- Honest, encourages openness and transparency
- Displays consistent excellent judgement
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Essential
- Advanced degree in Psychology, Mental Health or a related field
- Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in a similar capacity
- Significant experience working in emergency response, protracted crises or fragile state contexts (experience in South Sudan and ESA region is a strong advantage)
- Significant experience of contributing to successful funding proposals for donors
- Excellent knowledge and experience in using key tools and approaches, including the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies
- Proven capacity to train, supervise, and coach staff in MHPSS technical skills and coordination, based on evidence-based approaches and intervention packages
- Ability to write clear, concise, thorough and meaningful programme designs, proposals, and assessment and project reports
- Excellent communication and influencing skills with experience in advocacy
- Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
- The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances
- Experience of representation and ability to represent Save the Children effectively in external forums
- Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of the Save the Children mandate and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin the organisation’s action.
- A high level of written and spoken English, required
Desirable
- Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
SCI needs to keep children safe. To this end, the selection process includes rigorous background checks as a reflection of the organisation’s commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.