MHPSS Officer at Lindii Peace Foundation (LPF)

Lindii Peace Foundation (LPF) is a Non-Profit and Non-governmental Organization in Nigeria which was registered as a corporate body with the Corporate Affairs Commission on the Eleventh (11th) day of July, 2014.ABOUT THE ROLE

Lindii Peace Foundation (LPF) is seeking a compassionate, proactive, and experienced Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer to support the implementation of quality mental health and psychosocial support interventions across its humanitarian and development programmes.
The successful candidate will support the identification of mental health and psychosocial needs among vulnerable and conflict-affected populations, facilitate access to appropriate support services, and promote individual and community well-being through structured psychosocial interventions, community engagement, awareness creation, and referral services. The role will involve providing psychological first aid, facilitating individual and group psychosocial support activities, strengthening community-based support mechanisms, and ensuring that individuals requiring specialized care are appropriately referred to qualified service providers.
The MHPSS Officer will work closely with programme teams, health personnel, protection actors, community structures, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that MHPSS interventions are accessible, inclusive, culturally appropriate, and responsive to the needs of affected populations. The officer will also contribute to programme monitoring, documentation, reporting, and capacity-building activities while ensuring that all interventions uphold confidentiality, safeguarding, informed consent, professional boundaries, and the principle of do no harm.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

MHPSS Programme Planning and Implementation

Support the planning, coordination, and implementation of mental health and psychosocial support activities in line with approved programme objectives, work plans, and organizational priorities.
Conduct or support community-level assessments to identify mental health and psychosocial needs, vulnerabilities, service gaps, and available community support mechanisms.
Implement appropriate, structured, and culturally sensitive psychosocial support interventions for individuals and groups affected by conflict, displacement, trauma, and other humanitarian challenges.
Support the integration of MHPSS activities into relevant health, protection, and other humanitarian programme interventions.
Develop activity plans, session schedules, and implementation approaches to ensure timely and effective delivery of MHPSS services.
Ensure that MHPSS activities are inclusive and responsive to the needs of women, children, adolescents, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable groups.
Monitor the quality and appropriateness of MHPSS interventions and recommend improvements based on community feedback and identified needs.
Ensure that programme activities are implemented in accordance with approved technical standards, organizational policies, and humanitarian principles.

Psychosocial Support and Community-Based Interventions

Provide basic psychosocial support and psychological first aid (PFA) to individuals experiencing distress, within the scope of professional competence.
Facilitate individual and group psychosocial support sessions using appropriate, structured, and age-sensitive approaches.
Organize and facilitate community-based support groups, recreational activities, peer-support initiatives, and other interventions that promote emotional well-being and social connectedness.
Support individuals and families to develop positive coping strategies and strengthen their capacity to manage stress and psychosocial challenges.
Identify individuals experiencing significant psychological distress or other mental health concerns and facilitate appropriate referrals to qualified service providers.
Promote safe and supportive environments where individuals can express concerns and access psychosocial support without discrimination or stigma.
Provide follow-up support to referred individuals, where appropriate, while maintaining confidentiality and respecting professional boundaries.
Adapt psychosocial support approaches to the cultural, social, and contextual realities of the communities served.

Mental Health Awareness and Community Engagement

Develop and facilitate community awareness sessions on mental health, psychosocial well-being, stress management, emotional resilience, and available support services.
Promote understanding of common mental health and psychosocial challenges and address misconceptions, stigma, and discrimination associated with mental health conditions.
Engage community leaders, religious leaders, women and youth groups, caregivers, and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen community participation in MHPSS activities.
Support the identification and mobilization of community-based support structures that can contribute to the promotion of mental health and psychosocial well-being.
Develop or adapt culturally appropriate information, education, and communication (IEC) materials on mental health and psychosocial support.
Encourage positive family and community relationships that contribute to social inclusion, emotional support, and resilience.
Identify barriers preventing vulnerable individuals from accessing mental health and psychosocial support services and recommend appropriate strategies to address them.
Promote community ownership and participation in MHPSS interventions while ensuring that activities respect individual rights, dignity, and cultural sensitivities.

