Project Counselors at Center for Rights Education And Awareness (CREAW)

No of Positions: 2

Background

The project is being implemented in a consortium with GROOTS Kenya, The Collaborative Centre for Gender Development (CCGD), CREAW in partnership with MasterCard Foundation under the COVID-19 Response, Recovery and resilience program, in 10 counties in Kenya namely: Nairobi, Kilifi, Kiambu, Kwale, Mombasa, Busia, Kajiado, Mandera, Kakamega and Tana-river.

The target counties have recorded high cases of COVID 19 infections and by extension increased cases of GBV affecting women, girls, young persons and PWD’s. The project objectives are to: Strengthen institutional capacities of state and non-state actors to effectively address GBV during the COVID-19 pandemic and to improve knowledge management of GBV for evidence-based policy development and accountability.

The project expects to achieve four result areas which are

1. GBV service providers to have capacity to effectively and efficiently respond to reported GBV cases using the survivor friendly systems/hotlines.
2. Public awareness of GBV responses measures promoted among youth, men and women to change behavior, attitude and practice with regard to women and girls rights and take action to prevent GBV
3. Evidence and data on GBV to be effectively generated and used to influence and inform institutional response to GBV
4. Effective coordination of multi-sectoral response to GBV to be put in place.

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Project Officer (VAWG), the project counselors will be responsible for the provision of psychosocial support to the survivors of GBV and case management. These services include trauma counseling, individual and group therapy and re-integration services of the services for wellness. The assignment will focus on diagnosis, counseling and generation of reports for these sessions. The counselor will also be responsible for training case managers on basic counselling skills to respond to cases of GBV within the project areas and ensure effective case management whilst utilizing monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure high quality services.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Responsibilities 

1.  Case Management:

• Support the maintenance of an effective and confidential case management system.
• Ensure provision of professional and confidential psychosocial services to survivors of GBV through a survivor-centered case management approach.
• Provision of psychosocial activities at CREAW’s satellite office in Kibera and remotely to other target counties based on participatory community assessments.
• Develop professional, effective and appropriate GBV psychosocial programming, including direct individual and group counseling support.
• Develop and ensure implementation of psychosocial activities that are responsive to the needs of women and girls survivors of gender based violence.
• Participate in maintaining and updating quality GBV database on a regular basis.
• Take lead in preparing all relevant reports regarding the CREAW’s psychosocial activities, beneficiary databases.

2.  Capacity Development:

• Mentor and provide technical support to staff and case officers directly involved with the psychosocial and care for SGBV survivors.
• Monitor and supervise case management, including capacity building through training and on-the-job training.
• Provide guidance regarding psychosocial activities to all partners and case officers to ensure all programme activities meet best practice standards
• Outreach and Community Engagement and:
• Strengthen and maintain networks with all partners including community leaders, women leaders, service providers to ensure that survivors receive compassionate support from the community and to encourage greater communication, collaboration and coordination among partners
• Enhance & Conduct community mobilization on the uptake of counseling services and support other GBV staff in conducting GBV awareness sessions in the community

3.  Coordination:

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders, including community members and leaders, consortium members, and other CREAW team members to enhance multi-agency and multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination on response activities.
• Maintain a strong working relationship with Health and other partners to support the provision of quality care to gender based survivors
• Support the development and strengthening of an effective GBV referral system and coordination mechanisms for the program.
• Lead case conferences and support GBV coordination meetings with partners and community members

4.  Staff Management and Development:

• Take lead in ensuring that all frontline staff participate in debriefing and professional supervision.
• Fulfil any other duties and responsibilities as assigned. 

Experience required: 

1. Minimum of Degree in Counselling and/or Psychology. A Social Science or related degree is preferred.
2. Minimum 3 years of direct psychosocial/counselling experience with a reputable agency; experience working with survivors of violence preferred.
3. Clear understanding of gender, abuse of power, and issues surrounding Gender based violence.
4. Able to maintain confidentiality, medical ethics and respect for clients at all times.
5. Experience in participatory techniques and community mobilization
6. Able to lead, train, supervise, facilitate and motivate GBV case managers in their respective tasks in a professional, respectful and supportive manner.
7. Positive, highly motivated, innovative, with strong organizational and inter-personal skills.
8. Able to coordinate multiple tasks while maintaining attention to quality and detail.
9. Able to work as part of a team.
10. Strong knowledge of computer applications, including MS Word and Excel.
11. Able to work remotely under minimum supervision
12. Able to meet deadlines.
13. Fluency in English/ Kiswahili, including writing clear and concise reports.

Desired qualities

1. Must have excellent verbal, presentation and written communication skills.
2. Excellent interpersonal skills.
3. Have a personal commitment to work as a reliable, honest and trustworthy team member.
4. Good judgement, tact, analytical and negotiation skills.
5. Have customer relations skills and to deal patiently with all categories of staff.
6. Good time management skills and be able to deliver with minimal supervision.
7. Ability to work under competing priorities with strict deadlines.
8. Ability to handle clients who have sometimes been victims of gender based violence.
9. Ability to contribute to the overall objectives, mission and goals of CREAW operations

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience with organizing, facilitating or conducting any of the following community activities: community discussions, surveys, group activities, etc.
2. Experience working in a GBV programme.

Personal Skills 

1. People Skills: Ability to work both independently and as a team player.
2. Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to CREAW’s core values.
3. Resilience/adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under difficult circumstances and to interact effectively with a geographically dispersed multicultural team.