Background

Myanmar's public healthcare system accounts for around 80% of all hospitals and clinics and provides heavily subsidized care to the country's 54 million people. Following the Myanmar military coup d’état on 1^st February 2021, the healthcare system inside Myanmar was near collapse, mainly because majority of health professionals in the public hospitals and clinics joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in protest against the military rule. Many of the CDM doctors and nurses fled to Thai-Myanmar border, some left for third countries and some remained in the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) controlled areas.

About 50% of the IDPs are in South-Eastern regions (bordering with Mae Hong Son and Tak provinces): 91,900 in Kayah/Karenni State, 81,400 in Kayin/Karen State, and 56,200 in Shan State (South). This displacement is on top of a protracted humanitarian crisis. The IDPs need food, drinking water, healthcare, temporary shelters, non-food items, hygiene and sanitation. NGOs/INGOs inside Myanmar cannot or hardly access these IDPs due to travel restrictions and security. Refugees who crossed the border to Thailand in 2021 were pushed back to Myanmar by the Thai authorities. Cross border assistance from Thailand is the most viable option for humanitarian assistances to these IDPs, but very few NGOs/INGOs were willing or able to provide the needed assistances due to various constraints.

In order to address the health needs of IDPs inside South-Eastern Myanmar, this project is aimed at providing access to quality healthcare, both primary and secondary levels through partner organizations, for the IDPs and victims of violence in Karen, Karenni and Shan states. 137,271 IDPs will directly benefit and another 92,229 IDPs will be indirectly benefitting. A total of 229,500 IDPs will have access to quality and free healthcare, through cross border operations. Karen Department for Health and Welfare (KDHW), Karenni Mobile Health Committee (KnMHC), and Shan Health Department (SHD) have been providing primary healthcare to the host communities and IDPs for more than 20 years and they are key partners for this project.

The Mental Health needs are enormous among the populations especially among the IDPs, particularly following the coup. The frequency and the duration of displacements particularly in Karenni and Karen territories after the coup are increasing and many people have experienced multiple displacements and at least one severe form of crisis event (family member killed; family separation; severe form of violence including rapes; properties destroyed/loss; fled from bombing/shelling/shooting; eye-witnessing the shot-dead and tortures, etc.). Until to date, because of the insecurity and other overwhelming priorities of work among health/mental health actors in Myanmar, there is no effective mental health intervention in place yet, in order to alleviate and treat the MH sufferings.

Main Purpose

• In close collaboration and communication with the MH referent at HQ, Medical coordination,  PMR, and other medical department identifying the needs of MH support in the target population and participating in the definition, planning, organization and update of the appropriate DWBT’s MH strategy and the activities and its budget.  Monitoring and evaluating MH support activities
• Reviewing and developing the technical materials, tools, guidelines and documents, and coordinating and ensuring the implementation of all Mental Health standard protocols and procedures set by DWBT in order to provide the most appropriate treatment for patients
• Planning and supervising, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, briefing/debriefing, evaluation, potential detection, development and internal communication) of the staff under his/her responsibility in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required
• Providing and leading in building the capacity of staff under his/her supervision on technical knowledge and skills on MH and related topics including through weekly supervisions 
• Coordinating and ensuring that Mental Health activities (in and outside health facilities), with the clients are performed with regular follow-up in order to provide the most appropriate treatment for clients with psychosocial problems
• Mapping and regularly updating the existing Mental Health services, including other INGO’s, local NGO’s, community groups and governmental health services, etc. and maintaining good and regular communication and collaboration with other components of the project according to objectives and context
• Ensuring in close collaboration with medical department, that MH department participates in counselling when needed
• Participating in monthly reports according to guidelines (SitRep, statistical report, etc.) and reporting problematic situations and cases with the Medical Coordinator to help with decision making and problem resolution
• Ensuring that MH patients coming to the DWBT supported facilities receive proper treatment including psychotropic medication and psychosocial support either within an DWBT program or thru referral to an appropriate resource

DWBT Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

• Supervision and management of directly reporting staff (3 incentivized social workers) mainly in remote mode
• Maintaining appropriate and clear communications and collaboration with other project team members and partners
• Ensuring treatment plan for patient is based on multidisciplinary approach including clear internal and external referral system for psychiatric patient
• Developing, reviewing and adapting technical, tools, guidelines and IEC materials according to the needs and context
• Conduct training PFA, psychoeducation, self-care, stress-coping, understanding mental health trauma, basic counseling, etc.  across the areas of intervention for the staffs of local partner
• When feasible, conducting onsite visits. Also providing direct patient care as needed
• Ensuring the medical and MH data and system are updated and secured, with support of technical references
• Identifying and proposing MH indicators in order to monitor and follow up mental health activities and using concrete tools to measure those activities

Requirements

HR & Benefits:

• Salary: 58,107 Baht gross per month and 13th Month Salary
• Housing allowance (for candidate recruited outside Mae Hong Son district)
• 6 months fixed term contract renewable
• Health benefit package

This job description may be amended in line with the activities or evolution of the Mission.

Desired starting date: Immediately

How to apply:

Please send your CV and cover letter (in a single PDF file only), stating your motivation and what can you contribute to the position, with the subject Ref: “MENTAL HEALTH ACTIVITY MANAGER” to maehongson-finhr@dwbthailand.com on or before 25^th May 2022 at 5:00 PM. Applications that are not completed (CV + Covering letter) will not be considered. Only short-list candidates will be contacted and invited for an interview.

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