Mental Health Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International is an international non-profit organization dedicated to partnering with communities affected by conflict, climate change, and disasters to save lives, build resilience, and promote long-term health and wellbeing. Established over 60 years ago, Relief International has evolved through mergers and alliances between four organizations, currently operating in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The organization employs more than 7,000 staff and local volunteers, focusing on critical health needs and wellbeing programming that helps communities recover and rebuild their social fabric. Their programs include Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education, and Livelihoods, all designed to be safe, local, conflict-sensitive, climate-smart, and evidence-based, reaching those most in need.

Job Overview:
The Mental Health Assistant will oversee the implementation of mental health and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities. This role is crucial in developing detailed action plans for MHPSS initiatives, providing clinical management for mental health conditions, and organizing training sessions for health workers and community members. The assistant will conduct psychosocial needs assessments among affected populations, ensuring adherence to IASC guidelines and WHO assessment toolkits. The position requires collaboration with partners in the protection and health sectors to address the needs of mental health patients, strengthen support for health workers, and participate in interagency coordination mechanisms. The Mental Health Assistant will also provide guidance to the Psychosocial Support Officer in planning community-based activities, focusing on vulnerable groups such as women, girls, and youth, and will be responsible for maintaining confidential documentation of all psychosocial activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Mental Health Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Develop detailed action plans for mental health and psychosocial support activities.
• Provide clinical management of mental health conditions.
• Organize MHPSS training sessions for health workers and community members.
• Conduct and participate in psychosocial needs assessments among affected populations, including baseline assessments consistent with IASC guidelines and WHO assessment toolkits.
• Organize referrals for mental health cases and follow up to ensure adherence to treatment.
• Collaborate with partners in the protection and health sectors to address the needs of mental health patients.
• Strengthen mental health and psychosocial support for health workers.
• Join or initiate interagency coordination mechanisms for MHPSS.
• Provide guidance to the Psychosocial Support Officer for community-based PSS activities, ensuring a focus on women, girls, and youth. 1
• Identify gaps and opportunities for MHPSS and assist in developing interventions. 1
• Provide regular reports on activities and indicators achieved in line with Monitoring and Evaluation tools. 1
• Support the implementation of relevant trainings for the MHPSS team and other humanitarian actors. 1
• Ensure maintenance of confidential documentation and records of psychosocial activities. 1
• Collaborate with other agencies and participate in meetings on behalf of Relief International.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must possess a certificate or diploma in psychology, counseling, social work, or behavioral science. They should have at least 2 years of working experience, preferably in resource-limited and hostile environments. Previous experience in an INGO setting is advantageous. Effective communication skills, empathy, and a strong record of keeping accurate reports are essential. The ability to work with minimal supervision and experience in refugee settings in South Sudan are also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a certificate or diploma in psychology, counseling, social work, or behavioral science. This foundational education is critical for understanding mental health issues and providing appropriate support to affected individuals.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant working experience, ideally in challenging environments such as resource-limited settings or conflict zones. Experience working in an INGO context is highly valued, as it demonstrates familiarity with the operational challenges and dynamics of humanitarian work.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international context of the organization. Knowledge of local languages spoken in South Sudan would be advantageous and beneficial for effective communication with the community.

Additional Notes:
This is a national position, and applicants must not have criminal records or convictions related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Sexual Harassment, or Child Abuse. The organization emphasizes its commitment to humanitarian principles, including humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. Relief International encourages qualified females to apply, highlighting their commitment to inclusiveness and diversity in the workplace. The application process requires submission of a motivational letter, national ID, CV, and academic documents, all of which should be non-returnable. Due to the urgency of filling this position, shortlisting will occur on a rolling basis, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted within two weeks of the closing date.