Background

St John of God Hospitaller Services Malawi is a non-profit faith-based healthcare organization established in 1994 to contribute to the development of health for all Malawians including the most vulnerable, marginalized and excluded Malawibusiness directory

With its operations both in Lilongwe and Mzuzu, St John of God Malawi is a key provider of tertiary and community based mental health promotion and care; early intervention services, special need and inclusive education for children with both intellectual and physical disability; vocational training for orphans & vulnerable youth including those with disability; health care and ancillary services for older persons; psychosocial counselling, stress and addiction management services; rehabilitation of street children; self-help group approach for women empowerment and tertiary level training in P Mental Hearsin, PSychosocial Counseling and General Nursing.

St John of God, with grant funding from BMZ of Germany through KinderNotHilfe is implementing a four-year Maternal Mental Health project in Lilongwe and Mzimba districts and seeks to recruit two qualified mental Health Clinical Officers for the project.

The Position

Reporting to the Project Coordinator, the Mental Health Clinical Officer shall be responsible for the improvement of the mental health and well-being of pregnant women, mothers, infants, and families by providing specialized mental health services, building health system capacity, and promoting the integration of mental health into maternal and child healthcare

Responsibilities

(which include, but are not limited to);

Education

• Provide comprehensive mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for pregnant women and mothers experiencing mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and substance use disorders.
• Offer individual and group counselling, psychosocial support, and appropriate therapeutic interventions
• Prescribe, administer, and monitor psychiatric medications in accordance with professional guidelines and scope of practice
• Manage referrals for complex cases requiring specialized psychiatric, psychological, or social support services
• Integrate mental health screening and care into antenatal, postnatal, and child health services.
• Support early identification and intervention for maternal mental health disorders through routine screening and risk assessment.
• Train, mentor, and supervise healthcare workers in maternal mental health screening, basic counselling, and referral pathways.
• Develop and disseminate clinical protocols, guidelines, and educational materials on maternal mental health.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including obstetricians, midwives, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and community health workers.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Clinical Medicine (Mental Health).
• A minimum of two years’ work experience in a Psychiatric unit will be an added advantage
• Willingness to work with people having mental health problems.
• Strict adherence to the organisation’s Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively.
• Registered with Malawi Medical Council or other internationally recognized professional bodies.

• Provide comprehensive mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for pregnant women and mothers experiencing mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and substance use disorders.
• Offer individual and group counselling, psychosocial support, and appropriate therapeutic interventions
• Prescribe, administer, and monitor psychiatric medications in accordance with professional guidelines and scope of practice
• Manage referrals for complex cases requiring specialized psychiatric, psychological, or social support services
• Integrate mental health screening and care into antenatal, postnatal, and child health services.
• Support early identification and intervention for maternal mental health disorders through routine screening and risk assessment.
• Train, mentor, and supervise healthcare workers in maternal mental health screening, basic counselling, and referral pathways.
• Develop and disseminate clinical protocols, guidelines, and educational materials on maternal mental health.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including obstetricians, midwives, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and community health workers.

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Clinical Medicine (Mental Health).
• Registered with Malawi Medical Council or other internationally recognized professional bodies.