Mental Health and Psycho Social Support Officer

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

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Employee Contract Type:

Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)

Job Description:

Job Purpose: The MHPSS Officer is responsible for supporting the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) interventions delivered through the Mobile Health and Nutrition Team (MHNT) in targeted woredas. The position holder will closely with health and nutrition team members, government health structures, protection actors, and community stakeholders to ensure the provision of quality, timely, and integrated MHPSS services for conflict-affected and vulnerable populations.

The MHPSS Officer conducts mental health and psychosocial assessments, provides Psychological First Aid (PFA), basic psychosocial support, psychoeducation, trauma healing interventions, and individual or group counseling sessions as appropriate. She /He will facilitates protection-sensitive psychosocial support activities for vulnerable groups.The officer also supports community-based trauma healing initiatives and resilience-building interventions to address the psychosocial impacts of conflict, displacement, violence, and other adversities. In collaboration with health teams and government counterparts, the MHPSS Officer supports the integration of MHPSS services into Primary Health Care (PHC).The officer also strengthens the capacity of community workers, volunteers, and frontline service providers on MHPSS approaches, protection principles, trauma-informed care, and safe referral pathways.

Through these responsibilities, the MHPSS Officer contributes to improving access to integrated mental health, psychosocial support, and protection services, strengthening community resilience, and enhancing the well-being and recovery of vulnerable populations served through the MHNT.

Major responsibility:

Operations:

• The Project Officer oversees the planning, coordination, and implementation of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities at the woreda level, ensuring that interventions are delivered in accordance with approved work plans, timelines, budgets, and quality standards. The officer coordinates the integration of MHPSS services within health, nutrition, protection, and community-based platforms to ensure comprehensive and accessible support for vulnerable populations.
• The role includes overseeing the implementation of key MHPSS interventions such as psychosocial support services, Psychological First Aid (PFA), trauma healing activities, individual and group counseling, community awareness campaigns, and capacity-strengthening initiatives for frontline workers and community volunteers. The officer supports the integration of MHPSS into Primary Health Care (PHC) services, including the application of mhGAP approaches and referral pathways for individuals with mental health and psychosocial needs.
• The role includes overseeing the implementation of key MHPSS interventions such as psychosocial support services, Psychological First Aid (PFA), trauma healing activities, individual and group counseling, community awareness campaigns, and capacity-strengthening initiatives for frontline workers and community volunteers. The officer supports the integration of MHPSS into Primary Health Care (PHC) services, including the application of mhGAP approaches and referral pathways for individuals with mental health and psychosocial needs.;">undefined
• The officer works closely with government health structures, protection actors, community leaders, faith leaders, and implementing partners to ensure coordinated, culturally appropriate, and protection-sensitive service delivery. The position also monitors activity implementation, ensures adherence to technical standards and humanitarian principles, supports documentation and reporting, and contributes to strengthening community resilience, psychosocial well-being, and access to quality MHPSS services for conflict-affected and vulnerable populations.
• The officer works closely with government health structures, protection actors, community leaders, faith leaders, and implementing partners to ensure coordinated, culturally appropriate, and protection-sensitive service delivery. The position also monitors activity implementation, ensures adherence to technical standards and humanitarian principles, supports documentation and reporting, and contributes to strengthening community resilience, psychosocial well-being, and access to quality MHPSS services for conflict-affected and vulnerable populations.;">undefined

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:

• The MHPSS Officer is responsible for monitoring the implementation of MHPSS activities within the MHNT, tracking progress against planned targets and indicators, and ensuring timely, accurate, and complete data collection. The officer applies relevant MHPSS monitoring and reporting tools in collaboration with MEAL teams, participates in mental health and psychosocial assessments, and conducts rapid psychosocial needs assessments when required. The role includes ensuring proper documentation of cases, counseling sessions, referrals, and follow-up actions using approved recording tools and confidentiality standards. The officer prepares and submits high-quality narrative and quantitative reports, including monthly,  and donor-required reports, while ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and adherence to established reporting systems and ethical guidelines for MHPSS data management.

