Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian action-driven organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. 26 associations, 23 sections, and 16 branch offices make-up the international movement and work in partnership around 6 operational entities.

Main Purpose

• Lead the PSCU support for locally recruited staff working in the region.
• Provide psychological support to locally recruited and on needs basis international staff while in the field) OCA staff according to MSF principles and protocols in order to improve the patients’ mental health
• Develop a network of counsellors within OCA missions and in the region

Objective

• Act as Point of reference for staff mental health related issues in the East Africa region
• Provides psychological and mental health support to locally recruited staff
• Develops a strategical vision for the East Africa support network towards a future goal of expanding services to other MSF entities
• Operates a staff support 24/7 helpline
• Crisis and critical incident management
• Provides PSCUs at HQs in Europe with data analysis and recommendations  

Accountabilities

The Psycho Social Care Unit (PSCU) East Africa region in Nairobi is part of the developing Regional staff health Care support service in MSF EA. In a first phase the unit will primarily provide psychosocial support for locally recruited OCA  staff in the region.

This role will be responsible for providing or organising local psychosocial, mental health care support to countries in the Eastern African region and any other countries beyond on needs basis (Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Somali, Somali land, Kenya, CAR) to MSF staff of OCA.

The psycho-social care coordinator provides support to MSF operations in the following fields:

Direct service provision

• Carry regular field visits to promote the activities and while on field mission perform direct consultations or provide group sessions to all staff in East Africa OCA and other missions
• Conducts stress management and psychosocial first aid trainings to staff in the field upon request of missions
• Carry field visits in case of critical incident under the responsibility of the Psycho-social Unit
• Provide psychological support on request at distance to the national staff by teams/online or phone call
• Operates a national staff support 24/7 helpline
• Give recommendations to the Operational Support Team and field about the psychological support after field visits
• Increase the understanding of staff psychological vulnerabilities, identification of staff stress  & management to coordinators
• Provides technical support and training for the external consultants & the regional psychologists

Ensure client confidentiality within the service

Management

Manage the network of regional psychologists

Strategical aspect

• Point of reference for psychosocial national staff care for MSF in the East Africa region
• Develop under the supervision of the Amsterdam Staff Health Unit Coordinator a regional and local strategy to improve support  to the staff (external consultant, others NGOs, etc)
• Identifies, maintains and manages a network of external East Africa based mental health professionals to deliver national staff care support in MSF East Africa based MSF missions

International staff services

• Supports mental health/ psychological related MEDEVACS and follow-up
• Psychological, mental health support during critical incidents including SILT presence/ FFP role

Monitoring & reporting

• Prepares monthly statistics to Staff health Unit’s in OC’s/Amsterdam
• Data analysis and reporting in collaboration with the staff health unit in OC’s.

Future orientation

• Coordinates and implements staff health support missions to national staff of MSF missions upon request of OCs
• Briefs and debriefs International staff of the recruitment pools in the East Africa region

Requirements 

Education

• Essential degree or diploma in Clinical Psychology
• Labour and organisational psychological, desirable
• Knowledge of work related mental healht psychological problems (psycho-trauma, burn out etc.)

Experience

• 5 years experience minimum as a clinical sychologist
• Previous experience with MSF or other NGO’s in developing countries.

Languages 

• English Language, essential.
• Local language, desirable. Swahili can an asset

Knowledge    

• Able computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Competencies (Field Focus)

• Leadership potential
• Diplomatic, good communication skills, ability to listen
• Organized, flexible and autonomous
• Independent worker
• Time management: reactive, you know how to anticipate and manage your priorities
• Ability to work under pressure

Conditions (MSF EA)

• Full-time position
• Based in Nairobi, MSF EA office with up to 50% travel to the Field.
• Ideal start date:  ASAP
• Annual Salary of KES 3,465,673 corresponding to Level 4a of the MSF Eastern Africa Section (MSF EA) scale. Other benefits including a relocation package for non-Kenyan residents is foreseen where applicable. Other additional benefits and specific work conditions will be applied based on the MSF EA section policy.

How to apply

Applicants should send their curriculum vitae, motivation letter by 5th June 2022, through the weblink provided below. Please note that MSF will only contact short-listed candidates.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

MSF is committed to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization where all individuals (regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, etc.) feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued and where all individuals have equal opportunities to develop and grow professionally and personally)

We highly encourage women and persons with disability to apply for this position.