Counsellor Educator Job in Kenya

Counsellor Educator

Work Location: Dagahaley Refugee Camp, Garissa county, Kenya
Duration: 12 months fixed term contract (with 3 months’ probation period) renewable based on performance
Application deadline: 7th February 2023

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organization providing assistance to people affected by armed conflicts, epidemics, natural or non-natural disasters or persons excluded from access to care health. The organization has health projects in more than 68 countries.

The selected candidate will be reporting to the Mental Health Supervisor.

Main Purpose

  • Perform counselling and/or education sessions for patients, following different medical and mental health MSF protocols and procedures, in order to improve their psychosocial condition.

Accountabilities 

  • Carry out evaluation of psychological and psychosocial needs of patients and establish a plan of treatment.
  • Provide individual or in-group counselling, psycho-education, PFA and psycho-stimulation sessions to patients and their families (when needed) in order to alleviate their psychosocial difficulties within the project scope.
  • Actively promote and conduct psychosocial activities and services following MSF protocols and guidelines, in order to improve the patient’s psychosocial condition.
  • Conduct timely documentation and reporting of psychosocial consultations and activities by maintaining updated patient files and registers in a confidential manner and providing regular reports to the supervisor.
  • Participate in team meetings and work in collaboration with the rest of the MH team and other departments for a multidisciplinary approach and holistic care for patients.
  • Participate in the creation of any material needed for counselling and mental health promotion activities.
  • Support in conducting sensitization and Mental health promotion for the community, MSF staff or external partners about mental health /psychosocial issues.
  • Discuss challenging cases with the supervisor and inform of any challenges arising during the day-to-day psychosocial activities.
  • Participate in team clinical and peer supervision, training and capacity-building activities.

MSF Section/Context-Specific Accountabilities

  • The Mental Health Department is located within the 100-bed capacity Dagahaley Hospital that serves a catchment population of approximately 92,000 which includes the refugee population in Dagahaley and the other camps, the local non-refugee population, the mother Garissa county, and the neighbouring, Wajir South and Wajir counties in addition to Somali nationals who access the camp for medical reasons from across the border.
  • The counsellor educators form the frontline of the primary health intervention for patients with psychological, psychosocial and mental health conditions at both in-patient and out-patient settings.
  • The counsellor educator will provide counselling and psychoeducation services including and not limited to; individual therapy, group therapy, play therapy and family therapy in both in-patient and out-patient settings.
  • The counsellor educator has a responsibility to play in the community in terms of mental health promotion, sensitization and empowering the community health workers to identify cases and refer them to hospital for further care.
  • The counsellor educator has an active role in community sensitization and awareness- specifically tailored to address misperceptions about mental health, substance abuse and stigmatization of perceived mental health patients.
  • The counsellor educator will work closely with the social worker by referring cases to the social worker that require referrals/linkages to external resources for psychosocial, socio-economic, protection needs support.
  • Counsellor educator also have a responsibility to play in the community in terms of mental health promotion, sensitization and empowering the community health workers to identify cases and refer them to hospital for further care.

Requirements 

Education

Counselling, social work, psychology or other similar degree/diploma.

Experience

2-year experience essential. Experience with NGO desirable.

Languages

Local language essential (Somali/Kiswahili). Mission language desirable (English)

Competences

Results, teamwork, flexibility, commitment, service

If you meet the above requirements, please provide all the documents required : –

  • CV / Cover letter / Diploma, certificates / ID Card

How to Apply

And submit your application through the link : https://uhired.me/job/563

OR 

In the dedicated application mailbox in  MSF Dagahaley Office . Please mark the envelope with  “COUNSELLOR EDUCATOR– JANUARY 2023 ”  to:

HR Department
MSF Dagahaley refugee camp

Deadline for submisson of applications 7th of February 2023

We apologize that due to the volume of applications we receive only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

(MSF is an equal Employer and does not charge any application/recruitment or training fee)