MHPSS Counsellor

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
The IRC opened the country program in Afghanistan in 1988. Our programs span the range from humanitarian relief to early recovery and development activities, focusing on child protection, education, economic wellbeing, health, and power. The IRC works in 10 provinces throughout Afghanistan, among which some of the most security volatile, and employs over 1000 staff.

Compliance with Policies:

• Compliance with the IRC WAY (our standards for professional conduct) is a responsibility shared by all involved in delivering on the IRC’s mission. We must abide by the IRC Way and Safeguarding Policies all the time. 
• The IRC has zero tolerance approach to the IRC Code of Conduct including safeguarding violations being committed by its staff, consultants, contractors, volunteers, interns, suppliers, vendors, sub-grantees/partners, implementing partners or any other associate.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Supervisor, the MHPSS counsellor provides psychosocial and/or psychological interventions in an individual or group format. 

The MHPSS Counsellor will liaise with the mental health team (MHPSS Supervisor and MHPSS Counsellors) on the implementation of MHPSS interventions and activities, more specifically:

General Duties

Program Management

• Deliver one-on-one (Individual) and group counseling sessions to identified clients within IRC Clinics, and in line with IRC integrated approach
• Develop psychosocial activities; community mobilization, awareness raising, and any other related activity requested by MHPSS Supervisor.
• Support MHPSS Supervisor in delivering training or workshops
• Support in the creation of materials including publicity documents.
• Engage with the community to deliver and promote IRC MHPSS project activities in the designated locations.
• Assist in writing monthly, quarterly, annual reports, monitoring and evaluation activity and progress reports of project activities including monthly reporting to the MHPSS Supervisor.
• Assist in the implementation of preventive MHPSS interventions at the community and PHC level.
• Coordinate referrals
• Any other related IRC tasks as assigned by the MHPSS Supervisor or MHPSS Coordinator
• Under the guidance of MHPSS Supervisor and MHPSS Coordinator support in the collection of information related to behaviors of the community to reinforce quality of MHPSS services
• Collaborate and participate, in any field survey, data collection and/or needs assessment organized by IRC in relation to MHPSS
• Participation in IRC internal meetings, trainings and individual meetings with the MHPSS Supervisor or MHPSS Coordinator
• The activities may change based on the changing context

Specific Duties:

• Provide MHPSS consultations within PHC setting:
• Provide individual or group consultations to beneficiaries presenting in PHC or referred and in need of MH interventions
• Assist in the identification of psycho-social needs and proposition needed interventions in collaboration with the mental health team and PHC staff
• Weekly reporting activities and data collection
• Coordinate with MHPSS supervisor on cases requiring higher level interventions
• Provide psycho-social support for mental health beneficiaries:
• Work directly with MHPSS Supervisor to develop individualized treatment plans for MH beneficiaries
• In coordination with community mobilizers use participatory methods to adapt activities in accordance to the needs of the different target groups (children, women etc)
•  Community mental health interventions:
• Participate in defining effective and culturally appropriate approaches and interventions on the community level
• Focus on information dissemination and collecting opinions to foster knowledge and self-care practices for communities in areas of intervention
• Initiate and facilitate group interventions
• Analysis, detection and reduction of risk factors influencing the mental health status at community level:
• In collaboration with the mental health team, explore and detect potential risk factors influencing mental health status of the target population
• Coordinate with other actors concerned to reduce and/or eliminate potential risk factors.

·       Degree in Psychology, Psychosocial Counselling, Health Social Counselling or other related field.

·    At least 1 – 2 years of professional experiences in relevant field (clinical Psychology, Psychosocial Counselling, PSS provider or other related field)

·       Strong communication and facilitation skills,

·       Experience working in humanitarian sector is an asset – specifically in MHPSS programs

·       Good knowledge of counselling and community mobilization methods and tools

·       Proactive and ability to work with multicultural team would be highly appreciated

·       Ability to communicate effectively in local languages both verbally and in writing.

·       Ability to speak and write English language is an asset.

·       Self-motivated, possessing persuasion skills, ability to maintain relationship and able to work on own initiative.

·       Communication and reporting skills

·       Fluency in Pashto, Dari and English

·       Computer skills (including MS Word, Excel, Access, and internet) an advantage

·       Ability to work closely, professionally, and constructively with all others regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, race, tribe, or cultural background

For IRC- Afghanistan Internal Candidates:

(“ The IRC encourages employees to remain in a position for at least one year and be in good standing before applying for another position within the organization. if an employee is interested in a vacant position within the organization, he/she must inform his/her supervisor in advance before applying for a new position”)

(However, 1 year is a must to complete but to encourage IRCA employees somehow we are flexible who work in the current IRC position for at least 6 months or above and are given chance to compete for an opportunity in the organization)

All qualified candidates are requested to open the given link and follow the instructions:

https://theirc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External_Careers/job/Kunduz-Afghanistan/MHPSS-Counsellor_JR00004818

applications received without a given link and/or online system will be disqualified and removed from the entire process. 

Shortlisted candidates will be directly contacted for a written test and after that for interviews. If you are not contacted TWO or FOUR WEEKS after the closing date .please know that your application has not been successful for the post. IRC Afghanistan Country Office, Qala-e-Fathullah, Street # 3, District 10, Old UNOCHA Office, Beside Fatemia Mosque.