CP&MHPSS Officer at Save the Children in Ukraine, Ukraine

ROLE PURPOSE:
The Child Protection and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer (CP & MHPSS Officer) is responsible for supporting the day-to-day implementation, and monitoring of integrated CP and MHPSS programming in Sumy, including both direct and partner-led interventions. Under the supervision of the CP & MHPSS Coordinator, the Officer contributes to the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, and contextually appropriate interventions. This includes operational support for the implementation of key programmatic components and Save the Children’s Common Approaches, including Safe Families (where DI team not present), structured MHPSS interventions (such as HEART, Team Up, Youth Resilience, and ISMF), and other group-based activities delivered in Child-Friendly Spaces, mobile locations, schools, or other community settings.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Child Protection and Mental Health and PsychoSocial Support Officer (CP & MHPSS Officer) is responsible for supporting the day-to-day implementation, and monitoring of integrated CP and MHPSS programming in Sumy, including both direct and partner-led interventions.

Under the supervision of the CP & MHPSS Coordinator, the Officer contributes to the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, and contextually appropriate interventions. This includes operational support for the implementation of key programmatic components and Save the Children’s Common Approaches, including Safe Families (where DI team not present), structured MHPSS interventions (such as HEART, TeamUp, Youth Resilience, and ISMF), and other group-based activities delivered in Child-Friendly Spaces, mobile locations, schools, or other community settings. These interventions aim to promote well-being, strengthen protective environments, and ensure children’s access to safe, inclusive, and supportive services.

The Officer also plays a key role in training, coaching, and supervising field-level staff and partners, ensuring that all activities adhere to global and regional standards, including the CPMS and IASC MHPSS Guidelines. The role involves contributing to programme documentation, reporting, and coordination with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure integrated, child-centered programming.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programmer Identification and Planning

• Contribute to needs assessments, support with data collection and contextual analysis to inform CP and MHPSS programming.

• Participate in the design and planning of CP and MHPSS activities ensuring alignment with community needs and organizational priorities.

• Provide inputs to proposal development though sharing field-level insights and data with Coordinators and PM.

Award Implementation and Management

• Support the implementation of CP and MHPSS activities including group activities for children and caregivers, structured MHPSS activities (HEART, Team Up, Youth Resilience, ISMF), Safe Families, community awareness campaigns, and Explosive Ordinance and Risk Education (EORE) for direct implementation.
• Provide operational support (i.e. submission of AMR and PR) for activities in Child-Friendly Spaces, schools, and community settings, ensuring safety and inclusivity.
• Assist in community outreach and engagement to prevent family separation and promote child protection.
• Contribute to service mapping and referral pathway development in coordination with relevant teams.
• Ensure adherence to CP SOPs, CPMS, and SCI guidelines during direct implementation.
• Support documentation and use of PRIME for activity tracking, update and reporting direct implementation.

Award Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Participate in routine monitoring of CP and MHPSS activities using approved tools and benchmarks.
• Support data collection and reporting in collaboration with MEAL teams.
• Support IPTT analysis and identification of challenges and risks.
• Contribute to documentation of lessons learned and good practices.
• Promote child participation and feedback mechanisms in programmer activities.

Award Closure and Learning

• Assist in compiling final reports and documentation for award closure.
• Participate in after-action reviews and learning sessions to inform future programming.

Capacity Strengthening and Supervision

• Supervise MHPSS/Safe Families Facilitators providing oversight and guidance to enable them to successfully perform in their roles.
• Support training and coaching of facilitators and volunteers delivering CP and MHPSS activities.
• Assist in delivering training on structured interventions (HEART, Team Up, Youth Resilience, ISMF), Safe Families, and basic CP/MHPSS principles.
• Provide peer support and mentorship under the guidance of the Coordinator and Technical Advisors.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probations reviews, and annual performance reviews.
• Assist with the recruitment of MHPSS Facilitators.

