Roster of Staff Counsellor at World Health Organization

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

• To provide efficient and effective psychosocial counselling to WHO workforce and their family members at multiple locations in EMR.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

• The Department of Business Operations (BOS) is responsible for providing efficient and effective support services to all programmes and activities of the organization in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) in respect of budget and finance, human resources and talent management, administration, procurement, information technology, security and staff health and well-being.
• The incumbent serves as the WHO Staff Counsellor and is responsible for providing a full range of counselling services to personnel.

Description Of Duties

• Provide WHO workforce with individual and group counselling (i.e., short-term intervention, referral), following self-referral or referral by the supervisor or another professional.
• Identify adequate local resources and facilitate referrals to external mental health professionals for psychological/psychiatric support (including coordination with UN Medical Services) whenever necessary.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive emergency personnel-focused mental health programme in collaboration with the Regional Staff Counsellor.
• Ensure services in a timely and sensitive manner to WHO staff and dependents after critical incidents, and ensure follow up support of those affected following critical events.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams to identify and address psychological risks at the individual, unit and organizational levels.
• Provide guidance/ support to managers and senior management on the management of staff where mental health conditions are involved and advise on emergency psycho-social support management for WHO workforce.
• Support WHO staff with mental health conditions by providing rehabilitation strategies and the staff's return-to-work intervention. Contact the affected personnel offering practical support, psycho-education, psychological first aid and referral information.
• Strengthen the network of Peer Support Volunteers (PSV), including the training and technical supervision of the Peer Support Volunteers.
• Employ a holistic approach while providing emergency evidence-based psycho-social support to staff who have been involved in critical incidents.
• Facilitate evidence-based trauma-informed interventions for WHO staff and their dependents.
• Coordinate with UNDSS, EMRO Regional Staff Counsellor, UN staff/stress counsellors, and Peer Support Volunteers to ensure adequate psycho-social support during emergencies.
• Contribute to policies on staff mental health and well-being and perform administrative duties, including participating in regional meetings and other activities, completing reporting requirements, etc.
• Maintain detailed records of activities and provide comprehensive reports to the Regional Staff Counsellor.
• Perform any other incident-specific related duties as required.

Required Qualifications
Education
Essential:

• An advanced/Postgraduate University Degree or equivalent in psychology, counselling, clinical psychology, psychiatry (medical or nursing), marriage and family therapy, or social work with evidence of training in mental health counselling.
• Registration as a mental health professional in the country of origin is required
• A valid certification or license to practice at the national level in clinical psychology or social work.

Desirable:

• Additional training or certification in a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, resilience, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, mediation, trauma etc. will be an advantage.
• Registered membership in a legitimate professional organization.

Experience
Essential:

• Minimum five ( 5) years of progressively professional relevant counselling experience post licensure/certification/registration with experience in a similar setting such as an international and/or humanitarian organization. Some related experience in outbreak and health emergencies context.,

Desirable:

• Working experience with UN agencies, national or international NGOs.
• Experience either working in a hardship location or providing counselling services to staff working under very difficult and security compromised environments is an asset.

Skills

• Proven ability to accurately assess psychosocial or mental health needs, risks and protective factors
• Advance knowledge in provision of psychosocial support and counselling services in a professional and confidential manner.
• Ability to function in a multicultural environment while displaying sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Ability to manage crisis situations exerting professionalism and strict confidentiality.
• Ability to manage crisis situations which involve diverse actors and stakeholders.
• Ability to identify clients’ needs and suggest appropriate solutions.
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentation).
• Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of both genders and diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
• Skills in designing and delivering trainings/information sessions on a number of subjects and ability to adapt those to different audiences.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Producing results

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic (for Arabic speaking country).
• Desirable: Working knowledge of WHO language would be an asset.

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

• Proficiency of Microsoft office applications.
• Capacity to work with IT communication tools such as TEAMS or ZOOM.

Closing Date: Mar 28, 2024