Mental Health & Psychosocial (MHPSS) Officer

The MHPSS Officer will implement and oversee psychosocial support activities for children and caregivers, ensuring integration with Child Protection and Education in Emergencies programmes. The role involves strengthening community-based support systems and promoting wellbeing, resilience, and safeguarding in line with international standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of MHPSS interventions (e.g., structured PSS, group activities, individual support) in line with IASC MHPSS Guidelines and CP Minimum Standards.
• Deliver age-appropriate, gender-sensitive, and inclusive MHPSS services for children, adolescents such as HEART and We Thrive, and for caregivers.
• Ensure integration of MHPSS into EiE activities, including safe and supportive learning environments.
• Support rollout of community-based MHPSS approaches (e.g., child-friendly spaces, peer support groups).
• Promote child participation and resilience-building approaches in programming.
• Identify children and caregivers in need of focused or specialized mental health support.
• Provide basic psychosocial support and Psychological First Aid (PFA) where appropriate.
• Ensure safe and confidential referral pathways to case management, health, or specialized services.
• Work closely with Child Protection caseworkers to integrate MHPSS into case plans.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and data protection for all case-related information.
• Support integration of MHPSS within CP case management, including emotional stabilization of high-risk children and caregiver support.
• Collaborate with EiE teams to integrate SEL and psychosocial activities in schools and build teachers’ capacity.
• Ensure MHPSS considerations are embedded in CVA programming.
• Train and mentor staff, volunteers, teachers, and partners on PFA, basic psychosocial support skills, safe identification and referrals, stress management and self-care.
• Support development of training materials and tools adapted to local context.
• Promote staff wellbeing initiatives to reduce burnout and secondary trauma.
• Conduct community sensitization on mental health awareness, positive coping strategies, and reduction of stigma.
• Engage community leaders, caregivers, and children to strengthen protective environments and promote acceptance of MHPSS services.
• Ensure all MHPSS activities adhere to child safeguarding and PSEA standards.
• Identify and mitigate protection risks linked to MHPSS programming.
• Ensure services are delivered in safe, confidential, and accessible spaces applying do no harm principles.
• Support collection and reporting of MHPSS indicators using qualitative and quantitative tools.
• Contribute to learning and adaptation of MHPSS programming.
• Ensure integration of Accountability to Affected Populations including feedback mechanisms.
• Participate in MHPSS Technical Working Groups and other coordination platforms.
• Coordinate with health, CP, EiE actors and government social welfare and health services.
• Support mapping and strengthening of MHPSS service providers and referral systems.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of MHPSS activities and referrals.
• Prepare regular activity reports and document lessons learned and good practices.
• Work closely with MEAL teams to ensure data quality and ethical data use.
• Provide rapid MHPSS response during emergencies and support establishment of safe spaces for children and caregivers.
• Integrate MHPSS into emergency education and protection response plans.

Requirements

• Minimum of BSc in Psychology, social worker or relevant field experience.
• Minimum 3 years post NYSC.
• Experience in Psychological First Aid, and other psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities.
• Experience working in Child Protection programs, Education, including those with MHPSS component.
• Fluent in English and Hausa is desirable.
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills and discretion with confidential information.
• Ability to work independently and proactively.

Skills

• Psychological First Aid
• Psychosocial Support
• Child Protection Program Development
• Education in Emergencies
• Community-based Support Systems
• Wellbeing Promotion
• Resilience Building
• Safeguarding
• Confidentiality Management

Languages

English, Hausa