Counselor Educator at Medecins Sans Frontieres

Responsibilities
Main objective and responsibility of the position:

• Perform counselling 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 the psychosocial, socio-economic and administrative needs for SGBV survivors.
• Actively promote the availability of counselling services and carry out, individual or in group counseling, basic psycho educational sessions, to patients, their families (when needed), in order to alleviate their psychosocial difficulties within the project scope.
• Refer patients to other specialists or other institutions for further assistance, when necessary in order to propose the best support available.
• Participate in the creation of any material needed for counseling activities and look after it,
• Keep files and statistics of daily activities and participate in team meetings to share experiences and discuss special cases with other counselors, preserving confidentiality
• Inform line manager of any problem of any kind arising during the day-to-day activities.
• Take active part in trainings, supervisions/intervisions and support the activities manager when necessary in doing sensitization for MSF staff or external partners about mental health / psychosocial issues.
• Discuss difficulties and problems in counselling with Supervisor.

MSF Section / Context-Specific Accountabilities:

• Ensure individual and / or group counseling to the beneficiaries of SGBV to identify the Psychological, emotional and behavioral difficulties and develop action plan accordingly.
• Provide marital counselling to the couple to ensure a healthy relationship between intimate partners.
• Ensure the psychological and psychosocial follow-up of the beneficiariesof SGBV, victims of kidnap and survivors of ill treatment and tortures.
• Work with the Health Promotion team regarding referrals of survivors, sensitive follow up of defaulters, and assisting with sensitization of new staff.
• Participate in identification within the health facility using the universal and selective screening tool and report monthly in the data collection tool for identification.
• Ensure the awareness raising activities in the community in conjunction with the HP team so that they can understand about the SGBV problems and take initiatives to get the support.
• Make initial home visits to assess living conditions, family situation and social background of the SGBV beneficiaries.
• Conduct group discussion with family members, community members and neighbours in the field or in the center.
• Ensure regular reports on activities, assessments, follow-up and other related documents to ensure the quality and reporting of the project.
• Work in close collaboration with Health promoters, doctors, nurses and others actor to ensure comprehensive support for the SGBV beneficiaries.
• Identify the beneficiaries to refer in case of special need to others available actors.
• Receive weekly supervision for each cases from supervisor / MHAM/MTL and share each challenges with supervisor in immediate manner.
• Attend in the project meeting on daily, weekly or monthly basis and share the update of activities.
• Maintain and ensure strict confidentiality of the SGBV beneficiary’s data, report and everything as well MSF documents.
• Any other responsibilities assign by supervisor based on need.

Requirements

Education:

• B.Sc / HND in Psychology or a related field
• Counselling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, General Psychology, Gender studies, social work, or other similar degree / diploma. (Psychology background will be given priority). Certificate of training in SGBV desirable.

Experience:

• 1 year experience essential. Experience with Mental Health, work with vulnerable populations, SGBV and working with an NGO will be desirable.

Languages:

•  English and Hausa Language Essential.

Knowledge:

•  Computer literacy

Competencies:

• Results and Quality Orientation, Team work and Cooperation, Behavioral Flexibility, Commitment to MSF, Principles and Stress Management.