Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Advisor
Employee Working Location: Remote / Virtual, Canada
Employment status: Temporary, Full Time
Salary band: $54,895 – $80,055 / Per Year

The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) – one of the most inspirational not-for-profit organizations on this planet and an awardee on the Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers 2022 – is seeking a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Advisor to join our team.

We are guided by our Fundamental Principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. We help people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and support them in strengthening their resilience.

Starting with the hiring process, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment where everyone can reach their full potential. We encourage all qualified persons who share our values and want to contribute to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace to apply.

As part of the team within Friendly Calls, the MHPSS Advisor reports to the program leadership with support from the national MHPSS unit. The incumbent will work in collaboration with CRC personnel, including friendly calls volunteers, and counterparts within provinces, to provide enhanced psychosocial support to individuals experiencing isolation, loneliness, or otherwise in need of additional supports.

In this role, you will:

• Provide support to ensure minimum standards on beneficiary accountability, child protection, gender and diversity are met within all programs and services to beneficiaries. Also provide resources and education on psychosocial issues, including stress, grief, and loss, among others that occur following traumatic events.
• Interface with colleagues on collaboration and integration of MHPSS within the operation AND participate in any coordination structure focused on mental health and psychosocial support.

• Advocate for a client-centered approach both internally and externally in matters of mental health and psychosocial support, which recognizes issues of equity and cultural diversity.
• Conduct individual assessments supporting appropriate triage for services internal/external to CRC (e.g., demographic and contextual information, mental health and psychosocial needs, vulnerabilities and risks, capacities and resources) to meet identified needs
• Lead capacity-building activities as relevant to the operation or program based on Advisor’s specialized and professional knowledge (e.g., harm reduction approaches, traditional ways of knowing)
• Complete end-of-mission report and debriefing upon demobilization to provide MHPSS National team with feedback and recommendations related to preparedness for and experience in deployment, including evaluating support to personnel and appropriateness of services to meet the needs of impacted individuals.
• Contribute to PSS monitoring and reporting responsibilities and implementation of key monitoring tools as part of the planning and program management process.
• Attend meetings as required.

  In addition to the above responsibilities, the MHPSS Advisor may be requested to surge into other contexts/roles to meet workforce requirements.

What we are looking for:

• Professional certification or degree in public health, medicine, psychology, social work, nursing, or other mental health related field and current Professional Registration (registered and in good standing) within Canada. Training and/or experience in crisis and/or suicide intervention (e.g., ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training) and experience in an emergency environment (e.g., response to disasters, crisis events, humanitarian crises)
• Explore and analyze complex issues and prepare written evaluations and recommendations for leadership.
• Advocate for and reinforce self-determination and coping mechanisms (i.e., aiding in re-establishment of traditional forms of support and coping found in community)
• Demonstrated ability to work in stressful and often ambiguous conditions is required.
• Advanced level of reflexivity in order to work effectively and professionally in a fast-paced and changing environment plus strong written and verbal communication in English is essential
• French/English bilingual is required

Working conditions:

• The majority of the work is performed in an environment which is mostly clean and comfortable.  Mobile (remote, home or office) worker arrangements will consider the tools, resources and environment required to be effective and productive
• Regular travel, including overnight travel in Canada may be required.
• Potential for deployment to disaster/crisis areas, as well as difficult and unstable conditions (environmental, physical, social, etc.) and uncomfortable conditions (noise, odors, smoke, humidity, vulnerable beneficiaries). These stressful rapidly changing environments with limited information to make decisions have the potential to affect the physical and psychological state of the responders on site and providing support over the phone.
•   We currently welcome applications from candidates eligible to work in Canada. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, we encourage you to carefully review your visa to find out whether you are eligible to work in the job you are considering applying for. Refer to our FAQ for more information.
• ·   If you are selected for this role, you will be required to complete a successful pre-employment screening process which includes a satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC).

At this time, the CRC has temporarily suspended our Covid-19 vaccination policy and does not require but continues to strongly encourage full vaccination of all our personnel.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible – those who apply after the selection process has started may be held for a second review if needed OR reviewed for alternative roles. We appreciate the time and effort it takes to apply and thank you in advance.

If you require accommodation measures during any phase of the hiring process, please notify us as soon as possible. All information received in relation to accommodation requests will be kept confidential.

The official languages recognized within the Canadian Red Cross are English and French however demonstrated skills and ability to communicate in an or multiple Indigenous language(s) or ability to communicate and adapt within Indigenous protocol is highly desirable.