Case Identification, Referral and Follow-Up

Identify individuals who may require additional mental health, psychosocial, protection, or other specialized services through appropriate and ethical engagement.
Maintain an updated directory of available mental health, health, protection, and other relevant referral service providers within programme locations.
Establish and maintain functional referral pathways in collaboration with health facilities, protection actors, and other relevant service providers.
Facilitate safe, timely, and confidential referrals for individuals requiring specialized mental health care or other support services.
Ensure that referrals are conducted with appropriate informed consent, respect for confidentiality, and consideration of the individual\'s safety and preferences.
Follow up on referrals, where appropriate, to assess whether individuals have been able to access the required services.
Maintain accurate and confidential referral records in accordance with organizational procedures and applicable data protection requirements.
Escalate urgent protection or safeguarding concerns through established organizational reporting and referral mechanisms.
Ensure that individuals requiring clinical assessment, diagnosis, or specialized psychological treatment are referred to appropriately qualified professionals.

Capacity Building and Technical Support

Identify capacity-building needs among community volunteers, frontline workers, caregivers, and other relevant stakeholders involved in MHPSS activities.
Support the development and delivery of training and orientation sessions on psychological first aid, basic psychosocial support, mental health awareness, safe identification, and referral procedures.
Provide practical guidance and mentorship to community volunteers and relevant personnel supporting MHPSS activities.
Strengthen the capacity of community-based structures to identify psychosocial needs, provide appropriate basic support, and facilitate access to available services.
Support the dissemination and application of relevant MHPSS guidelines, tools, and standard operating procedures.
Participate in technical learning sessions, coordination meetings, and capacity-building initiatives relevant to mental health and psychosocial support.
Promote appropriate professional boundaries and ensure that staff and volunteers understand the limits of their roles when providing psychosocial support.
Document training activities, participation, learning outcomes, and capacity-building needs for programme reporting and improvement.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

Work closely with programme managers, health personnel, protection officers, MEAL staff, and field teams to ensure effective coordination and integration of MHPSS interventions.
Establish and maintain working relationships with relevant government health institutions, mental health service providers, community-based organizations, and other humanitarian actors.
Participate in relevant MHPSS coordination meetings, technical working groups, and stakeholder engagements as assigned.
Support coordination with health facilities and specialized service providers to strengthen referral pathways and continuity of care.
Share relevant programme updates, implementation challenges, emerging needs, and recommendations with the supervisor and relevant programme teams.
Promote collaboration and information-sharing among stakeholders while respecting confidentiality and data protection requirements.
Represent LPF in relevant technical and community engagements when delegated by management.
Identify opportunities for collaboration, service integration, and improved access to mental health and psychosocial support services.

Monitoring, Documentation and Reporting

Maintain accurate records of MHPSS activities, including individual and group sessions, community awareness activities, training, referrals, and follow-up interventions.
Collect and compile relevant programme data to monitor activity implementation, participation, service utilization, and progress against agreed targets.
Support the development of activity reports, success stories, case studies, and other programme documentation while ensuring that confidentiality and informed consent requirements are respected.
Monitor the effectiveness and quality of MHPSS interventions and identify implementation gaps requiring management attention.
Document challenges, emerging psychosocial needs, lessons learned, and good practices to inform programme planning and improvement.
Work with the MEAL team to ensure appropriate monitoring tools, feedback mechanisms, and indicators are used for MHPSS activities.
Ensure that programme data is accurate, complete, securely maintained, and submitted within established reporting timelines.
Support the preparation of periodic programme reports and other documentation required by management and relevant stakeholders.

Safeguarding, Confidentiality and Ethical Practice

Ensure that all MHPSS interventions are delivered in accordance with LPF\'s safeguarding policies, Code of Conduct, PSEA requirements, and relevant professional and humanitarian standards.
Maintain strict confidentiality when handling personal information, psychosocial concerns, referral records, and other sensitive information.
Obtain appropriate informed consent before conducting assessments, providing support, collecting personal information, or facilitating referrals, as applicable.
Maintain professional boundaries and ensure that support provided remains within the officer\'s qualifications, competence, and professional scope of practice.
Ensure that all interventions uphold the dignity, rights, safety, and best interests of programme participants.
Apply the principles of do no harm, non-discrimination, inclusion, and respect for individual choice in all MHPSS activities.
Ensure that children, survivors of violence, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable individuals receive appropriate protection and support in accordance with established safeguarding procedures.
Identify and report safeguarding concerns, suspected abuse, exploitation, misconduct, or other protection risks through established organizational reporting channels.
Ensure that MHPSS activities do not expose individuals or communities to stigma, discrimination, retaliation, or other avoidable harm.

