Your job as a mental health officer for Médecins Sans
Frontières (MSF)
As a mental health officer you will create,
implement and improve treatment programmes for patients with
conflict-related problems such as stress, trauma, and/or mental
health conditions resulting from domestic or sexual violence. Most
of MSF’s mental health programmes aim to provide people in
emergency and conflict areas with acute mental healthcare and
psychosocial support. Each programme consists of both a clinical
and a social, community-based component. Mental health programmes
are integrated into existing medical programmes as well as
disease-specific projects targeting people with tuberculosis,
HIV/AIDS or other conditions. A substantial part of your work will
involve training and supervising local staff who carry out the
psychosocial support activities. Data collection, analysis and
reporting are an intrinsic part of the role.
Requirements for mental health officers with
MSF
- A master’s degree in psychology, or
equivalent (postgraduate) qualification in community psychiatric
nursing, with strong clinical therapeutic experience; or experience
as a psychiatrist.
- A minimum of 2 years’ post-qualification
experience in giving therapy to adults and children
- Work experience in (social) psychiatry,
clinical social work/psychology, psychotherapy, or community
psychiatric nursing
- Experience with community-oriented approaches
and context-oriented information materials
- Experience in training, coaching and
supervision
- Work or travel experience in developing
countries
- A good command of the English language
- Ability to cope with stress and to organize
and prioritize workload
- Ability to work in an international team
- Willingness to work in an unstable and
insecure environment
- Availability of at least 12 months
Assets
- Demonstrable experience in clinical treatment
of clients with trauma and/or with HIV/AIDS and/or
tuberculosis
- Work experience in a similar non-governmental
organization abroad or with clients from various cultures and
developing countries
- A good command of the French language
What MSF offers you
- A contract for the duration of the mission,
along with an international insurance package, a pension scheme and
other benefits depending on applicable regulations and labour
law
- A net salary of about 800 euros per month for
the first 12 months; after which salary increases within the MSF
salary grid
- 5 weeks’ holiday per year
- A preparation course before departure and
continued career development opportunities within the
organization
- Career guidance and training
opportunities
May 2012