Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) Integration Consultant

The Holistic Approach to Reaching Mothers with Obstetric, Neonatal, and Youth (HARMONY) Care Project, funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDSC) in Ebonyi State, is a multi-year maternal, newborn, and child health intervention implemented by Jhpiego to improve quality, continuity, and uptake of maternal and newborn health services in Nigeria. The project focuses on strengthening service delivery through Group Antenatal Care (G-ANC), Group Postnatal Care (G-PNC), Family Led Postnatal Care (F-PNC), point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), provider capacity building, and health systems strengthening.

As part of its strategic objectives, the project seeks to integrate Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) into group-based ANC and PNC, and referral systems to improve prevention, screening, early identification, support, referral, and management of common mental health conditions during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Jhpiego therefore seeks the services of a qualified consultant to support this process.

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise for the design, adaptation, and operationalization of PMH integration within HARMONY Care-supported facilities and service delivery platforms, ensuring alignment with policies and strategies in the Nigeria context, WHO guidelines, and global best practices.

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Desk Review

Conduct a rapid desk review of relevant global and national policies, guidelines, educational materials, screening tools, training packages, and/or partner/program experiences related to maternal and perinatal mental health in Nigeria.

2. Develop/refine a PMH Service Pathway

Design a stepped-care PMH pathway outlining roles for:

• Community Based Health Workers (CBHWs)
• Frontline facility staff (Midwives/Nurses/CHEWs/Doctors), inclusive of G-ANC and G-PNC facilitators
• Mental Health Specialists/Psychiatrists
• Referral facilities
• Health Managers (LGA/SMOH/FMoHSW)

3. Integrate PMH into Service Packages

Review existing global/regional/national high-quality PMH psycho-educational and skills building content (i.e. existing tools, materials, and programs for building resilience/stress management and addressing PMH needs in the perinatal period) for women and partners. And then, in close collaboration with project technical advisors, propose ways to integrate select, key PMH content and skills building into existing service packages  (outlined below), by session and with particular attention to the pscycho-educational needs in that phase:

• Group ANC curriculum
• Group PNC curriculum
• Family Led PNC materials
• Facilitator guidance for each group-based package above

4. Develop Tools and Materials

Based on desk review, and any available and validated global or Nigeria-specific materials, develop or adapt:

• PMH screening tool and associated screening guidance
• PMH training modules (for community, frontline, and advanced providers) for PMH-specific technical update
• PMH service provision job aids (counselling guides)
• Referral guidance
• Client education materials
• Documentation tools

5. Support Co-Creation Workshop

Support planning and facilitation of stakeholder review sessions/workshops to validate findings and refine materials.

6. Finalization of Deliverables

Revise and finalize all materials based on feedback and prepare for implementation and printing.

7. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Support

Propose draft PMH indicators, learning questions, and measurement considerations for integration into project MEL systems

• Advanced degree in Psychiatry, Psychology, Public Health, Mental Health, Maternal Health, or related field
• Minimum 7 years relevant professional experience
• Demonstrated experience in maternal or perinatal mental health programming
• Experience developing technical guidance, tools, and training packages
• Strong report writing and facilitation skills.
• Experience working in Nigeria or similar LMIC health systems
• Experience in RMNCAH and mental health programming in Nigeria
• Experience supporting donor-funded projects
• Familiarity with primary healthcare systems strengthening

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of maternal mental health and service integration
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Ability to deliver quality outputs within short timelines
• Strong coordination and workshop facilitation ability

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Please apply at www.jhpiego.org/careers

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include: cover letter, resume, and references.

For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

EEO is the Law

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