Wellbeing Center MHPSS Assistant (Lower Dir)

Relief International (RI), a global non-profit organization dedicated to supporting communities affected by climate change and disasters, is seeking a Wellbeing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Assistant. This role supports the delivery of safe, welcoming, and accessible psychosocial services at designated wellbeing centers and during community or home-based activities. Working under the supervision of the Wellbeing Centre MHPSS Officer, the Assistant provides practical support, Psychological First Aid (PFA) after training, activity preparation, and confidential service navigation. The position is vital in helping participants access appropriate support while maintaining professional boundaries, with clinical decisions reserved for qualified practitioners. This opportunity is open on a rolling basis and will be filled once a suitable candidate is identified.

Key Responsibilities

Welcoming, Accessible and Confidential Services: Greet participants respectfully, explain available services and feedback mechanisms, and facilitate appointments while ensuring privacy and confidentiality. Support inclusive participation for women, girls, persons with specific needs, and those experiencing psychosocial distress. Prepare private spaces and materials for activities, identifying any environmental or safeguarding concerns beforehand.

Practical Psychosocial and Activity Support: Provide Psychological First Aid and basic practical assistance only after approved training and within demonstrated competence. Assist with structured group and community wellbeing activities, adhering to session plans and avoiding requests for participants to recount traumatic experiences. Support outreach and home-based visits with appropriate consent and safety measures, maintaining professional and culturally sensitive conduct. Clinical tasks such as diagnosis, independent counseling, or treatment decisions are outside the scope of this role.

Service Navigation and Immediate Escalation: Aid participants in understanding appointment logistics and consent-based referrals managed by qualified staff. Recognize warning signs of severe distress or safety concerns and promptly escalate these to the Officer or designated clinical focal point following approved protocols. Assist with safe follow-up and report missed appointments or access barriers for further review.

Records, Accountability and Safeguarding: Maintain accurate and confidential records of attendance, appointments, activities, and supplies using approved tools and coded identifiers. Protect participant information by following secure storage and transfer procedures. Facilitate accessible feedback options, relay routine concerns, and report safeguarding allegations promptly through designated channels without conducting investigations.

Teamwork, Quality and Professional Conduct: Participate in supervision, refresher training, and team meetings. Seek guidance when tasks exceed competence and use feedback to enhance service delivery. Uphold professional boundaries, comply with RI safeguarding policies, and report any misconduct or data breaches. Monitor center readiness, report supply shortages, and adhere to relevant field travel, infection prevention, and security procedures. Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of competence.

Required Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Public Health, or a related social or health discipline is essential. Candidates must have at least two years of relevant experience in community, psychosocial, health, or protection programs, including respectful engagement with vulnerable populations. Completion of approved Psychological First Aid and safeguarding training, with demonstrated practical competencies, is required before providing support. Fluency in Pashto, Urdu, and a local language commonly used in the assigned district is necessary, along with basic English reading and reporting skills. Strong record-keeping abilities, basic computer literacy, sound confidentiality practices, and willingness to travel within the district are also required.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting wellbeing centers, community groups, adolescents, caregivers, or persons with disabilities is advantageous. Prior PFA training, familiarity with referral procedures, and experience using approved digital attendance or service-tracking tools are desirable.

Relief International values integrity, adaptability, collaboration, inclusivity, and sustainability, operating under humanitarian principles including humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. The organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates, with a particular emphasis on female applicants. Candidates are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior, safeguarding, and professional conduct at all times.