MHPSS Counsellor at Transcultural Psychosocial Organization

Main Responsibilities:

The MHPSS Counsellor will be responsible for the following main activities:

• Contribute to the implementation of the overall mental health and psychosocial support strategies, activities, and resources in Maiduguri.
• Facilitate the delivery of quality mental health & psychosocial support (MHPSS) for individuals and their communities, as well as improving community mental health and psychosocial well-being.
• Contribute to the integration of the MHPSS component into existing and new programs according to HQ Mental Health Strategy.
• Tasks Description: Programming:
• Deliver one-on-one (Individual) and group counselling sessions to identified clients within our operations in Maiduguri.
• Develop psychosocial activities, including community mobilization, awareness raising, family therapy, creation of support groups, and working on family links, among others.
• Support the MH officer and Advisor in delivering training, workshops, etc. as outlined in the Project.
• Deliver health talks and sensitization sessions as part of our community engagement.
• Support in the creation of materials, including publicity documents and workshop contents.
• Engage with the community to deliver and promote TPO’s MHPSS project activities in the designated locations.
• Assist in writing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, monitoring and evaluation activity reports, and progress reports of project activities, including monthly reporting to the MHPSS officer.
• Actively participate in coordination meetings.
• Maintain a positive image of TPO at all times and in all circumstances.

Reporting:

• Contribute to weekly/monthly activities reports to the line manager (MHPSS officer).
• Report to the MHPSS Officer monthly (mental health activities report to be sent in the first week of the month).

Security:

• Apply and respect TPO’s security rules within the mission.

Obligations:

• Maintain good socio-professional relationships with national and international partners.
• Attend team meetings and provide qualitative input and reports.
• If necessary, contribute to preparing emergency plans with the TPO team to adjust TPO activities and resources to the needs.
• Take part in advocacy and communication activities under the supervision of the supervisor.
• Perform other additional duties as requested by the Mental Health Officer and Mental Health Advisor.

Behavior:

• Behave with self-restraint at all times and respect the dignity of the beneficiaries.
• Work effectively as part of a team and participate in different activities.
• Uphold concepts of equity, human rights, neutrality, and impartiality.
• Exhibit motivation at work.
• Demonstrate a willingness to enhance one’s own knowledge and skills by participating in capacity-building activities.
• Communicate effectively with the line manager/supervisor.
• Respect each team member’s position, work, and specialty.
• Adapt to special situations or demands from the supervisor.
• Other Responsibilities: As the main MHPSS focal point in TPO’s Maiduguri Office, the MHPSS Counsellor will:
• Report MHPSS Needs and Gaps within our operations in Maiduguri.
• Support in drafting MH integration plans and materials for SRH Project; provide training, supervision, and reports as needed.
• Assist in preparing MHPSS Reports for Advocacy Uses.
• Aid in drafting MH integration training plans and materials; provide training and supervision as needed.

Qualification/Experiences:

• B.Sc. in Psychology, Social Work, Guidance and Counselling, or related fields.
• At least 2 years of work experience in relevant roles.
• Good communication skills with fluency in written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of Hausa or Kanuri is a must.
• Good IT skills, including the use of Word and database software.
• Demonstrable ability to adapt to changing program priorities and emergency priorities.
• Strong self-starter, able to take initiative and adapt to changing circumstances and priorities.
• Commitment to TPO Protection Policy.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of local languages.
• Experience and skills in the management of staff.
• Experience in designing and facilitating training sessions.
• Understanding of the regional dynamics of the relevant field.
• Experience in working in an insecure environment.
• People in those locations are highly encouraged to apply.