Psychosocial Support Counsellor

War Child Canada is a registered Canadian charity based in Toronto that works to accelerate peace and disrupt the cycle of violence by investing in and empowering local communities to build brighter futures through comprehensive, evidence-informed programs that foster resilience, self-reliance, and self-determination.

War Child Canada is globally recognized for our grassroots, community-driven model of humanitarian action that’s rooted in collaboration and entirely locally led. We have developed a solid track record of long-term, sustainable impact supporting children and families living in areas dominated by conflict and crises.

War Child’s flagship Afghanistan program advances social impact in the lives of vulnerable children, women, and their families through its humanitarian and development programming in Protection, Health, Education and Livelihood sectors in various provinces of Afghanistan.

Job Summary:

The Psychosocial Support Counselor is an essential member of the Child Protection project team, responsible for providing comprehensive psychosocial support, including counseling and referral services, to children at CFSs and within communities. Additionally, the PSS Counselor will strengthen the capacity of Community Mobilizers, and CFS Facilitators by training them in foundational PSS principles and practices. This capacity-building effort will enhance their ability to identify and support children in need of Psychosocial Support services.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The PSS Counsellor will be primarily responsible for:

          I.            Planning and Materials Development:

·       Develop and implement field activity plans with the Child Protection Officer and project team.

·       Review and improve existing PSS materials to address beneficiaries’ needs, including reducing stress and depression.

·       Adapt PSS training content to the context and needs of target communities.

       II.            Capacity Building and Training:

·       Train CFS facilitators in PSS techniques and skills to strengthen their capacity.

·       Deliver established psychosocial training plans and workshops for families, community leaders, parents, teachers, and children in target communities.

        III.            Psychosocial Support Delivery:

·       Identify and assess beneficiaries who need psychosocial support, completing thorough intake and post-session evaluations.

·       Provide individual, family, and group PSS focused on emotional well-being and resilience.

·       Manage cases through intake assessments, individualized care plans, follow-up, and closure as needed.

·       Promptly refer and follow up on cases requiring specialized services.

·       Provide ongoing technical guidance to the project team to support effective PSS service delivery.

        IV.            Reporting and Professional Development:

·       Maintain accurate activity records, including beneficiary files, assessments, and progress reports.

·       Participate actively in professional development to expand PSS knowledge and skills.

·       Perform other duties assigned by the supervisor that align with project objectives and responsibilities.

Qualification:

·       Bachelor’s Degree in relevant discipline (e.g. General Psychology, Counselling, Mental Health).

·       Additional qualification or certification in Mental Health, Psychology, Counseling or in another relevant field is highly desirable

 Experience:

·       A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in psychosocial support or mental health services, preferably in humanitarian or development contexts.

·       Demonstrated experience working with children, families, and communities in need of psychosocial or child protection support.

·       Proven ability to conduct assessments, develop individualized care plans, and provide PSS interventions to vulnerable populations.

·       Experience in supervising and building the capacity of field teams, including community mobilizers and CFS facilitators

Skills and Abilities:

·       Strong communication, counseling, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse groups.

·       Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities under pressure.

·       Ability to develop culturally sensitive materials and adapt interventions to local contexts.

·       Proficiency in reporting, data collection, and analysis to monitor the effectiveness of PSS interventions.

·       Fluency in local languages (Dari and Pashto) and proficiency in English is required.

Commitment to upholding child safeguarding policies, PSEA standards, and humanitarian principles

War Child Canada is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified Afghan women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interested applicants are invited to complete the application process using the link below. If the link does not work when clicked, please copy and paste it into your browser's address bar:

https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/3QUAKLuq