PSYCHOSOCIAL COUNSELLORS

Country: Kenya

Organization: Finn Church Aid

Closing date: 7 Mar 2023

Finn Church Aid is a right-based organisation with 70 years of experience and operations in 12 countries. FCA is Finland’s largest NGO working in development cooperation and second largest provider of disaster relief. We work in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy, guided by international human rights standards and principles. We contribute to positive change by supporting people in the most vulnerable situations within fragile and disaster-affected areas. We consider three thematic areas as central to sustainable change: the right to peace (R2P), livelihood (R2L) and quality education (R2QE).

In Kenya, FCA has been working since 2014 in all three thematic areas, supporting local communities and governments to resolve and prevent conflicts in five counties of northern Kenya; providing access to primary education in Turkana, Garissa and Marsabit, Kenya’s poorest counties; and improving access to quality education for children, youth and their families with holistic support mechanisms. FCA also provides emergency cash assistance to drought-affected families in Garissa.

Psychosocial Counsellors – 2 Positions

Duty Station: Kakuma/ Kalobeyei

Reports to: Senior Education Officer

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.

How to apply

All qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to send a completed Application Letter and Curriculum Vitae to: recruitment.esaro@kua.fi stating the vacancy job title in the subject line

Deadline for receiving applications is 7th March 2023.

FCA will only contact short- listed applicants.

FCA is an equal opportunity employer, irrespective of gender, race or religious affiliation. FCA is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for humanitarian agencies. Attempts to influence recruitment procedures through phone calls, emails or inducements of any kind will lead to disqualifications.