Counselor Educator at Medecins Sans Frontieres

Main Objective of the position

• To Perform counseling and/or education sessions to patients, following different medical and mental health MSF protocols and procedures, in order to improve their psychosocial condition.

General Accountabilities

• Identify and address the psychosocial, socio-economic, and administrative needs of patients.
• Provide individual or group counseling and psycho-educational sessions to patients and their families.
• Refer patients to specialists or institutions for additional support when necessary.
• Maintain records of activities, ensure confidentiality, and participate in team meetings.
• Support training, supervision, and sensitization activities on mental health and psychosocial issues.

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities:

• Ensure individual and/or group counselling and psychosocial support (awareness, psychoeducation) to the patients and caregivers at Sokoto Specialist Hospital (ITFC unit patients and caregivers, as set by the project) and other MSF Sokoto project target populations. To identify the psychological, emotional and behavioural needs and develop a treatment plan, according to the protocol and universal survivor centred principles.
• Conduct in-take and psychosocial assessments of each client
• Provide PFA, Psycho-stimulation, support group sessions, and one-on-one emotional support counselling and guidance to caregivers and malnourished children, survivors of violence, SV and IPV (children, adolescents, adults and elders) and other vulnerable groups.
• Provide group counselling when needed
• Provide referrals for clients in need of additional specialized mental health support.
• Develop action plans to address patients’ physical, emotional, psychological, social, protection, and financial needs and provide follow up to ensure provision of needed services.
• Give survivors information (psychoeducation) and help them identify their needs and options (coping mechanisms).
• Participate in the setting, implementation and reporting of psychosocial activities and other group interventions with specific target population (Survivors of violence, ITFC patients, ITFC caregivers, others).
• Seek out patients that have defaulted while in collaboration with the outreach team.
• Ensure that in providing psychosocial support to the patients, their rights, needs and wishes are prioritized:
  • To be treated with dignity and respect
  • To allow them choose a course of action in dealing with the violence
  • To ensure privacy and confidentiality
  • To ensure non-discrimination
  • To provide comprehensive information to help make their own decision
  • Treat patients and other vulnerable beneficiaries with respect, kindness and in a caring manner, always maintaining confidentiality and based on patients’ needs and wishes.
• Work in close collaboration with the other team members - health promotion (HP) team, medical team and other actors regarding community awareness raising about SV/IPV and the importance of MHPSS component on ITFC interventions, stigma, health consequences, comprehensive medical support, including psychosocial needs and importance of access to care, and assisting with sensitization of new staff on the importance of Mental Health in Sokoto MSF interventions.
• When possible, ensure the awareness raising activities in the community in conjunction with the HP team so that they can understand about the involvement of MH in SGBV, Malnutrition, and promote initiatives to get the support.
• Conduct focus group discussion with family members, community members and neighbours in the field or in the health care centre to understand specific needs.
• Work in collaboration with the medical team (doctors, nurses, midwives and other actors) to ensure comprehensive support for the patients and caregivers at ITFC unit (based on MSF MHPSS intervention plan).
• If needed, support referral pathway, with MTL support when patients’ needs requires more specialized MHPSS support (psychiatric/pharmacological care).
• Assist with initiation of culturally sensitive community support programs in collaboration with the outreach team.
• Take an active role in trainings/interventions and support the MHS, MHAM, MTL when necessary in doing sensitization for MSF staff or external partners about MHPSS.
• Perform duties observing the MSF policies and in compliance with relevant SOPs of the department, and immediately reporting to supervisor whenever compliance is or cannot be met.

Data and reporting:

• Ensure regular reports on activities, assessments, follow-up and other related documents to ensure the quality and reporting of the project data.
• Support MHS to set inputs for MHPSS reports (MMR, 12M, others), and set the reports when needed.
• Maintain and ensure strict confidentiality of the patients’ data, report and everything as well MSF documents.

Supervision/meetings:

• Participate in weekly supervision for cases from MH supervisor/MHAM/MTL and share challenges with supervisor in an immediate manner.
• Attend and actively participate in group and individual clinical supervision with the MHAM/MH supervisor
• Attend the project meeting on daily, weekly or monthly basis and share the update of activities.
• Any other responsibilities assign by supervisor based on need.
• Vacancy Announcement: Counselor Educator 16 July 2025

Requirements
To apply for this role applicants MUST meet the following criteria:
Education;

• University Degree in Psychology or other similar degree/diploma.

Experience:

• At least 1-year experience is essential. Experience with NGO desirable.

Languages:

• English language is essential; Local language also essential

Knowledge:

• Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Competencies:

• Results, teamwork, flexibility, commitment to MSF Principles, Service Oriented