Project Quality Assurance:

• The Project Officer ensures that all MHPSS activities are implemented in accordance with national guidelines, international standards, donor requirements, and organizational quality benchmarks. This includes providing regular field supervision, monitoring the quality and effectiveness of psychosocial support services, trauma healing interventions, counseling activities, and community-based MHPSS programs, while ensuring adherence to protection principles and a survivor-centered approach.
• The officer monitors service delivery processes, referral pathways, case documentation, and data quality to ensure timely, ethical, and effective support for vulnerable populations. The role involves identifying implementation gaps, capacity needs, and operational challenges, and working with technical teams to implement corrective actions and continuous quality improvement measures.
• The officer monitors service delivery processes, referral pathways, case documentation, and data quality to ensure timely, ethical, and effective support for vulnerable populations. The role involves identifying implementation gaps, capacity needs, and operational challenges, and working with technical teams to implement corrective actions and continuous quality improvement measures.;">undefined
• The officer also tracks the utilization of project resources, training materials, and MHPSS supplies, ensuring efficient use, accountability, and compliance with project procedures. Through regular monitoring, supportive supervision, mentoring, and coordination with health, protection, and community stakeholders, the officer contributes to the delivery of high-quality, integrated MHPSS services and improved psychosocial well-being outcomes for affected communities.
• The officer also tracks the utilization of project resources, training materials, and MHPSS supplies, ensuring efficient use, accountability, and compliance with project procedures. Through regular monitoring, supportive supervision, mentoring, and coordination with health, protection, and community stakeholders, the officer contributes to the delivery of high-quality, integrated MHPSS services and improved psychosocial well-being outcomes for affected communities.
• Internal and External Coordination: Internal and External Coordination The officer participates in zonal and woreda-level coordination meetings especially MHPSS TWG and works closely with government health offices, UN agencies, NGOs, and other partners to facilitate smooth implementation of health and nutrition activities. Work closely with National Office MHPSS and Health Specialist  He/she provides timely updates on program progress, technical inputs, and challenges, ensuring alignment with national standards and local coordination mechanisms. The officer represents World Vision Ethiopia during partner and donor field visits and supports information sharing and reporting for internal and external stakeholders.
• Internal and External Coordination: Internal and External Coordination The officer participates in zonal and woreda-level coordination meetings especially MHPSS TWG and works closely with government health offices, UN agencies, NGOs, and other partners to facilitate smooth implementation of health and nutrition activities.Work closely with National Office MHPSS and Health Specialist He/she provides timely updates on program progress, technical inputs, andchallenges, ensuring alignment with national standards and local coordination mechanisms. The officer represents World Vision Ethiopia during partner and donor field visits and supports information sharing and reporting for internal and external stakeholders.

Required Education, training, license, registration, and certification:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Psychology, Psychiatry, Mental Health, Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric Nursing, Social Work, Sociology, Public Health, or other related social and behavioral science fields from an accredited university or college.

Required Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience for MSc holders or 4 years for BSc holders in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), psychosocial programming, protection, or related health and social services within an international NGO or similar organization, preferably in emergency or humanitarian response settings.

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Knowledge of humanitarian standards including Sphere Standards, IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, and Red Cross/Red Crescent Code of Conduct.
• Experience in planning and implementing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) interventions, including Psychological First Aid (PFA), counseling, psychosocial support activities, and community-based mental health programming in emergency or development settings.
• Skills in case management, referral pathway coordination, psychosocial assessment, training facilitation, and team coordination.
• Ability to work under pressure in remote, unstable, or emergency field conditions and adapt to rapidly changing humanitarian contexts.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, facilitation, and negotiation skills, with commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, and World Vision values and ethics.
• Basic computer skills (MS Office, reporting tools, and data entry systems) considered an advantage

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and local languages,
  

World Vision is a child-focused organization that is committed to safeguarding all children as well as adult beneficiaries and has zero tolerance for incidents of violence or abuse against children or adults, including sexual exploitation or abuse, committed either by employees or others affiliated with our work. Therefore, World Vision does not hire staff whose background is not suitable for working with children or vulnerable adults, even if their role does not interact directly with them.

 

Disclaimer: World Vision Ethiopia is a reputable organization that values transparency and fairness in its recruitment process and does not solicit any money for any job application. We encourage all job seekers to be cautious of any job ads that require payment or personal information upfront. If you have any questions or concerns about our job ads or recruitment process, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only