Job Description

TITLE: Mental Health & Psychosocial (MHPSS) Officer

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Child Protection in Emergencies

LOCATION: Yobe state

GRADE: 4

CONTRACT TYPE: National

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3. The responsibilities of this post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children and young people. In the overseas context, all posts are considered to be level 3. As part of these responsibilities, the post holder will support the establishment of child safeguarding systems, promote a culture of keeping children safe, and ensure that potential harm to children (by our own staff and/or as a result of how we do our work) is identified and addressed on an ongoing basis. The post holder should report and respond to interventions as determined by position-related responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MHPSS Officer will implement and oversee psychosocial support activities for children and caregivers, ensuring integration with Child Protection and EiE programmes, strengthening community-based support systems, and promoting wellbeing, resilience, and safeguarding in line with international standards.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Child Protection Coordinator

Staff reporting to this post: Facilitators

Budget responsibility: None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programme Implementation and Technical Quality

• Lead implementation of MHPSS interventions (e.g., structured PSS, group activities, individual support) in line with IASC MHPSS Guidelines and CP Minimum Standards.
• Deliver age-appropriate, gender-sensitive, and inclusive MHPSS services for children, adolescents such as HEART and We Thrive, and for caregivers.
• Ensure integration of MHPSS into EiE activities, including safe and supportive learning environments.
• Support rollout of community-based MHPSS approaches (e.g., child-friendly spaces, peer support groups).
• Promote child participation and resilience-building approaches in programming.

Case Identification, Basic Support, and Referrals

• Identify children and caregivers in need of focused or specialized mental health support.
• Provide basic psychosocial support and Psychological First Aid (PFA) where appropriate.
• Ensure safe and confidential referral pathways to case management, health, or specialized services.
• Work closely with Child Protection caseworkers to integrate MHPSS into case plans.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and data protection for all case-related information.

Integration with Child Protection and EiE

• Support integration of MHPSS within CP case management, including:
  • Emotional stabilization of high-risk children
  • Caregiver support
  • Collaborate with EiE teams to:
  • Integrate SEL (Social Emotional Learning) and psychosocial activities in schools
  • Build teachers’ capacity to provide basic emotional support
  • Ensure MHPSS considerations are embedded in CVA programming (e.g., reducing stress-related risks).

Capacity Strengthening

• Train and mentor staff, volunteers, teachers, and partners on:
  • Psychological First Aid (PFA)
  • Basic psychosocial support skills
  • Safe identification and referrals
  • Stress management and self-care
  • Support development of training materials and tools adapted to local context.
  • Promote staff wellbeing initiatives to reduce burnout and secondary trauma.

Community Engagement and Awareness

• Conduct community sensitization on:
  • Mental health awareness
  • Positive coping strategies
  • Reduction of stigma associated with mental health
• Engage community leaders, caregivers, and children to:
  • Strengthen protective environments
  • Promote acceptance of MHPSS services
  • Ensure messaging is culturally appropriate and conflict-sensitive.

Safeguarding and Protection Risk Mitigation

• Ensure all MHPSS activities adhere to child safeguarding and PSEA standards.
• Identify and mitigate protection risks linked to MHPSS programming.
• Ensure services are delivered in safe, confidential, and accessible spaces.
• Apply do no harm principles in all interventions.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

• Support collection and reporting of MHPSS indicators, including:
  • Participation rates
  • Changes in child wellbeing and coping
  • Use qualitative and quantitative tools (e.g., observation, feedback, wellbeing scales).
• Contribute to learning and adaptation of MHPSS programming.
• Ensure integration of Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), including feedback mechanisms.

Coordination and Representation

• Participate in MHPSS Technical Working Groups, and other relevant coordination platforms.
• Coordinate with:
  • Health, CP, and EiE actors
  • Government social welfare and health services
• Support mapping and strengthening of MHPSS service providers and referral systems.

Information Management and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and confidential records of MHPSS activities and referrals.
• Prepare regular activity reports.
• Ensure proper documentation of:
  • Lessons learned
  • Good practices
• Work closely with MEAL teams to ensure data quality and ethical data use.

Emergency Response and Preparedness

• Provide rapid MHPSS response during emergencies (e.g., displacement, attacks, disasters).
• Support establishment of safe spaces for children and caregivers.
• Integrate MHPSS into emergency education and protection response plans.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for him or herself and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.
• Integrity:
• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Minimum of BSc in Psychology, social worker or relevant field experience.
• Minimum 3 years post NYSC
• Experience in Psychological First Aid, and other psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities
• Experience working in Child Protection programs, Education, including those with MHPSS component
• Fluent in English and Hausa is desirable
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills and discretion with confidential information
• Ability to work independently and proactively

Additional job responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety:

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Please note that No individual is expected to pay any amount or offer any form of favor to secure a position or contract with SCI. Any such act is strictly prohibited and should be avoided.