Mental Health Psycho-Social Support Manager at Kenya Red Cross Society

JOB SUMARY:  

• The Manager is responsible for ensuring effective design, development, implementation and evaluation of integrated Health programming in both emergency and development contexts for the national society. This role contributes to the realization of key objectives of the Health and Nutrition sector strategic plans as well as the overall organization strategic plan objective of ensuring communities lead healthy lives and have opportunities to achieve social, economic and psycho-social well-being. The manager will also provide coordination and technical support of day-to-day implementation of Mental Health and Psycho-social Support. The manager will oversee the implementation of the project initiatives and mainstreaming of MHPSS in close collaboration with the field teams in the respective Regions. It also includes active participation in researching, analyzing data, reporting and liaising with various stakeholders especially the Ministry of Health and other partners to ensure quality programming to meet set targets and international humanitarian standards.

SCOPE OF THE ROLE:

• Provide technical support and leadership in MHPSS interventions
• Provide oversight and monitoring support to the implementing teams.
• Provide technical support and guidance in the management of the KRCS health facility on drugs and substance abuse rehabilitation center
• Build the capacity of staff and volunteers with regards to MHPSS
• Spearhead Health systems strengthening efforts for delivery of Integrated Health and Nutrition interventions
• Establish and maintain partnerships.
• Coordinate resource mobilization initiatives
• Oversee and undertake research, policy, advocacy, documentation and generation of data for decision making.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide leadership in the design and development of evidence based high impact MHPSS interventions in line with the organizational strategy and sector specific strategies and plans.
• Provide technical support and guidance to the teams managing the drugs and substance abuse rehabilitation center
• Coordinate preparation of funding proposals to meet the identified needs in line with the strategic plan ensuring adherence to donor requirements.
• Undertake scoping for new partnerships and ensure strategies are in place to maintain existing partners.
• Represent organization in national Government health sector and other stakeholder coordination forums.
• Participate in the development and review of health sector policies and guidelines including MHPSS for enhanced service delivery to meet the country health targets.
• Contribute to advocacy efforts to ensure MHPSS and drugs and substance abuse rehabilitation center priorities are clearly articulated in national and county plans for increased resource allocation for sustainability
• Contribute to advocacy efforts to ensure that MHPSS, drugs and substance abuse rehabilitation center priorities are included in the organization wide strategies and plans.
• Participate in the development of annual work plans, budgets and programme reviews and ensure follow up actions on evaluations/audits are implemented
• Guide and mentor staff under direct supervision to set clear targets aligned to the organizational strategy, support in performance appraisal and capacity development initiatives for staff under MHPSS interventions and drugs and substance abuse rehabilitation center to effectively play their role and enhance visibility for the organization, and adherence to code of conduct and codes of professional practice.
• Plan, monitor and evaluate the performance of programme staff against set targets and objectives, assess training needs and implementing development action plans aimed at building the capacity of individuals and multi-disciplinary teams
• Support the day to day operations of the 1199 tele counselling centre and ensure adequate data quality is maintained by ensuring accurate, complete and reliable datasets and reports. Generate reports, opinion pieces, policy information for informed decision making
• Coordinate and enhance staff well-being for staff and volunteers
• Represent the Society at meetings, conferences and workshops and other forums to promote the activities of KRCS and articulate issues related to humanitarian relief
• Prepare inception reports, concept papers, periodic progress reports and annual reports showing achievements against planned targets as well as providing justification for performance variances and areas of improvement
• Monitor usage of Health (MHPSS), and substance abuse rehabilitation center supplies and assets in accordance with donor regulations;
• Ensure budget spending according to approved budgets, review and analyze budgets versus actual expenditures and take remedial measures;
• In coordination with the Head of Health Nutrition and Social services, determine MHPSS  program staffing needs and ensure such positions are filled in timely manner;
• Ensure the implementation of the staff health policy in collaboration with the HR department

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters in clinical psychology
• Must be registered with Counsellors and Psychologist Board
• Relevant post-graduate qualification in Community development, project planning and management or equivalent qualifications
• Additional experience in Health programs including mainstreaming of protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) will be an added advantage as well as grants management
• Work experience of over seven (7) years in MHPSS and related programs

Key Competencies

• Strong experience in MHPSS programming, management, trends and goals at national and regional levels aimed at preventing and managing MHPSS issues
• Demonstrated technical experience in project planning and budgeting as well as programme monitoring and evaluation 
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills including ability to build collaborative relationships with sensitivity to cultural, ethnic and political issues
• Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution and ability to deliver the Society’s strategic objectives
• Strong communication and presentation skills in both English and Kiswahili, including ability to develop reports and prepare relevant publications
• Knowledge of public health, humanitarian relief issues, trends and goals aimed at preventing and alleviating human suffering
• Demonstrated competence in resource mobilization including implementation of effective fundraising strategies to increase resource through grant proposals 
• Ability to develop and implement accountability and performance management systems, giving candid performance feedback as well as providing support for professional development efforts linked to strategic objectives
• Ability to maintain high standards of personal integrity; establishing productive relationships; treating individuals with fairness and respect 
• Ability to empower programme staff through coaching and mentorship by emphasizing accountability and results oriented management 
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, data-base, email and utilization of the internet