Counsellor - NGO at Bradfield Consulting

Do you have a passion for working with victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex trafficking? Would you like to shape and drive policy around services to victims of sexual assault, primary prevention, domestic violence? If you are, you could be our next COUNSELLOR at WARIF

Our client, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) is about to implement programs to promote and protect the rights of women and girls in Nigeria. One of which is to provide support services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex trafficking. As part of its objectives, WARIF is establishing a Sexual Assault Referral Centre(SARC) in Lagos to provide urgent medical care, psychosocial counselling services and referrals for Legal and other related services to survivors of sexual assaults, domestic violence, and sex trafficking.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide quality assessment, case management, counselling, referral and follow-up services at all times to clients.
• Provide initial crisis intervention counselling to clients as requested and needed.
• Provide support to the client during medical examinations and other procedures as requested.
• Work with the client to develop a plan for her next steps that is in line with her own choices, available options, and existing situation,
• Provide basic support and guidance to family members to help them provide on-going support to the clients at home and during the recovery process, according to the situation.
• Provide support where feasible to clients requesting support for legal follow-up.
• Conduct follow up with relevant service providers to which referrals were made.
• Help to monitor quality of service provision through regular feedback from clients and their families on services provided through feedback session, surveys, and other activities.
• Ensure all documentation on gender-based violence clients and services provided are updated, accurate, organized, and well-maintained. This includes client files, intake assessment forms, service delivery and referral documentation, and other forms and documents as required by the program.
• Ensure that all client files are well maintained in an appropriate storage facility that is, well protected and locked with restricted access at all times. Help ensure that absolute confidentiality is maintained at all times and in all processes, according to the survivors’ wishes.
• Enter client data into the Data Management System and assist with data collation and reports as required and requested. Provide inputs into other centre activity reports as requested/required.
• Assist the Centre Manager with other financial, logistical, and administrative tasks as requested and required at the centre
• Help the centre manager to ensure that the centre and its clients are reasonably safe and secure from external harm as feasible, and report incidents/seek assistance where needed.
• The Counsellor will have external working relationships primarily in the context of the specific job responsibilities which include line ministries, government agencies, health workers, schools, community groups and leaders, and other organizations as required. The Counsellor will also assist the Centre Manager in maintaining those external relationships specific to service provision and referrals for survivor support.
• The Counsellor will work in collaboration with all staff in both program and support sectors.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Group counseling and facilitation skills essential; ability to communicate effectively, provide conflict resolution, problem-solve and crisis manage.
• Excellent ability to assess and intervene with appropriate and effective intervention.
• Must be able to relate positively to persons who are diverse in age, ethnicity, socio-economic levels, beliefs, and lifestyles.
• Possess leadership and supervisory skills and be able to direct, supervise, train and assess staff members. Good organizational, communication and computer skills desired.
• Effectively listen to and understand information and ideas as presented verbally

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• At least 5 years’ post-qualification experience employed as a Counsellor in the direct provision of counselling or psychosocial support services to clients of gender-based violence, or alternatively adults & children in similar circumstances.
• Must be knowledgeable of the principles of sound therapeutic practices with victims of sexual abuse/assault, including working with the continuum of sexual abuse/assault services.
• Must understand victimization and demonstrate practices sensitive to sexual abuse/assault issues in therapy.