Psychosocial Counsellor at Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE

This role is expected to significantly enhance the psychosocial well-being of school children and those out of schools through ongoing counselling support to not only support their emotional needs but to also build their resilience through the Community Education and Welfare Centres (CEWC) where the children will have a friendly space to learn, play and interact with their fellow peers in the camps. It is expected that the counsellor will provide the needed guidance to ensure that Save the Children meets this commitment to the children in line with Save the Children’s Theory of Change. Save the Children will work with the government of Kenya through the Sub County Children’s office, the UNHCR and other stakeholders to facilitate the various interventions.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Programme Delivery 

• Facilitate and coordinate provision of  professional counselling services for children with protection concerns by conducting play and art therapy, individual and group sessions and work with caregivers to address children concerns
• Provide overall management of the CEWC centers to enhance the safety security and enhance the wellbeing of children in each of the CEWC’s.
• Ensure the CEWC’s are within the recommended safety standards for child to play, learn and grow.
• Conducting relevant training to programme staffs, community structures and staffs from partner agencies.
• Lead in the development of annual detailed implementation plans; monitor performance against work plan deadlines, ensure accurate data collection on performance indicators.
• Lead the implementation of the counselling KPI’s, including training and provision of ongoing counselling support to the targeted beneficiaries.
• Support in the development of capacity enhancement sessions for the staff, conduct and/or supervise trainings for the community structures, CEWC Boards of Management, to ensure programming meets quality standards.
• Plan, organize and implement quality community sensitization forums in partnership with the community workers. 
• Manage the Child Friendly Space at the Transit Centers and Dadaab Airstrip
• Represent SC in interagency meetings and also playing the role of the SGBV & Safe Haven focal point person

Monitoring , Evaluation and Reporting

• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team for monitoring and evaluation of programme activities including taking corrective action where necessary; preparation of Counselling reports, documentation of lessons learnt.
• Document programme learning and ensuring it contributes to organizational advocacy.
• Maintain an up to date database on counseling clients.
• Ensure timely implementation of budgeted activities in addition to budget tracking and control.
• Conduct/ensure regular follow-up visits to monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration of clients, and document changes identified.

Partnerships and coordination

• Develop partnerships with the CEWC management committees to enhance community participation, ownership and sustainability of programmes by orienting them on the project goals and to solicit their involvement in the implementation of the project especially the running of the CEWC’s. 
• Collaborate and coordinate with other aid agencies, governmental institutions and community level structures in order to promote community ownership and sustainability of CEWC initiatives.
• Represent Save the Children in interagency working groups and camp coordination meetings.

Grants Management and Accountability

• Coordinate with finance and awards team to ensure effective budget monitoring for the project in line with donor requirements and contractual obligations, including Grant opening, mid-term and closing meetings
• Oversee project activities budget expenditures and ensure they are allowable and allocable according to SCI and donor regulations; review monthly Budget vs. Actual and expenditure sheets and collaborate with the finance department to ensure accurate expenditures and reporting.
• Ensure timely production of activity/events reports as well as monthly reports as per the agreed timelines.

Contract Duration: 10 months

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Good communication skills with fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili
• Graduate degree in counseling or Psychology, with 6 years’ experience working with children is desirable 
•  Knowledge of community based child protection approaches, preferably including experience in participatory approaches (PRA/PLA) and child participation methodologies.
• Ability to use a wide range of child counseling methodologies
• Good managerial and IT skills including the use of Word and database software
• Demonstrable ability to adapt to changing programme priorities and emergency priorities that may arise
• Strong self-starter, able to take initiative and adapt to changing circumstances and priorities
• Positive attitude towards community work with emphasis on the ability to learn from communities and support innovative approaches to problem solving
• Registered with the Kenya Counsellors and Psychologist’s Association (KCPA)
• Commitment to Save the Children’s Child Protection Policy.

DESIRABLE:

• Ability to adapt to different cultures
• Experience and skills in management of staff
• Experience in designing and facilitating training sessions and activities for children
• Understanding of the dynamics of the conflict within the East African region. 
• Experience of working in an insecure environment