HI has been supporting the Afghan people since 1987, starting its operations in Pakistan. Since 1996, HI has been operating across Afghanistan in order to launch victim assistance interventions, working at different levels of the society and adopting a cross-sectoral approach. While present on the ground to directly support victims of the conflict through the provision of a range of services – from physical rehabilitation, to mine risk education and inclusive livelihoods – HI has been continuously advocating to increase the rights of victims and other people with disabilities in the country. In particular, and in line with its global strategy and priorities, HI has been advocating to reduce the use of landmines and conventional weapons. Acknowledging the need to respond to the urgent emergency crises combined with longer term, chronic gaps in the provision of services, HI has steadily expanded its range of activities and services in order to support the most vulnerable people, enhancing their resilience while strengthening participation and inclusion of all individuals.

Job Purpose:

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, with strong functional links with the MHPSS Technical Specialist, the mental health and psychosocial worker  will provide hospital and clinic-based services to individuals, and groups affected by the conflict/disaster upsurge in Kabul.

 The MHPSS Worker will:

• Provide quality assessment of psychosocial needs of persons experiencing psychological distress and persons with disabilities) including children, and their caregivers, in coordination with the Physiotherapists.
• Support persons with psychological distress by providing quality direct responses to the psychosocial needs identified, through individual, or group interventions within the Handicap International comprehensive approach.
• Provide indirect response through referrals to stakeholders working in social, protection, psychosocial and mental health sectors or any other relevant sectors according to the needs of the beneficiaries (including close follow-up on the process and response).

Job Description

The Duties and responsibilities may include but not limited to: 

Key Responsibilities:

1. In order to improve the rehabilitation process, assess the psychosocial issues and capacities of the beneficiaries and identified their needs in terms of psychosocial support in close collaboration with the PTs:

• Conduct visits to individuals and families, including children, in the district hospitals or other service facilities if required.
• Identify the nature and severity of psychosocial needs through the psychosocial assessment
• Fill the different assessments and referral forms, when required, according to the assessment’s criteria
• According to the outcomes of the assessment of the beneficiaries’ needs, elaborate an appropriate action plan and, when required, ensure coordination with the Physiotherapists or Project Officer.

2. Offer secure and appropriate mental health and psychosocial support

• Provide psychosocial services based on the informed consent of the beneficiary and adapted to her/his needs, considering the limitations of the emergency responses.
• Actively involve the beneficiaries at all stages of the assessment and response, in order to ensure the relevance and sustainability of the intervention.
• Detect any evolution of the cases and will modify the action plan accordingly or refer to relevant colleague, superior or stakeholders
• Use secure and respectful methods when working with beneficiary
• Ensure a proper follow up of the cases
• Ensure the responsibility of the service provided to the beneficiary
• Provide appropriate psychosocial sessions to identified persons or households in need, including children, through family, groups and individual based approaches in coordination, when required, with the Physiotherapist.
• Provide awareness sessions and recreational activities to the beneficiaries in hospital.
• Use various communication means (written, spoken, etc.) during activities to ensure the self-expression of the beneficiaries
• Facilitate inclusive activities
• Identify his/her own limits and ask for support before any acts that could cause harm to beneficiary

3. Refer beneficiary to other services when needed:

• Identify needs for referrals to other relevant stakeholders and monitor referrals conducted in coordination with the Project Officer, the Physiotherapist.
• Refer persons to appropriate services through adequate referral system in place. Referrals can be discussed in team meetings and in close collaboration with others colleagues.
• Recognize emergency situation or situations that need immediate medical care or protection measure and react in consequence making efforts to ensure that beneficiary get the appropriate services.

