Mental Health Reference At Doctors of the World

Doctors of the World Civil Association ( hereinafter MdM ) is implementing various activities to help strengthen local health institutions and organizations that serve populations in a condition of greater vulnerability in Venezuela.

The focus of our activities in Venezuela

MDM has been addressing humanitarian needs in Venezuela since 2019. The organization focuses on an integrated approach to health, nutrition, and protection of mental and psychosocial health ( MHPSS ). MDM coordinates its programs within the humanitarian cluster system and works collaboratively with national and international NGOs. The projects are implemented in highly populated vulnerable urban areas, as well as in rural and indigenous communities with difficult access. The organization is growing and expanding its base of donors, intervention sectors and implementation areas, with the aim of improving the quality of its programming.

General objective

The Mental Health Referrer, under the direct supervision of the SMAPS Coordination, is responsible for supervision and technical support in the execution of mental health and psychosocial support programs in the project’s areas of action. This includes carrying out psychosocial support activities providing psychological care with an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates gender and anthropological aspects, following the protocols in force in Venezuela.

Tasks and responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the SMAPS Coordinator, the Mental Health Referrer has within his functions:

• Responsible for psychosocial support in the project’s areas of action, providing individual, family and community psychological care, in a comprehensive manner and with a gender and anthropological approach according to the protocols in force in Venezuela.
• Participate in the execution and organization of all the necessary elements for mental health care and psychosocial support in the project action areas.
• Carry out crisis intervention to the population that requires it according to the response plans established by the organization.
• Participate in the identification and evaluation of the mental health needs of the target population.
• Plan and supervise the execution of the activities to be carried out by the technical team in charge according to the identified priorities and needs, aligned with the mission’s response strategy.
• Provide support in the design and / or review of pedagogical material adapted to the target population and design and implement community health education and psychosocial support activities.
• Carry out / update a mapping of services and actors in the area and establish reference and counter-referral routes, and serve as a link with other organizations for user reference.
• Contribute to the creation of clear routes of reference and counter-referral of cases.
• In articulation with the team, channel cases in mental and psychosocial health to and follow up on care routes.
• Identify psychosocial factors that are present in the health-disease process of individuals, families, groups or groups of the population with a perspective of interculturality.
• Carry out technical training for the team, partner and actors ( care for caregivers, psychological first aid, self-care, violence, positive psychology, etc. ).
• Register the cases attended according to the internal tools of MdM and permanently update the data.

Planning and Organization of Activities:

• Learn about the activities and indicators of the project.
• Preparation of reports on need.
• He is responsible for the databases assigned to him.
• Evaluate the activities carried out, difficulties encountered and share the information with its hierarchical and technical manager.
• Make a monthly report of the activities carried out during the period.

Communication and Security:

• Respect the current safety regulations in MdM
• Maintains discretion in handling confidential information and respects communication channels
• Actively participate in team meetings.
• Together with the hierarchical manager and the team, he participates in the analysis of the context of the work area.
• Maintains a respectful attitude and assertive communication with all team members.

Experience and required skills

• Knowledge and experience of psychosocial approach.
• Professional qualities required.
• Empathy with patients.
• Proactive, organized and dynamic person.
• Person with the ability to adapt to difficult conditions and strict safety standards.
• Person with the capacity for analysis and synthesis.
• Willingness to travel and mobilize within the territories covered by the project on the ground
• Teamwork ability.
• Respects the principle of medical secrecy and ensures the confidentiality of the data of the holders of project law.
• Respects cultural, ethnic, sexual, religious diversity, etc. of people and their communities providing respect-based care. ( differential approach )
• Respect the principle of neutrality of MDM
• Time flexibility.
• This job profile is not exhaustive and can be modified according to the evolution of the project.
• Regarding the nature of this position, the employee may carry out other tasks than those mentioned, at the request of his manager, always taking into account his competences and aptitudes.
• Analytical skills, problem solving and leadership.

This job description may be subject to modifications in the future, depending on the evolution of the activities.