MHPSS Service Assistant

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Service Assistant will work under the supervision of the MHPSS Associate, keeping in coordination with the Technical Coordinator MHPSS and Project Coordinator. They are responsible for delivering psychosocial support services to individuals or groups facing distressing situations, such as refugees, disaster survivors, or individuals affected by conflict. The primary focus is to help people cope with emotional and psychological challenges, improve their resilience, and enhance their overall well-being. The MHPSS Service Assistant is also responsible for managing a toll-free helpline, providing awareness and counseling on stress and anger management, and offering referral support where needed.

The MHPSS Service Assistant will develop linkages and referral mechanisms with health institutions. The post holder will support the project by running the helpline and counseling, educating, or referring beneficiaries to respective service providers.

The helpline will provide critical one-on-one information to affected people and ensure the confidentiality of cases. They will conduct necessary follow-up calls to the beneficiaries and maintain data. The post holder will constantly update data regarding relevant service providers in the target districts. They will also ensure that protection policies and procedures are effectively followed and implemented in the office and that protection/safeguarding matters are responded to sensitively. They must know, learn, and abide by organizational rules, regulations, and donor requirements concerning protection, safeguarding, and dealing with beneficiaries.

Key Responsibilities:

Counseling and Emotional Support:

• Provide empathetic and non-judgmental counseling to clients, offering a safe space for them to express their feelings and thoughts.
• Keep informed of current service providers and compile/update a list of all relevant service providers with complete contact details. Provide psychosocial first aid to the target beneficiaries.
• Through helpline and community visits, the MHPSS Service Assistant will provide counseling, and education, and refer beneficiaries to respective service providers.
• Provide individual counseling sessions tailored to the needs of the target population along with follow-up calls/sessions when deemed necessary.
• The MHPSS Service Assistant will provide critical one-on-one information to affected people and ensure confidentiality of cases.

Assessment: 

• Conduct and regularly update psychosocial assessments with project beneficiaries.
• Conduct  profiling  interviews  (on  need  basis)  and  ensure  accurate  data  entry  when
• required. 
• Identify cases that require specialized institutions' support and coordinate referral.
• Identify cases for conducting psychosocial group activities and conduct the same, if
• needed.  
• Identification of Community Health Care Volunteers at village level
• Monitoring: 
• Regular  monitoring  and  course  corrections  of  Community  Health  Care  Volunteers  at village level in program districts
• Community  Health  Care  Volunteers sessions beneficiaries data verification and record maintaining.

Psychoeducation: 

• Offer information and education on coping mechanisms, stress management, and self‐care techniques to help clients develop resilience.

Group Activities: 

• Organize  and  facilitate  group  activities,  workshops,  or  support groups to foster community and mutual support among individuals facing similar challenges.

Referrals: 

• Collaborate  with  other  healthcare  professionals,  social  workers,  or  mental  health specialists to refer clients for specialized services when necessary.

Documentation: 

• Maintain  accurate  records  of  client  interactions  and  progress, ensuring  confidentiality and data security. 
• Document all call information according to standard operating procedures and maintain complete calls log and produce call reports
• Attend all relevant project meetings as and when required.
• Maintain up to date, accurate, confidential records. Strict case confidentiality is required.
• Provide, collate and monitor regular, accurate and timely data of the helpline

7.  Cultural Sensitivity:

Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and adapt support approaches to respect diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs. 

Qualifications & Requirements:

This position demands a dynamic individual with good communication,  interpersonal and analytical skills to achieve results in demanding and often difficult environments.

• Minimum Bachelor\'s degree in Clinical Psychology/Psychology and experience in a field
• related to humanitarian assistance, emergency response and development especially with refugee programming. 
• Minimum of 2‐3 years related working experience in psychology, social work, community mobilization  and  mental  health  with  proven  track  records.  Desirable if certified in Psychosocial First Aid or another mental health certification.
• Proven  experience  responding  to  and  managing  sensitive  psycho‐social/protection  / safeguarding matters in a confidential manner
• Experience in providing training sessions to beneficiaries on psycho‐social issues.
• Good oral and written English, Urdu and Pashto communication skills
• Can maintain strict confidentiality.
• Willingness and ability to travel
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Empathy and the ability to establish rapport with clients and communities.
• Knowledge of mental health and psychosocial support principles and best practices.
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness.
• Good organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Understanding of confidentiality and ethical principles in MHPSS  

Safeguarding:

• Uphold  and  promote  organization  commitment  to  ensuring  the  safeguarding and safety of the vulnerable communities we serve.
• Consistent with organization safeguarding and protection policies, ensure your job‐related activity and practice is compliant with safeguarding standards.

This position is open on a rolling basis and will be filled upon the availability of a suitable candidate.  

We are an equal opportunity employer.