Part-time Counselling Psychologist at HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya

Reporting to: Centre Manager

Terms of Engagement: Temporary

Duration: 3 Months renewable contract based on the availability of funds and performance

Community-Based Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (CB-MHPSS) programming at HIAS includes a focus on individuals, families, and communities. The overall goal of HIAS Community-Based Mental Health Psychosocial Support programming is for forcibly displaced people and vulnerable migrants to have improved mental health and psychosocial well-being helping them to access their rights. This goal may be achieved through three key outcome areas: (1) Family, community, and social structures promote the psychosocial well-being and resilience of women, men, girls, and boys;(2) Individuals and communities develop healthy coping mechanisms; and (3) People with mental health and psychosocial problems use appropriate focused care, including referral to specialized care when needed.

HIAS is looking to recruit for a part-time Counseling Psychologist who will assist in the provision of counseling and other psychotherapeutic interventions to vulnerable and at-risk refugee clients, including those who have undergone emotional and psychological distress as well as those with mental health challenges impairing their normal functioning.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide individual and group counseling services and other short-term therapeutic services to clients.
2. Conduct psychological assessments and Mental Status Examinations and prepare and submit the reports to the Supervisor.
3. Conduct psychosocial counseling to clients experiencing various forms of trauma while observing the highest levels of confidentiality and professional ethics and etiquette
4. Ensure appropriate psychosocial assessment and diagnosis of all the therapeutic cases are in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Atlas
5. Follow up, monitor all referral cases, and ensure timely turnaround of assessment reports and other interventions
6. Ensure follow-up and monitoring of all referral cases and ensure timely turnaround of assessment reports and other interventions.
7. Assist in preparation of timely, quality, and comprehensive reports for work done
8. Perform other related duties as assigned

Required Competences

1. A Degree in Counseling Psychology from a recognized university
2. Have at least 2 years of Counselling experience. Experience working with refugees will be an added advantage
3. Experience in trauma counseling
4. Ideal candidate should have a keen awareness and a good knowledge of psychosocial issues and the complexities of working on these issues
5. Strong analytical and report writing skills and proven ability to conduct psychological assessments
6. Good team player with excellent cross-cultural interpersonal skills
7. Proactive and able to work under minimal supervision while exercising diplomacy, flexibility, and assertiveness
8. Ability to confront and discuss sensitive issues with respect and able to uphold high standards of confidentiality
9. Knowledge of Computer Applications such as MS-Access, MS-Excel, and MS Word