ABOUT THE PROJECT

The BRAC – LEGO Foundation partnership builds on BRAC’s evidence-based Humanitarian Play Lab (HPL) model and is grounded in a shared commitment to inclusion, joyful learning, and scalable impact.

This five-year global initiative aims to reach over 400,000 children affected by crisis and displacement across Uganda, Bangladesh, and other fragile contexts, demonstrating that even in the most challenging environments, children can not only survive but thrive through collective action and play-based learning interventions.

In Uganda, this partnership will be implemented in the Rhino, Imvepi, and Bidibidi refugee settlements and the host communities of Terego, Madi-Okollo and Yumbe districts.

JOB PURPOSE:

Under the supervision of the Regional Manager, the TS-MHPSS will provide technical expertise in community-based psychosocial support interventions to ensure mental health for 0 to 6 years old children, their parents, project staff, educators, VHTs and relevant participants. This includes development of relevant MHPSS toolkits including screening checklists, training manuals, activity guides, referral forms, and monitoring tools—to support the mental health and psychosocial well-being of children, caregivers, and communities, organizing and facilitating training on MHPSS, Child protection, GBV and SRHR to staff, educators, VHTs and project participants.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and pilot a community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) model focused on improving the well-being of young children
• Develop practical tools, guidelines, and approaches to strengthen children's social-emotional development and mothers' psychosocial well-being.
• Promote safe, supportive, and stimulating environments in home and ECD center that foster healthy child development and emotional well-being.
• Develop practical guidelines and intervention packages to strengthen psychosocial well-being for children and their families.
• Design training modules, facilitator guides, and learning tools for VHTs, ECD educators, Para-councilor, project staff, and project participants. on GBV, SRHR, Child protection and PSS.
• Train BRAC staff, ECD facilitators, Village Health Teams (VHTs), ECD caregivers, community volunteers, and para-counsellors on basic MHPSS concepts and practices.
• Participate in District/ Settlement Mental Health/protection sector working group meetings.
• Establish and strengthen referral pathways between communities, ECD centres, health facilities, child protection services, and specialized mental health services.
• Refer complicated cases and follow up with other services providers including development partners, hospitals, police, among others.
• Promote capacity building of local stakeholders to sustain MHPSS interventions and referral mechanisms. Work closely with the relevant local authorities, including OPM, RWCS, Local Government community leaders, Ips, CBOs/RLOs and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of all planned activities.
• Contribute to developing MHPSS monitoring frameworks, indicators, and data collection tools.

SAFEGUARDING ROLES

• Ensure the safety of team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment and exploitation to achieve the program’s goals on safeguarding implementation. Act as a key source of support, guidance, and expertise on safeguarding to establish a safe working environment.
• Practice, promote, and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Bachelor’s degree in /Psychology/ Guidance and counselling /public health /Mental Health or any related field. APGD in related field is an added advantage, 4+ years of relevant professional experience in community-based psychosocial support interventions, with a focus on post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and GBV. Must possess knowledge on child protection, counselling, SRHR, and demonstrated experience in training and supervising para counsellors. Experience working in humanitarian settings with a recognized NGO is an added advantage

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Experience in humanitarian or refugee settings, Knowledge of Early Childhood Development (ECD) programming, Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation of MHPSS interventions, Knowledge of PSS, safeguarding and child protection, Knowledge on GBV and SRHR, Knowledge on case management, Strong coaching, mentorship, facilitation and training skills, developing training materials, facilitators’ guides, plans and concept notes, Documentation and reporting, Interpersonal and mobilization skills
• Computer literacy, Excellent communication skills (written and spoken), Self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, flexibility and adaptability, Ability to work as a team, under pressure with minimum supervision

• Develop and pilot a community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) model focused on improving the well-being of young children
• Develop practical tools, guidelines, and approaches to strengthen children's social-emotional development and mothers' psychosocial well-being.
• Promote safe, supportive, and stimulating environments in home and ECD center that foster healthy child development and emotional well-being.
• Develop practical guidelines and intervention packages to strengthen psychosocial well-being for children and their families.
• Design training modules, facilitator guides, and learning tools for VHTs, ECD educators, Para-councilor, project staff, and project participants. on GBV, SRHR, Child protection and PSS.
• Train BRAC staff, ECD facilitators, Village Health Teams (VHTs), ECD caregivers, community volunteers, and para-counsellors on basic MHPSS concepts and practices.
• Participate in District/ Settlement Mental Health/protection sector working group meetings.
• Establish and strengthen referral pathways between communities, ECD centres, health facilities, child protection services, and specialized mental health services.
• Refer complicated cases and follow up with other services providers including development partners, hospitals, police, among others.
• Promote capacity building of local stakeholders to sustain MHPSS interventions and referral mechanisms. Work closely with the relevant local authorities, including OPM, RWCS, Local Government community leaders, Ips, CBOs/RLOs and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of all planned activities.
• Contribute to developing MHPSS monitoring frameworks, indicators, and data collection tools.
• Ensure the safety of team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment and exploitation to achieve the program’s goals on safeguarding implementation. Act as a key source of support, guidance, and expertise on safeguarding to establish a safe working environment.
• Practice, promote, and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.

• Experience in humanitarian or refugee settings
• Knowledge of Early Childhood Development (ECD) programming
• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation of MHPSS interventions
• Knowledge of PSS, safeguarding and child protection
• Knowledge on GBV and SRHR
• Knowledge on case management
• Strong coaching, mentorship, facilitation and training skills
• Developing training materials, facilitators’ guides, plans and concept notes
• Documentation and reporting
• Interpersonal and mobilization skills
• Computer literacy
• Excellent communication skills (written and spoken)
• Self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, flexibility and adaptability
• Ability to work as a team, under pressure with minimum supervision

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology/ Guidance and counselling /public health /Mental Health or any related field.
• APGD in related field is an added advantage.
• 4+ years of relevant professional experience in community-based psychosocial support interventions, with a focus on post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and GBV.
• Must possess knowledge on child protection, counselling, SRHR.
• Demonstrated experience in training and supervising para counsellors.
• Experience working in humanitarian settings with a recognized NGO is an added advantage.