Partnership Support

• Collaborate with implementing partners to support quality delivery of CP and MHPSS activities.
• Participate in joint monitoring visits and feedback sessions with partners.
• Share field-level insights to inform adaptive planning and coordination

External Representation and Engagement

• Support in local coordination platforms (e.g., MHPSS TWG, CP AoR) in periods of absence of coordinator.
• Support advocacy and awareness efforts in collaboration with Communications and Advocacy teams.

Internal Coordination and Collaboration

• Coordinate with internal teams (e.g., Case Management, Education, MEAL) to support integrated programming.
• Share field-level learning and feedback with technical and operational teams.
• Collaborate with Safety and Security teams to ensure safe implementation of activities.

General

• Support emergency response activities as needed, including flexible working hours.
• Assist in procurement planning and administrative follow-up for field activities.
• Uphold Save the Children’s safeguarding, safety, and operational policies.

Additional Job Responsibilities

• Support the CP & MHPSS Coordinator in ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and continuity of activities during periods of absence or delegation.

• Contribute to a collaborative and cohesive team environment by promoting synergy between Child Protection and MHPSS components.

• Take initiative in supporting team coordination, sharing updates, and ensuring timely follow-up on assigned tasks.

• Participate in cross-learning and integration efforts across thematic areas and teams, contributing to a unified and child-centered programmer approach.

• Carry out other duties as assigned by the CP & MHPSS Coordinator, in line with the role’s scope and capacity.

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

QUALIFICATIONS

ESSENTIAL

• University degree in psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Pedagogy, Law, or a related field.

DESIRABLE

• Academic or professional training in family, child, and adolescent mental health or psychosocial support.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

ESSENTIAL

Experience:

• Minimum of 1 year of progressively responsible experience in child protection and/or MHPSS, preferably in an emergency/humanitarian or development settings.
• Experience working directly with vulnerable, at-risk groups (children, adolescents, and families).
• Familiarity with working in the local context or specific geographic zone of implementation.
• Experience working with internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, or returnees.
• Prior experience with NGOs or community-based organizations.
• Experience in staff management/supervision.
• Experience in providing/facilitating trainings/capacity strengthening.

Knowledge:

• Basic understanding of child development, child protection principles, and psychosocial support approaches.
• Awareness of key standards and guidelines such as the IASC Guidelines on MHPSS and the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Settings.
• Understanding of human rights and protection principles in humanitarian contexts.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills, child-friendly communicator and non-judgmental listener.
• Ability to effectively plan and organize workload.
• Ability to network and work effectively with partners and communities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Ukrainian.
• Creative problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to work effectively in resource-constrained environments.
• Ability to manage tasks independently and adapt to changing environments.
• Proficiency in computer use including Microsoft Office and Excel.

Attitude:

• To work in a team.
• Strong self-starter who takes initiative and proactively identifies challenges and solutions.
• Cultural Competency and sensitivity and ability to work with diverse groups, reflecting the organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches and child safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Commitment to protecting vulnerable and at-risk children through child protection and humanitarian principles.
• Flexibility and willingness to change work practices and hours and spend time in the field, sometimes in difficult conditions and with limited resources, and with remote management.
• Patient, adaptable, able to improvise, and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure.

DESIRABLE

• Basic level of written and spoken English is a strong advantage.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Save the Children is committed to create a truly inclusive, effective and representative organizational culture, encouraging equity and diversity among its employees and eliminating discrimination. Having a diverse profile of employees, different age groups, backgrounds, cultures, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientation etc., including a range of different experiences and capabilities helps us understand, represent and serve children better.  Therefore, all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Safeguarding and Respect and Dignity policies.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Preventing Fraud, Bribery and Corruption

The role holder shall perform the necessary duties in accordance to Counter-fraud, Bribery & Corruption Policy and keep any activity during performance of duties free from any instance of fraud, bribery, theft, and corruption.