Consultant for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories worldwide. The organization is dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. UNICEF is known for its commitment to promoting the rights of every child, and it fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace culture. The organization offers various opportunities for professional and personal development, ensuring that its staff can grow while serving children and communities globally. UNICEF is recognized for its attractive compensation and benefits package, which reflects its mission-driven approach to humanitarian work.

Job Overview:
The consultant will provide direct counseling support to individuals and families evacuated from Gaza, as well as to children and women returnees from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. This role is crucial in strengthening the capacity of the National Agency for Social Protection's (NASP) social service workforce to deliver structured, trauma-informed Mental Health and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). The consultant will work closely with UNICEF’s Child Protection Officer and a national consultant to ensure that the MHPSS services provided are culturally sensitive, child-centered, and trauma-informed. The consultant will also be responsible for integrating international MHPSS standards into the support provided to families, ensuring their holistic reintegration and well-being. This position requires ongoing collaboration with various stakeholders and a commitment to delivering high-quality psychosocial care.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide direct counseling and psychosocial support to families evacuated from Gaza and returnee families from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria through home visits and sessions at Inson Centres. Ensure that interventions are child- and family-centered, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed, and confidential, prioritizing crisis cases. Facilitate referrals to specialized health and mental health services as needed.
• Participate in case management processes, including assessment, planning, follow-up, and review of cases. Engage in multidisciplinary case discussions to ensure holistic support and document interventions, progress, and challenges.
• Coach district Inson psychologists on evidence-based psychosocial interventions for high-risk children and families, providing supervision and peer-learning opportunities. Support the integration of these practices into the routine work of Inson Centres.
• Collaborate with the National Consultant to support NASP’s social service workforce in case management, participating in supervision and coordination meetings at national and regional levels. Document lessons learned and contribute to reports on challenges, good practices, and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate must possess a Master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field. They should have a minimum of 8 years of experience delivering direct MHPSS services to children and families, particularly those affected by conflict. The candidate must demonstrate experience in coaching and supervising mental health and/or social service professionals, with a strong knowledge of international MHPSS standards and evidence-based interventions. Experience working within multidisciplinary case management systems is essential, along with excellent facilitation, communication, and reporting skills. Experience in providing MHPSS services to returnees from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria in Uzbekistan is considered a strong asset.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to provide effective mental health and psychosocial support to vulnerable populations.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least 8 years of relevant experience in delivering direct MHPSS services to children and families, with a preference for those who have worked with populations affected by conflict. Demonstrated experience in coaching and supervising mental health and social service professionals is also required. Familiarity with international MHPSS standards and evidence-based interventions is crucial, as is experience working within multidisciplinary case management systems.

Languages:
Fluency in Uzbek is mandatory for this position, as it is essential for effective communication with the target population. Proficiency in Russian is considered an asset, as it may facilitate communication with additional stakeholders and enhance the consultant's ability to provide comprehensive support.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is expected to last for a total of 171 working days, with specific deliverables and timelines outlined for various tasks. The consultant will be required to submit a professional fee based on the total working days, excluding travel fees, which will be reimbursed as incurred. The position involves direct interaction with vulnerable populations and requires adherence to UNICEF's strict standards of conduct, including safeguarding and protection policies. The consultant will also undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and must meet medical clearance and inoculation requirements as part of the hiring process.