Job Opportunity: Clinical Officer (Health and Mental Health)

Organisation: Ubumi Prisons Initiative

Duty station: Lusaka, Zambia (office-based) with regular travel to correctional centres in Lusaka and selected provinces.

Position type: Full-time, six-month fixed-term contract (with possibility of extension)

Start date: As soon as possible

About Ubumi Prisons Initiative

Ubumi Prisons Initiative improves health and well-being for people living in Zambian correctional facilities and their children. We work with health, nutrition, mental health, rehabilitation and reintegration, capacity building of staff, and evidence-based advocacy.

Role overview

We are seeking a Clinical Officer (preferably specialising in Mental Health) to deliver compassionate, ethical, trauma-informed health and mental health services in correctional settings. The role combines direct clinical care with training, coordination, and contributions to monitoring, research and advocacy.

Key responsibilities

• Provide health and mental health screening, assessment, and brief evidence-based interventions (e.g., medical treatment plans, psycho-education, basic counselling) within scope of practice and national guidelines.
• Develop and implement individual care plans; ensure safe referral pathways and follow-up (including crisis response, safeguarding and escalation for specialist care).
• Maintain accurate, confidential clinical documentation and contribute to routine data collection, monitoring and learning.
• Build capacity of correctional health staff, officers and peer supporters through training and mentorship on health and mental health based on Do No Harm and human rights-based approach.
• Coordinate service delivery with facility health teams, the Ministry of Health, Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) and partner NGOs to strengthen continuity of care.

Qualifications & experience

• Required: Recognised Clinical Officer qualification preferably with mental health/psychiatry specialisation
• Required: Driver’s license
• Current registration/licensure with the relevant professional council in Zambia.
• At least 2+ years providing clinical health/mental health care
• Demonstrated skills in assessment, basic counselling, risk assessment, referral and case management.
• Training/facilitation experience and the ability to engage diverse stakeholders (health staff, corrections officers, service users).
• Strong record-keeping and digital literacy (MS Office).
• Desirable: Experience in correctional health; M&E exposure; familiarity with child and vulnerable-adult safeguarding.

Personal attributes

• Empathetic and resilient; able to operate calmly in challenging environments.
• Committed to ethics, human rights and non-discrimination.
• Organised and able to work independently
• Proactive and solutions-oriented with strong teamwork skills.
• Willing and able to travel regularly outside Lusaka.

What we offer

• An opportunity to make a tangible difference for a highly under-served population.
• Supportive and mission-driven team culture.
• Fixed-term contract for six months, with potential renewal subject to performance and funding.