PHC MHPSS Officer

Open Position: 1 Contract Duration: May 31, 2027

DEPENDING ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING

JOB SUMMARY

The PHC Mental Health Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) Officer integrates mental health support into PHC services by conducting assessments, providing psychosocial interventions, and ensuring timely referral and follow‑up for individuals with mental health or protection concerns. The role delivers counseling, psychoeducation, stress‑management support, and community‑based activities while strengthening staff capacity, culturally appropriate service delivery, and accountability mechanisms. It also supports protection mainstreaming, maintains accurate documentation and reporting, and reinforces coordinated, confidential, and patient‑centered MHPSS services for vulnerable groups.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct regular mental health and psychosocial assessments in PHC settings and identify the needs of patients, caregivers, and community members.
• Integrate MHPSS into routine PHC services by supporting early identification, basic management, referral, and follow‑up of individuals with mental health or psychosocial concerns.
• Provide direct psychosocial interventions—including psychological first aid, supportive counseling, psychoeducation, stress management, and family support—within the PHC context.
• Identify and respond to individuals at risk of suicide, self‑harm, severe distress, or other urgent mental health conditions, ensuring timely referral and follow‑up according to protocols.
• Administer prescribed psychotropic medications within professional licensure and in coordination with PHC clinicians, following organizational and national guidelines.
• Facilitate individual and group counseling, psychoeducation sessions, support groups, and community‑based psychosocial activities that promote recovery, resilience, and social cohesion.
• Support PHC staff in delivering community awareness activities on mental health, trauma, stress management, coping strategies, and available support services.
• Provide basic psychosocial support and stress‑management interventions for PHC staff and frontline workers to strengthen wellbeing and prevent burnout.
• Establish, strengthen, and maintain referral pathways between PHC services, specialized mental health providers, protection actors, and community‑based services to ensure confidential and timely access to care.
• Offer information, guidance, and referrals to appropriate health, protection, social, and community services based on assessed needs.
• Ensure all MHPSS services are culturally sensitive, patient‑centered, confidential, and aligned with dignity and rights principles.
• Collect, compile, and maintain accurate MHPSS documentation and contribute to weekly and monthly reporting in line with SP, RHB, DoH, WHO/UN, and donor requirements.
• Collaborate with PHC staff to ensure communication, counseling approaches, and service delivery are culturally appropriate and responsive to community needs.
• Conduct community engagement meetings with women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups to gather feedback, identify concerns, and strengthen accountability to affected populations.
• Ensure safe, confidential, and accessible mechanisms exist for community feedback, complaints, and reporting of protection concerns.
• Support the Program Manager in developing and implementing protection mainstreaming plans within PHC activities, including staff training on PSEA, SGBV, and Child Protection, and establishing complaint mechanisms.
• Participate in clinical trainings, mentorship, and capacity‑building activities to strengthen MHPSS integration and adherence to updated guidelines and protocols.
• Carry out additional tasks and responsibilities with a generous and serving spirit for the benefit of Samaritan’s Purse.

• BA in Psychiatric Nursing
• 3 – 4 years related experience, preferably in INGO
• Renewed licensure
• Strong knowledge of standards and guidelines for MH GAP, GBV and CP programming, coordination, and data management

• Proficiency in English and Amharic
• Knowledge of the regional language required
• Knowledge of any other national language is a plus

• Demonstrated sensitivity in diverse, cross-cultural settings.
• Knowledge of Sphere and established international protection and GBV standards, methodology and tools
• Attention to detail, anticipation and follow up are core values of the job function.
• Possesses strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Must be a self-starter and internally driven to success and hard work.
• Possesses strong cross-cultural communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Must be a humble team player
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable.
• Willingness to travel in and out of the field.
• Must have analytical and report writing skills.
• High level of integrity and stewardship
• Committed to the SP values and ethics
• Proficient in making clinical decisions in the care of the patient population serving.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be exposed to loud noises around the maintenance and construction workshops.
• May travel in country with exposure to communicable diseases, hot and humid weather conditions.
• Work in a security context that is fluid