Staff Counsellor, NOC Position, ESARO at UNICEF

How can you make a difference?

Reporting to the ESARO Regional Staff Counsellor (P-4) in Nairobi, the Staff Counsellor (NO-C) will:

• Providing staff/family members with individual and/or group counselling (i.e. assessment, short-term intervention, referral), following self-referral or referral by the supervisor or another professional. Facilitating the treatment of psychiatric disorders primarily through referrals, including to the medical services division, and through guidance to supervisors and senior management, where appropriate. Identifying competent local resources for referrals whenever necessary.
• Coordinate and further develop the Southern Africa sub-regional network of Peer Support Volunteers (PSV’s) by: Providing regular support and technical supervision to all Peer Support Volunteers. Delivering Basic and Advanced PVS training in the region. Revise and further develop PSV training manuals on the basic and the advanced level.  Support Country Offices in recruitment including the nomination process and selection.
• The Staff Counsellor will provide emergency psychosocial support to staff who have been involved in critical incidents by: Contacting the affected staff member(s) by e-mail or phone, offering information about typical stress reactions, stress disorders, support and referral information Facilitating appropriate traumatic stress interventions, following traumatic events. Recommending and arranging for individual and/or group follow-up support to staff and their dependents. Training and awareness raising on stress management issues.
• Through field missions to Country Offices in the Southern Africa sub-region the Staff Counsellor will facilitate regular resilience building training activities to increase staff awareness regarding the manifestations of stress and to promote individual, team and office resiliency building by:
• cooperating with Human Resource and Country Offices in their activities aimed at integrating stress management into their learning strategies;
• developing/revising training modules, as well as assemble other materials for training on stress management issues;
• developing and disseminate information and materials about stress and stress management;
• contributing to effective policies on staff well-being;
• establishing, develop and maintain a resource inventory of stress management information;
• serving as the focal point for the exchange of information between COs on stress management approaches and referral and consultant resources. 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s or higher) in counselling, clinical psychology or related mental health profession. Additional training or certification in staff support and traumatic/critical incident stress as well as a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, family counselling, training, stress management. Additional training in traumatic / critical incident stress as well as a broad range of related fields desirable.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in staff support, mental health, cross-cultural communications, counselling and related areas, preferably gained within the UN system or international development/humanitarian aid sector. Professional experience with delivering alcohol/substance abuse and family counseling is an advantage.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.