Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Lead We are seeking to recruit an experienced professional with deep expertise in organisational and system capacity strengthening to bring MHPSS forward in IRC.
JOB DETAILS Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Lead Duration: One year with likely extension Job Family: Programme Manager Salary: € 52,****** - €66,****** Working hours: 35 hours per week Location: Irish Red Cross Head Office, 16 Merrion Square, D2 Reporting to: Head of National Services BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Irish Red Cross Society (IRC) is part of the world's largest independent humanitarian network, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The IRC is committed to and bound by its Fundamental Principles of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.
The vision of the Irish Red Cross is to be a leading humanitarian organisation, providing impartial services and support to vulnerable communities at home and abroad.
Our mission is to identify and deliver humanitarian assistance to those most in need Since its formation in **** the Irish Red Cross has provided medical aid and emergency support in accordance with the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
It is specifically involved in first aid training, ambulance services, and community support across Ireland.
The IRC became involved inprovision of Psychological First Aid (PFA) in **** as basic step to a broader recognition that mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) are essential components of humanitarian response.
Since then, over 800 of the **** IRC members have completed training in PFA.
As part of the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine the IRC joined 28 National Red Cross Societies across Europe to implement the EU4 Health Programme "Provision of quality and timely psychological first aid to people affected by the Ukraine crisis in impacted countries" supported by the European Commission.
During *********, this successful programme helped develop and integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) across the member states including Ireland.
Irish Red Cross mobilised staff and volunteers in their respective communities to deliver quality mental health support and manage distress in a safe and dignified way, co-designed services with community and ensured the process of service adaptation to the changing needs.
IRC components of the mental health programme are aligned with The International Red Cross and Red Cresent Movement's MHPSS Framework and correspond to the layered principle of complimentary supports to meet the needs of different groups Basic Psychosocial support Focused psychosocial support Psychological support Recognising the importance to address the mental health impact of work on wellbeing of staff and volunteers, IRC has also developed a program targeting caring for staff and volunteers.
To sustain the capacity built from the EU4Health and so as to embed MHPSS in Irish Red Cross, we are seeking to recruit an experienced MPHSS professional with deep expertise in organisational and system capacity strengthening to bring MHPSS forward in IRC by positioning our work with government stakeholders, and broadening our reach to all migrants groups in Ireland.
Following the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement policy on addressing mental health and psychosocial needs, IRC acknowledges the importance of MHPSS.
The IRC current Strategic Plan ********* () for the first time has included Mental Health it its 5 core strategic objectives.
The aim is to layer mental health response and awareness on all of the IRC emergency and humanitarian response activities.
The development of this role is key to the success of this strategic aim.
To lead the Irish Red Cross in the development and implementation of its Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Strategy specifically to develop the vision and capacity within the organisation in the area of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS), specifically in
1) Integration of MHPSS in Disaster preparedness and response,
2) Community based MHPSS activities, e.g. branch level regular activities,
3) support roll out of PFA in prison programme.
SUMMARY OF ROLE The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Lead will be responsible for contributing to the development of a sustainable MHPSS strategy and its implementation.
The role will lead on the long term integration of mental health and psychosocial support across programmes.
This involves working with managers across departments (national services, branches, migration and emergency response) to ensure: Integration of the PFA approach in all emergency and disaster response Capacity among the IRC to stand up appropriate MHPSS in disaster / humanitarian response, which includes skills building and setting up processes Implementation of MHPSS projects on a humanitarian basis where gaps exists for vulnerable forced migrants.
This will require exploring new funding opportunities, building strategic partnerships on national and international levels, and identifying ways to integrate services into existing national and local support systems.
The post holder will oversee the implementation of community-based activities, emergency response interventions, volunteer and staff wellbeing programs, and monitoring and evaluation processes.
The IRC is recognised as a national Psychological First Aid (PFA) provider and is included in Ireland's national emergency preparedness framework.
As part of this role, the IRC is tasked with scaling up and refreshing PFA skills among its volunteers and staff, as well as other key stakeholders.
A key focus will be on establishing sustainable structures to support the psychosocial wellbeing of IRC personnel and volunteers, thereby improving retention, reducing burnout, and fostering a resilient workforce.
This role will have responsibility for line managing staff: a clinical lead and the team delivering training in PFA/ SH+ to members, staff and those supporting all migrants groups in Ireland, and will be supported by an administrator.
ROLE RESPONSIBLILTIES Policy and Advocacy Responsible for being in touch with MHPSS initiatives within the Movement components, such as MHPSS Central Asia and Europe Network, MHPSS Movement Hub, IFRC Regional Office for Europe, Red Cross EU Office, National Societies, to collect and share best practice Policy development and ensuring policy coherence with International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement policy on addressing mental health and psychosocial needs Ensure that MHPSS practitioners are up to date with best practice guidelines and resources.
Support IRC with advocacy to relevant authorities to strengthen integration of MHPSS and ensure access to MHPSS services on a system level.
Contribute to HR policy review to ensure supports for self-care and psychological wellbeing for staff and volunteers Contribute to development of mental health strategy implementation plan Describe / represent IRCs capacity MHPSS at a high level to different depts in the Irish government system specially PFA Oversee MHPSS capacity strengthening on individual level Ensure quality by standardisation of MHPSS capacity strengthening of volunteers and staff through development of MHPSS competency framework, training, follow-up and supervision in Irish Red Cross Update Volunteer Competency Framework with PFA skills: Revise the IRC's volunteer and staff competency profiles to include PFA as a core skill.
Integrate this into the skills matrix and volunteer CRM system to support needs mapping and long-term planning Provide adequate technical support to MHPSS to key actors and members (volunteers) (first aid responders, community leaders, health care professionals, volunteers, IPAS, Gardai etc.) and continue to adapt it to changing context dynamics (e.g. online, face to face sessions, emergency, etc.).
Develop content for and deliver /facilitate awareness raising sessions to different people affected by crisis with a special focus on the most vulnerable Set up a system of continuous MHPSS skill development through supportive supervision, communities of practice, peer learning and exchange.
Lead mental health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency candidates with diverse experiences in managing expansive, multifaceted projects or programs outside the traditional humanitarian sector are encouraged to apply.
This experience should showcase competencies in strategic planning, resource management, and the successful implementation of complex initiatives Proven leadership and team management experience, including working with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams Experience in relationship cultivation and management with governments and state agencies Management, training and supervision experience required Experience in mental health and protection work with displaced persons, refugees, returnees and migrants Desirable Criteria Red Cross/Red Crescent Experience in community-based development programs Experience in detention operations and/or protection MHPSS technical knowledge and skills MHPSS Program design and planning Training and facilitation Mentoring and Supervision Staff/Volunteer Management Advocacy and Humanitarian Diplomacy