District MHPSS Assistant- Peshawar

Relief International (RI), a global non-profit organization dedicated to supporting communities affected by climate change and disasters, is seeking a District Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Assistant. This role supports the delivery of safe, accessible mental health and psychosocial services across district wellbeing centers, mobile clinics, community outreach, and home-based activities. The Assistant works under the supervision of the District MHPSS Officer and technical guidance from the Provincial MHPSS Coordinator, providing practical support, Psychological First Aid (PFA), confidential service navigation, and accurate record-keeping. The position plays a vital role in helping participants access appropriate support while ensuring that clinical assessment and treatment remain the responsibility of qualified practitioners. This is a rolling vacancy and will be filled once a suitable candidate is identified.

Key Responsibilities

Accessible Services and District Activity Support:
Greet participants respectfully, explain available services and feedback mechanisms, and assist with appointments and reception while maintaining confidentiality. Prepare wellbeing center sessions, mobile clinic schedules, community activities, and home visits by organizing materials, private spaces, and supplies. Promote participation among women, girls, persons with specific needs, female-headed households, and those experiencing psychosocial distress, raising any access barriers to the Officer. Clearly communicate voluntary participation and confidentiality, supporting informed consent and assent procedures as required.

Supervised Psychosocial Support and Outreach:
Provide Psychological First Aid and basic practical support only after completing approved training and under supervision, using respectful listening and connecting participants to appropriate services. Assist with group, caregiver, adolescent, and community wellbeing activities following established plans without requiring participants to share traumatic experiences. Support awareness activities on positive coping, stigma reduction, and available services, referring individuals needing confidential follow-up. Participate in inclusive home-based visits and mobile outreach with proper consent and safeguarding arrangements, refraining from diagnosis, independent counseling, or clinical decision-making.

Service Navigation and Urgent Escalation:
Help participants understand appointments, referrals, and access arrangements approved by qualified staff. Liaise with referral partners without promising services beyond RI’s scope. Recognize warning signs of severe distress or safety concerns and promptly alert the Officer or clinical focal point. Follow emergency escalation procedures and assist with practical support without independently managing clinical crises. Support safe follow-up and flag missed appointments or access issues for review.

Records, Accountability, and Safeguarding:
Maintain accurate coded records of attendance, appointments, activities, and supplies using approved tools. Protect participant information through secure storage and restricted access, keeping clinical and safeguarding details separate from routine reports. Explain feedback channels, relay service concerns, and report safeguarding allegations promptly through designated procedures without conducting investigations. Support independent monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) activities while ensuring participation is voluntary and confidential.

Teamwork, Quality, and Professional Conduct:
Engage in supervision, refresher training, and district reviews. Seek guidance when tasks exceed competence and provide updates to improve services. Maintain professional boundaries and adhere to RI’s Code of Conduct, safeguarding policies, and prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. Report misconduct or data breaches through approved channels. Monitor readiness of activity spaces and supplies, report shortages or damage, and follow infection prevention, travel, and security protocols. Support emergency activities only with prior written approval and record separately from routine services.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Public Health, or a related social or health discipline.
- Minimum two years of relevant experience in community, psychosocial, health, or protection programs involving respectful direct engagement with vulnerable populations.
- Ability to complete approved Psychological First Aid and safeguarding training and demonstrate required competencies before providing support.
- Proficiency in Pashto, Urdu, and a local language used in the assigned district; basic English reading and reporting skills.
- Strong record-keeping, basic computer skills, confidentiality awareness, and willingness to travel regularly within the district.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience supporting mobile teams, wellbeing centers, community groups, adolescents, caregivers, or persons with specific needs.
- Prior Psychological First Aid training and familiarity with consent-based referral procedures and digital attendance or service-tracking tools.

Relief International is committed to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and upholds values of integrity, adaptability, collaboration, inclusivity, and sustainability. The organization promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates, with a special emphasis on female applicants.