Mental Health Activity Manager
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 60 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.
Mental Health Activity Manager (m/f/x) – Brussels – Belgium Project
CONTEXT
MSF's mission in Belgium aims to address, through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach, the health needs and key social determinants of the most vulnerable segments of the population, including migrants in transit and undocumented migrants, while proactively engaging in assessing main difficulties and promoting institutional change.
The Belgian mission is structured around 5 axes of intervention:
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Outreach: multidisciplinary package of care including primary health care, mental and psychosocial support, health promotion, intercultural mediation and referral to specialized medical care if necessary, in parkings/squats/centres along the migration routes in Belgium.
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Mental health: first line mental health care at the Humanitarian Hub and second-line service in the Refugee Medical Point.
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Detention: access to a second medical opinion consultation, through a medical volunteer group, for migrants in the administrative detention centres in Belgium.
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Emergency response
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Advocacy & communications’ interventions on the policy of non-reception
MAIN PURPOSE
Defining, coordinating, monitoring all mental health related activities in the project area including management of staff, ensuring the quality of care and analysing statistics and reports, according to MSF protocols in order to provide the most appropriate support for patients.
RESPONSIBILITIES
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In close collaboration with other medical team members, identifying the needs of MH support in the target popula-tion and participating in the definition, planning, organization and update of the appropriate MSF strategy and the Mental Health (MH) activities and its budget. Monitoring and evaluating MH support activities.
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Reviewing and developing the technical materials, tools, guidelines and documents, and coordinating and ensuring the implementation of all Mental Health standard protocols and procedures set by MSF in order to provide the most appropriate treatment for patients.
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Planning and supervising, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, train-ing/induction, briefing/debriefing, evaluation, potential detection, development and internal communication) of the staff under his/her responsibility in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required.
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Coordinating and ensuring that Mental Health activities (in and outside health facilities), with the clients are performed with regular follow-up in order to provide the most appropriate treatment for clients with psycho social problems. En-suring Mental Health team is calm and neutral during sessions regardless of personal feelings and/or beliefs and that the translators are trained about terminology and appropriate behavior during sessions.
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Mapping and regularly updating the existing Mental Health services, including other INGO’s, local NGO’s, community groups and governmental health services, etc. and maintaining good and regular communication and collaboration with other components of the project according to objectives and context. Identifying possible advocacy issues and informing MC and PC before taking any action. (Note: Advocacy is not under Mental Health Activities Manager ac-countabilities)
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Ensuring in close collaboration with medical department, that MH department participates in counselling as well as Prevention Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) and Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VTC) activities when needed
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Participating in monthly reports according to guidelines (SitRep, statistical report, etc.) and reporting problematic situations and cases with the Medical Coordinator to help with decision making and problem resolution.
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Ensuring that psychiatric patients coming to MSF facilities receive proper treatment including psychotropic medication and psychosocial support either within an MSF program or through referral to an appropriate resource.
The current main activities on the mission include an Adolescent Health Clinic for unaccompanied minors in transit, medical outreach activities in squats and other precarious shelters and a new potential activity focusing on mental health medicolegal certification for migrants in detention centres. As the mental health activity manager you will have the following responsibilities:
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Plan, organize and coordinate MH activities in close collaboration with the various Activity Managers ensuring enough time and resources are available to provide quality MHPSS interventions.
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In collaboration with MH regional Implementer identify needs for MHPSS support, review and define the appropriate MHPSS strategy
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Coordinates MHPSS activities for the target population with other relevant actors, to avoid duplication of services and to identify gaps in provision of MH care
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Participate in MH cluster meetings in the project’s area of intervention, organize and/or participate in bilateral meetings with other relevant MH actors
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Develop, strenghten and monitor referral collaborations with other actors to ensure patients have access to available MH specialized services
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Mapping and regularly updating the existing MH services
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In collaboration with the Activity Managers including the Detention Manager and the Outreach Manager to identify possible advocacy issues on access to MH services for the target population
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In collaboration with MH Regional Implementer and other members of the team, develop cultural and age adapted MHPSS activities based on best available evidence interventions, organize and supervise their implementation
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Reviewing and developing the technical materials, tools, guidelines and documents. Ensuring newly developed activi-ties are evaluated and documented in order to enable replication of activities.
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Supervise the daily MH activities according to protocols and MSF standards
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Promote collaboration among MH team and other health care staff to ensure integration of mental health activities into other medical activities and multidisciplinary care
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In collaboration with HP team, ensure that MHPSS activities are culturally sensitive
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Develop and deliver trainings for MHPSS related topics for the all team and other actors, to enable integration of MH into other medical activities, in collaboration with MH regional implementer
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Supervise in close collaboration with HR department the associated HR process of staff under his/her responsibility (recruitment, induction, L&d, etc.)
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Routinely provide psychological support, group sessions or other MHPSS activities to beneficiaries according to protocols.
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Provide support to the team in the management of complex MH cases, including social and needs for protection in collaboration with the Activity Managers, to find best solutions available to improve MH conditions and enhance functionality
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Compile the data and statistics linked with MH activities and interpret data to ensure monitoring and evaluation of MH activities
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Participate in weekly, quarterly and annual reporting
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Offer clinical supervision to MSF psychologist(s)
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Ensure confidentiality of patient’s related information
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Implementing and monitoring the MH strategy in the various locations of intervention, assess capacity building needs for partners and consequently offer capacity building if required.
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Collaboratively with detention manager carry out an analysis of feasibility, methodology, efficacy and benefit of MD/Psy consultations in detention.
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Carry out learning needs assessment with volunteer doctors on MH assessment and consequently develop capacity building for volunteer doctors
REQUIREMENTS
Education & Experience
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Master’s in clinical psychology
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Registration with the National Psychologist Association with current professional license as Clinical Psychologist in Belgium
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Essential working experience of at least two years in providing evidence based mental health care.
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Experience with Adolescents and/or Unaccompanied Minors is an asset
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Experience in migration is an asset.
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Previous MSF or humanitarian medical organizations experience is a strong asset
Languages
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Fluent English and French essential, Dutch an asset
Competencies
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People Management and Development L2
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Commitment to MSF Principles L2
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Behavioural Flexibility L3
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Results and Quality Orientation L3
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Teamwork and Cooperation L3
CONDITIONS
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Expected starting date: March 2025
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Location: Brussels (Belgium)
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Contract type: Fixed-term contract – Full-time
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Contract duration: 9 months
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Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid
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Meal Vouchers - Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
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Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
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Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments
Deadline for applications: 29th of January 2025
How to apply?
➢ Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button
➢ Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter in English or French ready to upload
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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