psy

Working as psychiatrist in the field

As an MSF Psychiatrist, your role will be to propose, implement and improve treatment for patients with mental health conditions, using strategies and tools adapted to the context and culture. We provide a range of mental health and psychiatric services to our patients, depending on the programme type and context: programmes integrated into hospital activities, psychiatric and psychological outpatient consultations, programmes offering specific care for trauma (conflict-related, sexual violence) and programmes for specific conditions such as non-communicable diseases. MSF implements a task shifting approach, which consists of training general health staff to provide psychiatric care under the supervision of a psychiatrist.  

Responsibilities

  • Train and supervise general health staff in the diagnosis and treatment of priority mental health conditions according to MSF guidelines and WHO’s mhGAP approach
  • Provide care for patients suffering from psychiatric disorders, paying special attention to the cultural context
  • Provide technical support to MSF’s psychologists and counsellors and ensure a multidisciplinary approach to patient care is implemented
  • Ensure that psychotropic medications from the MSF standard drug list are available in the project
  • Ensure adequate data collection for monitoring purposes
  • Evaluate psychiatric services available in-country, including possibilities for psychiatric hospitalization, and the quality of these services

Requirements

  • Degree in Psychiatry or a degree in Medicine and specialization in Psychiatry in progress with at least 6 semesters validated
  • Valid and up-to-date licence to practise
  • 2 years’ experience working in adult psychiatry 
  • Recent clinical experience (at least six months within the last 24 months) 
  • Experience working with vulnerable populations 
  • Experience in training, coaching and supervision
  • IT skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for data and team management
  • Fluency in English and / or French
  • Availability for at least six months. Three-month assignments may be possible depending on operational requirements, but are less frequent.

General skills

  • Commitment to MSF’s work and values
  • Willingness to work in all kinds of contexts worldwide, including unstable areas
  • Ability to work with limited resources and in difficult conditions
  • Adaptable and able to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary team
  • Strong team player
  • Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload
  • Self-driven with a solution-oriented approach

Assets

  • Fluency in other languages (Arabic, French, Spanish)
  • Experience working in developing countries or with patients from different cultures 
  • Training in psychotherapeutic approaches, in particular in cognitive behavioral techniques
  • Clinical training or experience in working with trauma-related conditions
  • Work experience in a similar non-governmental organization
Inofrmation importantes

Depending on our activities and needs, your responsibilities may be adapted and evolve. You will not face these challenges alone; other MSF team members (both international and locally hired staff) will support you.

We encourage applications from people of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, backgrounds, religions, beliefs, abilities and all other characteristics of diversity.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo reference and criminal record checks.

Apply for this field position

You are already an employee of MSF Switzerland

Apply

You are not an MSF employee

What is your country of residence?

Your application will be processed by an MSF office close to your region. Please select your country of residence from the list below: