Fast Facts
The Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Supervisor will oversee and strengthen MHPSS programming for children, adolescents, and caregivers, ensuring adherence to quality standards while providing training and supervision to partner organizations.
Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include providing technical support and supervision to partner MHPSS officers, conducting capacity-building trainings, and collaborating on program design and proposal development.
Skills: Required skills include experience in MHPSS programming and supervision, strong organizational and interpersonal abilities, and familiarity with MHPSS and child protection standards.
Qualifications: Candidates should possess a university degree in a related field, with postgraduate training in clinical, counseling, or child/adolescent psychology as an asset, along with relevant field experience.
Location: This position is available worldwide, with the possibility of field travel as needed.
Compensation: Not provided by employer. Typical compensation ranges for this position are between $50,000 - $75,000.
ROLE PURPOSE:
Under the overall leadership of the Acting Child Protection Technical Advisor , the MHPSS Supervisor will provide technical supervision, coaching and capacity strengthening to MHPSS staff of partner organizations and SCI-supported facilitators, and ensure that MHPSS programming for children, adolescents and caregivers meets SCI quality standards and global guidelines.
70% of the role is dedicated to supporting partner MHPSS officers, supervising facilitators and delivering trainings and on-the-job coaching; and 30% to program design and proposal development, including needs assessments, situation analysis and technical inputs to concept notes and proposals in close collaboration with the CP TA and PDQ team.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Acting Child Protection Technical Advisor (CP TA), PDQA
Staff reporting to this post: None initially; technical oversight of partner MHPSS Officers, facilitators and community mobilisers (no formal line-management).
Budget responsibilities: None (technical support to budget design and monitoring for MHPSS components as required).
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :
1. Partner Support, Supervision & Capacity Strengthening (approx. 70%)
• Provide regular structured supervision (individual and group) to partner MHPSS Officers and SCI/partner facilitators implementing child, adolescent and caregiver MHPSS activities, including case discussions, skills coaching and wellbeing support.
• Support partner teams to plan and deliver evidence-informed community-based and structured MHPSS interventions (e.g. EASE HEART SAFE FAMILIES, Climate and me, PM plus, Home based MHPSS) in line with SCI and inter-agency standards.
• Work with partner MHPSS Officers to develop and monitor child-centered care plans for children and caregivers receiving focused MHPSS support, with attention to risk and safety planning and appropriate referrals for specialized care.
• Provide or coordinate trainings, refreshers and on-the-job coaching for partner staff and facilitators on core MHPSS topics (e.g. basic counselling skills, PFA for adults and children, group facilitation skills, safe identification and referral, child and caregiver wellbeing, staff care).
• Support partner organizations to identify severe or complex cases and ensure safe referral pathways to specialized mental health, protection and other services, in line with national standards and SCI SOPs.
• In collaboration with CP & MHPSS staff, contribute to the development, adaptation and translation of MHPSS tools, curricula and awareness materials to ensure cultural and contextual relevance.
• Support partner and SCI teams to ensure that MHPSS activities are inclusive and gender-sensitive, and that children at heightened risk (including children with perceived association to armed groups, children with disabilities, etc.) are safely included.
• Promote and model staff wellbeing and self-care practices for MHPSS staff and facilitators, and flag concerning situations to the CP TA for follow-up.
2. Programme Quality, Standards & Coordination
• Ensure that all partner-implemented MHPSS activities are aligned with IASC MHPSS Guidelines, SCI global and regional MHPSS guidance, and Child Safeguarding Policy.
• Support the CP TA and PDQ team to roll out and monitor MHPSS quality benchmarks, supervision systems and safe record-keeping practices with partners (secure storage, confidentiality and data protection).
• Work closely with field and partner teams to ensure key operational pre-conditions for safe MHPSS work (private spaces, safe travel arrangements, time allocation for supervision, etc.) are identified and advocated for.
3. Needs Assessments, Program Design & Proposal Development (approx. 30%)
• In collaboration with partners, MEAL and CP TA, design and implement MHPSS needs assessments and situational analyses (including participatory activities with children, adolescents, caregivers and teachers) to inform new proposals and program adaptations.
• Support the CP TA, Awards and MEAL teams to develop MEAL plans and budgets for MHPSS components, particularly those implemented through partners.
4. MEAL, Learning & Documentation
• Work with MEAL and partner teams to ensure that appropriate MHPSS monitoring tools (e.g. attendance, pre/post wellbeing tools, participant feedback) are used consistently and ethically.
• Support partners to use MEAL findings for program reflection and adaptation, and document lessons learned, case studies and success stories.
• Contribute to internal learning events, after-action reviews and technical discussions on what works in MHPSS programming with partners in the country context.
5. Safeguarding, Accountability & Other
• Ensure full compliance with SCI Child Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and other relevant policies in all MHPSS activities, particularly in relation to confidentiality, informed consent, one-to-one work with children and safe referral.
• Promote meaningful child and caregiver participation in the design, implementation and evaluation of MHPSS activities.
• Uphold SCI’s values and Do No Harm principles in all interactions with children, families, communities, partners and staff.
• Perform any other reasonable duties related to MHPSS and Child Protection as assigned by the CP TA and aligned with the level of the post.
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS
• University degree in a closely related field; postgraduate training in clinical, counselling or child/adolescent psychology or psychotherapy is an asset.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
• Minimum 2-3 years of relevant experience in MHPSS programming, including at least 2 years providing structured supervision, coaching or training to other MHPSS/CP staff or partners.
• Demonstrated experience in community-based and structured MHPSS interventions for children, adolescents and caregivers in humanitarian or development settings.
• Proven experience in capacity building and training, including developing/adapting training materials and delivering trainings to adult learners (partner staff, volunteers, teachers, community members).
• Practical experience with MHPSS needs assessments, situation analyses and basic proposal development (concept notes, logframes, indicators).
• Good understanding of child protection and MHPSS minimum standards, IASC MHPSS Guidelines and safe identification and referral.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with partner organizations and culturally diverse teams.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and travel frequently to field locations.
• Good computer skills (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, email).
Desirable
• Experience working with local partners (NGOs/CBOs, government services) and understanding of partnership principles.
• Experience working in contexts of displacement, conflict or post-conflict.
• Familiarity with SCI global/common approaches for MHPSS and Child Protection.
• Experience contributing to research or evaluation related to MHPSS.
