Psychosocial Counsellors at Finn Church Aid (FCA)

Primary Purpose

The Psychosocial Counsellors are responsible for the overall planning and provision of psychosocial support for the project including Persons of Concern (PoCs), refugees, asylum seekers and host community. S/he helps them solve and cope with problems in their every day lives. S/he also will help PoCs find services that are available in their community. The Psychosocial Counselors will work, as a team, with school-based counselors, community mobilizers and programs staff.

Tasks and Duties

• Provide comprehensive psychosocial counseling to school going girls and or parents of FCA targeted schools aimed at improving learning outcomes and transition to higher levels of education.
• Providing individual and group counselling for girls facing mental health problems and roll out life skills sessions for girls.
• Provide workshops/training to girls and, parents, community, and stakeholders in line with power to girls’ concept.
• Performing individual assessments, drawing up treatments, plans and providing counselling and psychological support for schoolgirls, both refugees and host community.
• Providing individual counselling to girls, support groups or group psychotherapy,
• Collaborate closely with legal officers in terms of case management and follow-up of clients.
• Providing training for teachers, parents, stakeholders regarding trauma-related issues and self-care strategies aimed at improving learning outcomes for girls.
• Sensitizing refugee/host communities regarding trauma and empowering them to develop own strategies to overcome consequences of war and violence.
• Program development including proposal and report writing and financial monitoring.
• Advocacy & Networking
• Ensure child safeguarding guidelines and ethical practices are observed, adhered to including coordinated referral pathways in Kakuma/Kalobeyei.
• Develop new and strengthen existing referral systems with other organizations.
• Engage in quality self-care through supervision, debriefings, and other shared sessions especially for the adolescent girls.
• Assist teachers in the development and implementation of psychosocial counselling programs in school communities aimed at empowering girls.
• Disseminate information concerning psychosocial counselling services available for the girls in refugee/host communities.
• Monitor girls progress and make informed, timely educational decisions.
• Conduct regular visits to project sites to collect and verify data for preparation of regular and ad hoc program reports and briefs to immediate manager.
• Represent FCA with external stakeholders as requested (inter-agency coordination meetings, working groups) and influences the shape of broader sector strategies.
• Take steps to document lessons learned, from the education program including that of partners for wider dissemination.
• Perform other tasks and assumes other responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

• A diploma/degree in counselling, social work/community development, psychology or a higher diploma in counselling with a minimum of 2 years in related work experience
• Experience in the provision of psychosocial services to refugees’ /asylum seekers especially for girls is an advantage.
• Good report writing and communication skills.
• A team player with ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to maintain professionalism in services delivery and ethics
• Highly motivated, creative, and compassionate person who is dedicated to ensuring that models of best practice are utilized.
• Females and qualified locals from within Turkana County are highly encouraged to apply.