Coordination, Accountability and Other Responsibilities

Promote accountability to affected populations by ensuring that communities are informed about available MHPSS services, eligibility criteria, and feedback and complaints mechanisms.
Support the collection and appropriate use of community feedback to improve the relevance, accessibility, and quality of MHPSS interventions.
Ensure that community members are treated respectfully and that their concerns are addressed through appropriate organizational channels.
Participate in programme planning, review meetings, and other organizational activities relevant to the position.
Maintain professional conduct and demonstrate commitment to LPF\'s organizational values and humanitarian principles.
Perform other relevant duties assigned by the supervisor that are consistent with the objectives of the position.

KEY DELIVERABLES

MHPSS activity plans, schedules, and implementation reports developed and maintained as required.
Quality community-based psychosocial support activities and structured individual and group support sessions delivered.
Psychological first aid and basic psychosocial support provided within the scope of professional competence.
Functional referral pathways established and maintained with relevant mental health, health, and protection service providers.
Community awareness and sensitization sessions conducted on mental health, psychosocial well-being, stress management, and available support services.
Accurate and confidential records of MHPSS activities, referrals, and follow-up interventions maintained.
Capacity-building and mentorship activities conducted for relevant community volunteers and frontline personnel.
Regular programme reports, activity updates, and documentation submitted within established timelines.
Relevant MHPSS monitoring data collected, organized, and shared with the MEAL team.
Evidence of community engagement, feedback collection, and integration of learning into programme implementation.
Demonstrated compliance with safeguarding, confidentiality, informed consent, and professional ethical requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor\'s degree in Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Mental Health, or other relevant disciplines.
At least 3 years of relevant professional experience implementing mental health and psychosocial support interventions, preferably within humanitarian or development settings.
Demonstrated experience providing psychosocial support, psychological first aid, community-based mental health interventions, or related services to vulnerable populations.
Experience facilitating individual and group support sessions, community awareness activities, and psychosocial engagement initiatives.
Demonstrated understanding of mental health and psychosocial challenges affecting conflict-affected populations, internally displaced persons, women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
Knowledge of appropriate mental health referral pathways, confidentiality, informed consent, safeguarding, and professional boundaries.
Experience working with community structures, health facilities, protection actors, or other relevant service providers.
Strong communication, interpersonal, facilitation, and community engagement skills.
Ability to maintain accurate programme records, prepare activity reports, and document programme outcomes.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver results within challenging humanitarian environments.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Experience working with local or international NGOs, UN agencies, or humanitarian and development organizations.
Experience implementing MHPSS interventions in emergency, displacement, conflict-affected, or other fragile settings.
Relevant training or certification in Psychological First Aid (PFA), psychosocial counselling, trauma-informed care, mental health awareness, or other relevant MHPSS areas.
Familiarity with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.
Experience working with children, adolescents, survivors of gender-based violence, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.
Experience supporting community-based mental health initiatives, peer-support groups, and community referral mechanisms.
Knowledge of available mental health and psychosocial support services and referral networks in Northeast Nigeria.
Experience collecting and analyzing programme data, developing activity reports, and supporting MEAL processes.
Fluency in English and relevant local languages spoken in Borno State.
Relevant postgraduate qualification in Psychology, Mental Health, Counselling, Social Work, or another related field.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Knowledge: Demonstrated understanding of MHPSS principles, psychosocial interventions, psychological first aid, and community-based mental health approaches.
Empathy and Interpersonal Skills: Ability to engage individuals and communities with compassion, sensitivity, patience, and respect.
Communication and Facilitation: Ability to communicate effectively, facilitate individual and group sessions, and deliver community awareness activities.
Community Engagement: Ability to build trust, mobilize community participation, and work effectively with diverse groups and stakeholders.
Referral and Case Management: Ability to identify support needs, facilitate appropriate referrals, and maintain confidentiality throughout referral and follow-up processes.
Professional Judgment: Ability to recognize the limits of professional competence, maintain appropriate boundaries, and seek technical support when required.
Planning and Organization: Ability to plan activities, manage multiple responsibilities, maintain accurate records, and meet programme deadlines.
Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams, community structures, health personnel, and other stakeholders.
Integrity and Confidentiality: Demonstrated commitment to ethical conduct, privacy, informed consent, and responsible handling of sensitive information.
Safeguarding and Ethical Practice: Commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, preventing exploitation and abuse, and upholding the principles of do no harm, inclusion, and dignity.