RECRUITMENT NOTICE: MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT SUPERVISOR (01)

MISSION LOCATION: NORTH WEST, CAMEROON

PURPOSE OF THE POST

The Mental Health and Psycho-social Support Officer will implement and monitor individual and community psycho-social activities in the North-West project of the NGO ALIMA.

FUNCTIONAL AND HIERARCHICAL LINKS

He/she reports to the Medical Activity Manager (MAM) and to the Mental health manager for the Cameroon mission.

He/she supports: nurses, nutritional assistants, community health workers, midwives and MOH staffs.

The MHPSS Supervisor collaborates with:

● The different external partners.

● The medical, administrative and logistic teams of the North-West project.

MAIN MISSION

The MHPSS supervisor is responsible for the Project’s mental health strategy and implementation for psychosocial support for patients, their families and community.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

To improve the mental health and psychosocial support of people in distress (including staff) through appropriate and effective care

• lCarry out individual interviews and discussion groups for people in psychological distress.
• lFacilitating family mediation as necessary and appropriate.
• lIn collaboration with the MHPSS manager of ALIMA, organize recreational and emotional release activities for the care team.
• lOrganize tours of duty in the supported health facilities for the assessment and psycho-social and mental health care of hospitalized patients.
• lPrescribe or be able to identify and refer situations requiring psychiatric medication in extreme cases for certain people.
• lFollow up on referrals made in mental health and psycho-social support by other project colleagues, care providers or community relays.
• lCollaborate with traditional practitioners working in the field.
• lDevelop an intervention and follow-up plan for beneficiaries in relation to mental health and psycho-social support.
• lPropose appropriate and adapted activities in relation to the identified needs.
• lMonitor the activities of community health workers in the field.

Hospitalization

• lConducts interviews with inpatients to identify, manage and monitor those with identified mental health, psychiatric and psycho-social support needs.
• lIndicates and prescribes care and treatment to the team, following therapeutic protocols to rationalize the use of medication.
• lInforms the patient about his/her illness, explains the treatment.
• lMaintains the hospitalization records by accurately notifying the examinations, entry and exit diagnoses and treatments and ensures that the prescription is applied.
• lDecides on the patient's discharge according to their state of health, which must meet pre-established criteria.
• lWorks in collaboration with the various doctors and supervises transfers to other departments if necessary.
• lEnsures the supervision and continuous training of the medical/paramedical team in order to optimize the quality of care.
• lManages psychiatric emergencies.

Strengthen the capacity of health care providers and community-based health workers in mental health concepts and psychosocial support

• lIn collaboration with the mental health manager, ensure capacity building of providers on MHPSS concepts and especially in identifying mental health problems and psychological first aid;
• lEnsure training and supervision of community relays on general MHPSS concepts and GBV;
• lProvide training in stress management and self-care for community health workers

Support the implementation of awareness and social mobilization actions for the development of a mental health culture

• lParticipate in and support the organization of awareness-raising activities (in MHPSS and GBV) through community-based health workers (community relays), local partners, leaders, neighborhood chiefs and village heads,
• lWork in close collaboration with the Project’s GBV focal point to provide pyscho-social support to survivors of sexual violence and exploitation.
• lSupport the strengthening of existing community mechanisms (women's groups, solidarity groups, religious leaders, neighborhood chiefs) in order to offer psychosocial care to GBV victims (individual and collective), in collaboration with agents in charge of community mobilization.
• lDevelop MHPSS and GBV messages to be delivered to communities in collaboration with other colleges and partners and MOHs;
• lParticipate in the development of sensitization/information, education and communication (IEC) tools according to identified needs, in collaboration with all relevant components and contextualize/translate these tools into local languages.
• lSensitize all other colleagues and project stakeholders on mental health and psychosocial support.

Reporting / information sharing

• lShare the various problems encountered on a daily basis in the structures or sites supported and partners with its managers.
• lUse the monitoring tools and compile the analysis in a weekly report.
• lParticipate in the various internal meetings of the ALIMA project.
• lIn collaboration with the project team, collect and share MHPSS data, while ensuring their confidentiality.
• lWrite and share activity reports.
• lBe required to write the minutes of certain internal meetings.
• lParticipate, upon request of his/her superior, in external meetings related to MHPSS,and or community health in the project area.
• lEnsure external communication, with other partners, upon request of his/her line manager.
• lSupport for the overall operation and successful implementation of the MHPSS and SGBV program.

Support to the overall functioning and proper implementation of the MHPSSprogram

• lParticipate in the evaluation of the psychosocial needs of the communities in the field of intervention and in the development of a strategy for the sustainability of MHPSS activities.
• lCarry out any other activity requested by the managers in the framework of the program activities.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• lBachelors in Nursing with Mental Health/ psychiatry specialization.
• lAt least 2 years’ experience as a psycho-social officer or counsellor, mental health attaché or similar.
• lExperience working with medical NGOs (ALIMA, MSF, IMC MDM etc).
• lExperience in the implementation of psycho-social activities.
• lExperience in psycho-social and mental health support for people in psychological distress.
• lHave knowledge of child development, protection, GBV, inclusion and social cohesion.
• lHave good experience in community-based health and behavior change communication techniques.
• lEnglish speaking and local languages of NOSO is required. (Pidgin and French is an added advantage).

PERSONAL SKILLS REQUIRED:

• lDynamism-Excellent Organizational Skills-Autonomy.
• lProactive and able to work under pressure and in a reduced security environment.
• lDiplomacy-Team Spirit-Flexibility
• lComputer skills (MS office)
• lEmpathy and emotional intelligence
• lStrong leadership skills
• lAutonomy and sense of responsibility.

HOW TO APPLY.

Cameroon nationals with above qualifications to apply through email; bamenda.admin@cameroun.alima.ngo or hand delivery at our office up station GRA opposite UN compound Office. Send your Cover Letter, CV, work certificates and copies of qualification certificate between 16TH APRIL2026 - 30TH APRIL 2026.

ALIMA reserves the right to close this position before the closing date immediately the right profile is received.