4. Record, Report, develop the tools and planning.

• Maintain complete individual files for each person, including detailed descriptions of services provided and evolution of the case
• Ensure that complete beneficiary pack is properly filled and signed
• Write case studies on beneficiaries and activities of the project
• Respect all guidelines and documentation within the project; keep data records for each individual and group sessions
• Document any protection concerns and report them to your line manager
• Ensure a daily quantitative and qualitative reporting through the tools (assessment form, follow up form, discharge and monitoring form, donation certificate) and system in place
• Any other reports to be made upon line manager request
• Participate to the improvement of the activities protocol, tools and guidelines to ensure a qualitative comprehensive intervention
• Actively participate to all the project meeting, technical follow-up, internal and external trainings related to your position according to your line manager instructions
• Contribute to the organization of the weekly plan within the multidisciplinary team, with the support of the project officer

5. To build other team members’ and partners’ member’s capacities

• Work in a constructive way with the Physiotherapists.
• Provide technical advices for hospital or other humanitarian partners' staffs as per request of your line manager
• Provide training or sensitization sessions

6. Materials Management

• Identify material, equipment, recreational kit needed, timely formulate requests, and ensure appropriate use/distribution

7. Demonstrate willingness to improve professional competences and abilities to increase care quality:

• Demonstrate motivation at work.
• Demonstrate willingness to improve his/her own knowledge and skills by participating actively in any training sessions, capacity building activities…
• Participate in the different activities that are common to all team members (identification of needs of beneficiaries, internal and/or external referrals)
• Respect each team member’s positions, work, and specificity
• Adapt to special situations or demands from supervisor (reporting, etc.)

8. Respect hygiene and security rules

• The Mental health and Psychosocial Worker respects and applies basic hygiene rules;
• He/she maintains equipment clean and secured.
• He/she observes at all times strict commitment to Handicap International Security & Safety regulations as per procedures in place at mission level
• He/she supports information internal dissemination to relevant focal persons at mission level aiming at reinforcing security and safety of Handicap International staff and assets

9. Demonstrate an ethics and professional practice:

• Show professional ethics, respect and promote Handicap International mandate
• Among others, he/she respects beneficiary’s privacy and confidentiality (he/she only share medical information with medical staff/persons directly involved in beneficiary’s care)
• Respect the Handicap International protection of children policy and protection of beneficiaries from sexual exploitation and abuse policyand report to your line manager any non-respect of HI’s policies amongst the teams or partners.
• Report any incident or act that causes any harm to beneficiary or to others.
• Always interact with children with the presence of their parents or caregivers
• Always respect a refusal of service.
• Work with the best of knowledge and abilities to offer a good quality psychosocial support
• Show abilities and competences to execute an efficient rehabilitation intervention.

Note that this job description must remain flexible, to respond to additional tasks or changes as identified by the line manager.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Studies in psychology, psycho-social work, education, community development or a similar field
• Theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in Mental health and psychosocial support
• 3 years’ experience in mental health and psychosocial support services
• Strong comprehension of the psychosocial issues of conflict-affected communities and persons with injuries and disabilities
• Experience in hospital settings is an asset
• Familiar with MS Office (Word, Excel) and internet
• Excellent written & spoken in Dari and Pashto
• Fluent in written and spoken English is an asset

• Abilities to work within a team and collaborate
• Ability to work with diverse beneficiaries
• Strong interpersonal, communication skills and active listening skills
• Able to work both independently and in a multicultural team environment
• Willing to learn and develop professionally
• Open and interested in disability issues
• Capable of goodwill and humanity behaviors
• Good organization skills
• Abilities to properly communicate with beneficiries, families/caretakers and medical staff
• Adheres to the project’s vision: a world in which all forms of disabilities can be prevented, cared for or integrated, and in which the rights of people with disabilities are respected and applied

Application Process:

Applicants can login to the online application system by copying and pasting the following link into their web browser https://airtable.com/appqVjaLnjGa1Zmie/shr8m97FSXdvfkXtk to submit their details and upload their required documents prior to the deadline.

Important notes:

• Please note that only the applications received through the online platform will be considered for this position.
• It is important to note that applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Therefore, timely submission is crucial.
• After the review process, please be aware that only candidates who have been shortlisted will be contacted for the next stages of the recruitment process. If you do not hear from us within one week from the closing date , please consider that your application has not been shortlisted for further process.

- HI has got strong stand on protection of beneficiaries.

"The Role Holder will have to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of the code of conduct"

HI promotes and upholds the principles of equal opportunities and its policies (PSEAH, Child Protection etc). HI has a zero tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or a child by any of our staff, representatives or partners. Recruitment to all jobs in HI includes, in particular, criminal
record checks and the collection of relevant references. Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do.

Individuals with disabilities and female candidates are especially encouraged to apply. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly value the unique perspectives and contributions that you can bring to our team.