MHPSS Officer (Abyei)

About the role

Save the Children is recruiting a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer for its child protection programme in Abyei, South Sudan, on a 5-month contract. Working under the supervision of the project lead with technical support from the technical advisor, the post holder helps implement the MHPSS component, including building the capacity of the child protection team and providing direct services to individuals with mental health and psychosocial needs. The role involves identifying and engaging children with MHPSS concerns in conflict-affected communities and supporting initiatives such as Child Friendly Spaces, OTP, child rights clubs, youth centres and health facilities.

Key responsibilities

• Identify and register the mental health and psychosocial needs of beneficiaries according to the South Sudan MHPSS SOPs.
• Promote and deliver counselling services, including psychological first aid (PFA) and psychosocial support (PSS), and basic psychoeducational sessions for children, adolescents and caregivers.
• Refer clients to other specialists or institutions following local referral pathways, and take part in integrated MHPSS case management with child protection, health and nutrition colleagues.
• Take part in MHPSS training for case workers, facilitators, community mobilisers and volunteers, and hold regular meetings with them to review successes and challenges.
• Represent the programme in community meetings, MHPSS working groups and the SGBV subcluster, and act as focal point for MHPSS in Lankien South.
• Support case workers and facilitators in emergency response and comprehensive case management, and plan and run awareness-raising sessions on prevention and response.
• Maintain files, registers and databases, document best practice and case studies, and prepare and submit MHPSS reports regularly.
• Collect case reports from community-based child protection networks, help desks and health workers, and give feedback as needed.

Required profile

• Minimum diploma in social sciences, social work or community development.
• Essential: minimum diploma in counselling, social sciences, social work, community development or another MHPSS-related training.
• 2-3 years of sectoral experience, preferably in social work, community development and working with children in a child protection programme, with a humanitarian organisation.
• Very good written and spoken English; Nuer and Arabic is a plus.
• Desirable: knowledge of the area, its society and culture, and local language; experience with children and families, community facilitation and mobilization, and previous NGO experience.

Required skills

• Strong technical understanding of child protection and community-based approaches.
• Computer knowledge and strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Able to prioritize tasks and work in extremely harsh living and working conditions.

The role holder must follow Save the Children's equal opportunities, diversity, child safeguarding and health and safety policies. Applications require a cover letter and CV as a single document, together with current remuneration and salary expectations.