Project Context and Scope
The ongoing humanitarian situation in Ukraine heightened the country’s mental health and psychosocial support needs and added to the distressing conditions caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine and an underfunded health system. IOM is carrying on its work in Ukraine through the development of a community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programme. The programme follows IOM global MHPSS standards specified in the manual on community-based mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies and displacement through the creation of psychosocial mobile teams providing community-based MHPSS services in temporary accomodation settings and other community spaces, with the aim of enhancing community and family level resilience and ability to cope with the distressing situations caused by the crisis.
IOM community based MHPSS programs use standardized approaches implemented by psychosocial mobile teams (PMTs). These multidisciplinary teams provide community-based services, leveraging the diverse expertise, cultural competencies, and professional skills of their members.
PMTs offer flexible programming, outreach, and close proximity to communities during various displacement phases. They make services more accessible for women, persons with disabilities, older adults, large families, and others who may have difficulty traveling to facilities. Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing Response, Recovery & Resilience (RRR) Unit /Mental Health and Psychosocial Support. Tasks to be performed under this contract Category A Consultants:
The MHPSS Social Worker is a member of the PMT tasked with social support, including referral to additional services and social support organizations, as well as family mediation and case management. Tasks to be performed under this contract are:
Strengthen existing social networks and promote participatory initiatives aimed at activating protective, restorative and transformative psychosocial factors at the community level, such as mutual support, intrafamily and interfamily cooperation, public gatherings and dialogue. Map the provision of basic services at the community level and disseminate information on how to reach those services and resources, referring individual and family to relevant services in case of need. Provide direct non-specialized psychosocial assistance to the most vulnerable individuals and families of the affected populations, such as women, children, elderly people, people with disabilities, survivors of violence, and economically destitute and socially marginalized persons. Organize, together with the other MHPSS team members, a series of sensitization, awareness sessions, informal educational, information and problem-solving activites on identified psychosocial problems or needs encountered by the community and initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of community-based structures. In coordination with the Senior MHPSS Associate, provide capacity strengthening, technical guidance and supervision to community focal points and volunteers in the concerned communities, ensuring that the programme’s activities are effectively communicated and carried on in participatory and inclusive ways. Facilitate MHPSS needs or impact assessments, surveys and research in concerned communities of the project to enhance access to community-based psychosocial and protection services. Guide or support with the implementation of structured MHPSS activities focused on building life, social and soft skills; as well as MHPSS and Livelihood Integration. Contribute to the planning and implementation of psychosocial services tailored to veterans and families of veterans and supporting the capacity of the communities to support their reintegration into civilian life. Proper reporting and data entry of activities in tracker sheets and proper documentation of the community-based activities as well as the use of proper donor visibility in coordination with the Senior MHPSS Associate. Perform such other duties as may be assigned. Performance indicators for the evaluation of resultsThe successful implementation of the quarterly plan of action, reaching the target number of individuals and services outlines in the plan with the proper quality of service delivery in line with IOM guidelines.
The fulfillment of the time on the job required as indicated in the contract, which will be confirmed through a detailed time sheet IOM Ukraine is looking for positive, attentive, responsible persons with previous experience in MHPSS work, community-based work, team work and in humanitarian interventions. Candidates should be prepared for travel across the Southern oblasts and respond to outreach requests as needed. Previous track record of innovative work and taking initiatives locally will be a strong asset.
Education