Provincial Psychiatrist - KPK

Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy; Peshawar City Tehsil; On-site; PKR 3,000,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Relief International is seeking a Provincial Psychiatrist to provide specialist psychiatric care and clinical supervision within the RI RISE MHPSS model across the assigned province in Pakistan.

You will coordinate with mobile clinics, wellbeing centres, home-based services and the hotline to ensure appropriate assessment, treatment and specialist referral, while upholding confidentiality and participant dignity.

Qualifications

• MBBS or equivalent recognized medical degree.
• Postgraduate qualification in Psychiatry (FCPS, MD or equivalent).
• Current PM&DC registration, with credentials verifiable before engagement.
• At least 3–5 years of relevant psychiatric clinical experience.
• Experience supervising or mentoring multidisciplinary mental-health staff.
• Strong consent, confidentiality and clinical documentation practices.
• Proficiency in Urdu and English communication.
• Willingness to travel within the assigned province.

Responsibilities

• Conduct person-centred psychiatric assessments and develop care plans with participants and caregivers when appropriate.
• Provide evidence-informed psychiatric treatment, including prescribing when indicated and supported by safe dispensing and follow-up.
• Review treatment response, manage adverse effects and arrange necessary investigations or referrals.
• Provide timely clinical advice for urgent presentations and coordinate with crisis pathways and hotline teams.
• Deliver case consultations and clinical supervision within psychiatry, with mhGAP-informed training and supervision as needed.
• Promote safeguarding, maintain professional boundaries and ensure documentation and confidentiality.

Skills

Urdu-English communication

Empathy and patient-centered care

Education

MBBS or equivalent

PMDC-recognized Psychiatry qualification

PMDC registration

Job description

This position is open on a rolling basis and will be filled upon the availability of a suitable candidate.

Context

Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.

Our team of more than 7,000 staff and local volunteers work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.

We do this by working with local actors to develop safe and inclusive local programming that is evidence based, conflict sensitive, climate smart, and reaches those in need.

Relief International is an alliance of four organizations with one shared mission, comprised of Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK and Relief International-Europe, which operate under a one-team concept under a single senior leadership team.

In Pakistan, RI works with government institutions, communities, local organizations and humanitarian partners to deliver safe, inclusive and accountable programs across protection, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), education, health, livelihoods and WASH, including programming in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Job Profile

The Provincial Psychiatrist provides specialist psychiatric care and clinical supervision for the RISE layered MHPSS model across the assigned province. Working with the MHPSS Coordinator, the role links mobile clinics, wellbeing centres, home-based services and the hotline to appropriate assessment, treatment and specialist referral. The Psychiatrist supports quality and continuity of care while respecting participants’ choices, dignity, cultural context and confidentiality. Services are delivered under a defined specialist contract and an agreed consultation and supervision roster.

Key responsibilities

Context background

The RISE project provides community-based and layered mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Services promote wellbeing, coping, daily functioning and earlier, safer help-seeking through outreach, wellbeing centers, mobile clinics, home-based support, hotline services and referrals. Access is voluntary and based on assessed vulnerability and approved eligibility criteria. The role supports routine preparedness and approved emergency material assistance where applicable.

Psychiatric Assessment and Treatment

• Conduct person-centred psychiatric assessments, including relevant medical history, mental state, functioning, risk and physical-health concerns; agree care plans with participants and involve caregivers only with appropriate consent or under approved safeguarding procedures.
• Provide evidence-informed psychiatric treatment within professional competence and RI protocols, including medication prescribing when clinically indicated, permitted within the approved service model and supported by safe dispensing and follow-up arrangements.
• Review treatment response, adherence, adverse effects and ongoing risk; document prescribing decisions, arrange necessary investigations or medical review, and refer presentations beyond the available service capacity.

Risk Management and Continuity of Care

• Provide timely clinical advice for urgent presentations, including possible self-harm, acute mental-health deterioration or serious safeguarding concerns; use approved escalation and emergency referral pathways, documenting decisions and confirmed handover.
• Agree follow-up across mobile, centre and secure telepsychiatry services, including for participants who relocate, miss appointments or need continuing medication; coordinate safe handover and an approved clinical escalation roster linked to the hotline and outreach teams.
• Support crisis preparedness and, following donor-approved SO-4 activation, time-bound emergency clinical support; coordinate safe transition from emergency assistance into routine SO-2 services or another qualified provider.

Clinical Supervision and Workforce Development

• Deliver scheduled case consultation and clinical supervision within areas of competence; review complex cases, risk decisions, intervention progress and referral needs with MHPSS Officers and designated clinical supervisors.
• Support mhGAP-informed training, supervised practice and competency assessment relevant to each staff member’s professional scope; identify additional psychological-intervention supervision where specialist expertise is required.
• Promote supportive team reflection and staff wellbeing, address unsafe practice promptly and elevate clinical incidents to the designated lead; do not delegate prescribing or medical diagnosis to non-medical staff.

Service Quality, Inclusion and Coordination

• Help the Coordinator maintain clinical protocols, consultation schedules and safe referral arrangements with hospitals, primary healthcare and specialist services; verify that planned care can be delivered and followed up in each location.
• Assess confidentiality, documentation, mobility and protection risks before external referral. Offer appropriate RI-managed mobile, inclusive home-based or secure remote care where feasible; adapt access and communication for women and girls and persons with specific needs.
• Review service gaps and clinical supplies with programme and operations teams; recommend improvements within approved resources and protect time for assessment, documentation and supervision rather than numerical consultation quotas.

Documentation, Accountability and Safeguarding

• Maintain accurate clinical records in authorized, access-controlled systems; explain consent and confidentiality, collect only necessary information, and share clinical details solely through approved care and safeguarding channels.
• Provide aggregated activity and outcome information to MEAL, distinguishing unique participants from repeat contacts; review appropriate measures of wellbeing, functioning and referral completion without placing clinical notes in routine dashboards.
• Uphold RI safeguarding and professional conduct requirements, explain accessible feedback options and report concerns promptly. Avoid compulsory psychological debriefing, coercive disclosure and practices that medicalize normal reactions to adversity.

Professional conduct and teamwork

• Uphold RI’s Code of Conduct and prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment requirements; report concerns promptly through designated channels.
• Participate in staff wellbeing and learning activities, follow security procedures and perform assigned duties within professional competence.

Qualifications

• MBBS or equivalent recognized medical degree and a PM&DC-recognized postgraduate qualification in Psychiatry, such as FCPS, MD or an equivalent recognized specialty qualification.
• Current valid PM&DC registration, with the postgraduate psychiatry qualification registered and credentials verifiable before engagement.
• At least three Five of relevant psychiatric clinical experience following the postgraduate qualification, including assessment, prescribing, risk management and continuing care.
• Demonstrated experience supervising or mentoring multidisciplinary mental-health staff and coordinating referrals across service providers.
• Strong consent, confidentiality, safeguarding and clinical documentation practice; ability to work respectfully with diverse communities and maintain professional boundaries.
• Effective Urdu and English communication and reporting skills; ability to travel regularly within the assigned province under RI security procedures.
• Experience in community, humanitarian, mobile or remote psychiatric services and familiarity with mhGAP approaches.
• Relevant supervised experience supporting adolescents, caregivers or people affected by crisis, and training in evidence-informed psychological interventions.
• Ability to communicate in Pashto or other languages used in the assigned project areas.

RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, as well as Do No Harm, Relief International upholds the following values:

• Integrity
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability

Applications are welcomed from all qualified candidates. Relief International is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

Requirements

• Requires a minimum of 5 years of experience

The roles and responsibilities for this position includes but not limited to:....