Psychiatrist / Mental Health Specialist (MHPSS)

The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), established in 1934, is an independent humanitarian organization recognized by the Government of Afghanistan as a neutral and charitable institution. The Afghan Red Crescent Society plays a vital role in providing voluntary services and humanitarian assistance throughout the country.

In accordance with its Law and Statutes, the National Society conducts its activities based on its seven Fundamental Principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.

Among its key responsibilities are providing assistance to affected communities, offering emergency shelter, and distributing relief items to vulnerable people. The Afghan Red Crescent Society operates through a nationwide network of 7 regional zones and 34 provincial branches, supported by more than 20,000 trained staff members and volunteers who work in cooperation with national and international organizations to reduce humanitarian suffering across the country.

Over the past decades, the Afghan Red Crescent Society has successfully maintained its neutrality and earned the trust and acceptance of all parties, enabling its teams to carry out principled humanitarian operations across conflict lines, including in large areas under the control of armed opposition groups.

The Society's humanitarian capacity is further strengthened through the support of its partners, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and other humanitarian partners.

Within the framework of the ARCS Health services Directorate policies and procedures and in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, the MHPSS Supervisor will support all aspects of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support under the supervision of the ARCS MHPSS Director and ARCS MHPSS Manager.

The MHPSS Supervisor will contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring, supervision, and quality assurance of MHPSS services in Mental Health Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers. This position is primarily responsible for facility-based clinical supervision, performance monitoring, and coaching of MHPSS staff, ensuring quality, ethical, and guideline-compliant mental health care delivery aligned with Red Cross Red Crescent Movement guidance and national standards.

The MHPSS Supervisor provides technical and clinical supervision to medical and MHPSS staff and does not replace frontline clinicians, and works in close coordination with line managers on performance, capacity development, and staff wellbeing.

The position requires a medical doctor trained in WHO mhGAP and/or a psychiatrist, with experience in mental health, psychosocial support, supervision, trainings and humanitarian response.

The position involves the following tasks and main responsibilities:

1.       Supervision and Coaching of MHPSS Staff

• Provide structured individual and group clinical supervision to MHPSS staff within the mental health facility.
• Observe clinical sessions (where appropriate) and provide constructive feedback and coaching.
• Ensure corrective actions are followed up after supervision and monitoring visits.
• Develop and follow up on individual staff learning and professional development plans.

2.       Overall Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the overall planning, implementation, supervision, monitoring, and reporting of MHPSS activities in Mental Health Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers.
• Support the quality and safety of MHPSS responses, including mhGAP, PM+, Psychological First Aid, staff care, awareness raising, referrals, and basic mental health care using tools and guidelines from the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, national standards, and relevant international guidance.
• Ensure that MHPSS activities are implemented in line with National policies and procedures, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement guidance, national protocols, and international MHPSS standards.
• Promote a person-centered, non-stigmatizing, safe, confidential, and culturally appropriate approach in all MHPSS services.
• Contribute to strengthening coordination between MHPSS, health, protection, disaster management, branch teams, volunteers and other relevant teams to support integrated MHPSS activities.
• Ensure that activities consider age, gender, disability, culture, and other factors that may affect access to support.
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement plans for the facility.

3.       Implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Support the development of Terms of Reference, budgets, workplans, implementation plans, and other documents necessary to implement MHPSS services.
• Contribute to the implementation of MHPSS-related services, including:  
• MHPSS awareness raising;
• supervision of MHPSS activities;
• monitoring and evaluation of MHPSS activities at the Mental Health Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers.
• Support the implementation of PM+ and mhGAP-informed activities, ensuring that they remain within the scope of practice of trained staff and are aligned with national regulations.
• Support case discussions and follow-up for people with specific mental health and psychosocial needs.
• Follow up with staff and people receiving support to collect feedback for improvement.
• Undertake regular field visits to monitor activity quality, identify gaps, support teams, and provide technical recommendations.
• Support data collection, analysis, and documentation of lessons learned, case studies, programme reviews, and provide practical recommendations to improve MHPSS services.
• Report directly to the ARCS Head of MHPSS Department and the ARCS MHPSS Manager of the Health Department.
• Ensure timely communication with the ARCS Head of MHPSS Department, MHPSS Manager, and relevant stakeholders, relevant departments, branches, RCRC Movement representatives and MHPSS delegate.

4.       Technical support and capacity building

• Provide technical and clinical guidance to MHPSS and health staff involved in MHPSS activities.
• Provide guidance on safe management of cases involving severe distress, risk of harm to self or others, psychosis, epilepsy, substance use concerns, depression, anxiety, grief, or other mental health and psychosocial concerns.
• Support the development and
• Support and supervise mental health assessments conducted by clinical staff.
• Oversee and review treatment plans prescribed by other clinicians, recommend referrals or therapy adjustments as needed, and support follow-up and continuity of care.
• Contribute to developing adequate, contextualized, and relevant MHPSS guidelines and tools, including training materials, referral tools, supervision tools, and M&E tools.
• Actively attend and participate in relevant online and in-person MHPSS trainings facilitated by Red Cross Movement partners, and non-Movement partners at national and/or international level.
• Conduct and facilitate quality trainings for Health and MHPSS staff on:
• Psychological First Aid;
• caring for staff and volunteers;
• identification of people with mental health and psychosocial needs;
• safe referral;
• PM+ and mhGAP-related topics, where relevant and appropriate.
• Support quality assurance of specialised mental health services.
• Assist during meetings and/or workshops for information sharing, feedback, review of key findings, and discussion of recommendations for programme improvement.
• Contribute to developing and monitoring MHPSS referral mapping.
• Support the identification of people with complex needs, supervise referrals, ensure safe documentation and follow-up.
• Coordinate with relevant partners and referral actors as required to support continuity and quality of facility-based MHPSS services.

5.       Additional duties

·         Promote staff wellbeing and mitigate burnout through supportive supervision, clear communication, and attention to safe working practices.

·         Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries at all times.

• Comply with ARCS and RCRC policies and procedures, including safeguarding, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, child protection, data protection, security, and code of conduct.
• Perform relevant duties and tasks not covered in this job description as assigned by the respective supervisors

6.       Skills, competencies and requirements

Required qualifications

·          Psychiatrist from a recognized institution with  sufficient experience in MHPSS

·         Valid license to practice medicine in Afghanistan.

·         Minimum 7 years of professional experience in mental health, psychiatry, or MHPSS including at least 3 years in a supervision role.

·         Experience providing technical or clinical supervision to health, mental health, psychosocial, or community-based teams.

·         Experience in humanitarian, emergency, community health, or Red Cross Red Crescent settings is highly desirable.

Technical knowledge and experience

·         Strong understanding of MHPSS in humanitarian settings.

·         Knowledge of WHO mhGAP, community-based mental health care, and referral pathways.

·         Knowledge of Psychological First Aid and caring for staff and volunteers.

·         Understanding of common mental health and psychosocial concerns in emergency settings.

·         Ability to identify people requiring additional or specialized mental health care.

·         Knowledge of safe referral, informed consent, confidentiality, safeguarding, and do-no-harm principles.

·         Experience developing or adapting MHPSS tools, training materials, IEC materials, supervision tools, and monitoring tools.

·         Experience facilitating trainings, workshops, and supervision sessions for staff and volunteers.

·         Experience with monitoring, reporting, data collection, and documentation of lessons learned.

Clinical competencies

·         Ability to conduct mental health assessments within professional scope of practice.

·         Ability to provide clinical guidance on mental health conditions and psychosocial concerns.

·         Ability to support safe management and referral of complex cases.

·         Ability to guide teams on follow-up, continuity of care, and appropriate documentation.

·         Ability to work within national laws, professional licensing requirements, and organizational protocols.

·         Ability to prescribe medication only where legally authorized and clinically appropriate.

Core competencies

·         Strong supervision, coaching, and mentoring skills.

·         Good communication and facilitation skills.

·         Ability to work respectfully with staff, volunteers, communities, and partners.

·         Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing operational needs.

·         Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

·         Good planning, organization, and reporting skills.

·         Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity.

·         Commitment to the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

·         Commitment to confidentiality, dignity, safety, and accountability.

Job Requirements

• Psychiatrist from a recognized institution with  sufficient experience in MHPSS
• Valid license to practice medicine in Afghanistan.
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in mental health, psychiatry, or MHPSS including at least 3 years in a supervision role.
• Experience providing technical or clinical supervision to health, mental health, psychosocial, or community-based teams.
• Experience in humanitarian, emergency, community health, or Red Cross Red Crescent settings is highly desirable.

Languages

• Fluency in Pashto and/or Dari
• Good command of English is desirable.

Computer skills

• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to use online communication platforms for meetings, trainings, reporting, and coordination

Applicants are kindly requested to combine all required documents into a single PDF file and submit it to the email address below. The PDF should include:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Educational certificates
• Work experience certificates
• National ID (Tazkira)

Important: When applying for this position and submitting your documents via email, it is mandatory to mention the job title and vacancy code in the email subject line. Incomplete applications or missing documents will not be considered.

Contact Number: +93 701 436 832

Email / Application Submission: hr@arcs.af