Our new global strategy prioritises humanitarian scale up.

To respond to the growing unmet needs in emergencies and to strengthen the speed, quality, relevance and appropriateness of our emergency response and readiness work, we are investing in our  humanitarian deployable capacity.

The Deployable Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Programme Specialist is a member of Plan International’s Global Education in Humanitarian action unit. While on deployment, the specialist provides technical support to Plan International’s Country Offices (COs). This normally involves responding to medium and large-scale emergencies to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate humanitarian MHPSS programmes. This includes providing technical leadership and support on programme strategy, strengthening the capacity of staff and partners on MHPSS, and ensuring the overall technical quality of Plan’s MHPSS programming in line with humanitarian standards. Plan International’s MHPSS programming focuses on group activities for child and adolescent well-being, focused psychosocial care and support, including for parents and caregivers, and strengthening access to specialised mental health services. Plan International implements MHPSS programmes directly as well as with implementing partners and service providers.

This role will have a specific focus on MHPSS programming, with key interventions firmly embedded within or linked to humanitarian response programmes for child protection in emergencies (CPiE), education in emergencies (EiE), food security and nutrition (FSN) and other life-saving assistance. When not on deployment, the specialist contributes to Plan’s global humanitarian workplans for CPiE and EiE as agreed with both global units. This may include continued support and follow up from a distance with COs after a deployment.

Technical, Skills and Knowledge 

· University Degree or equivalent experience in MHPSS, Social Work, (Clinical) Psychology, or related fields.

· Significant experience in the planning, design and implementation of integrated child and adolescent focused MHPSS programmes in humanitarian settings.

· Technical expertise should include:

o Excellent knowledge and understanding of key issues relevant to MHPSS, including activities and interventions as part of EiE and CPiE programming to address the unique needs of children and adolescents, particularly girls, in all their diversity;

o Excellent knowledge of the IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in emergency settings; the MHPSS Minimum Service Package and the Operational Guidelines for Community-based MHPSS in humanitarian settings; the INEE Minimum

Excellent knowledge of child safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH).

· Experience in conducting MHPSS needs assessments and other MEAL activities in collaboration with children, adolescents and young people using a participatory approach.

·Experience in evidence-based MHPSS advocacy, particularly influencing around children, adolescents’ and girls’ needs and well-being, in crisis settings.

·Experience of working in a range of humanitarian contexts (e.g. refugee, conflict, rapid onset), including with inter-agency coordination mechanisms and authorities.

·Experience of capacity strengthening and mentoring on MHPSS technical areas with a variety of audiences, and the ability to work comfortably with diverse colleagues in high-pressure environments.

· Ability to secure funding from public and private funding streams; excellent skills in writing funding submissions and donor reports

· Excellent negotiation and representation skills

· Strong team management, staff capacity building and motivation skills in teamwork and networking.

· Fluency in English, written and spoken.

Desirable

· Fluency in French, Spanish, Arabic or any other relevant languages.

· Significant network with other organisations involved in this field