PSYCHOLOGOCAL COUNSELOR/ CASE WORKER

Position Description

Heshima Kenya is a nonprofit organization based in Nairobi, Kenya dedicated to identifying, protecting refugee children and empowering unaccompanied and separated refugee children, especially adolescent girls, through our specialized shelter, education and advocacy programs. The Psychosocial Counselor will provide technical support and leadership required for the successful implementation of all psychosocial activities of the Child Protection Program funded by UNHCR. She/ he will provide one on one counseling and group counseling sessions for vulnerable children, children at risk and foster families to reduce the past trauma experienced. The Counselor will work closely with the Social workers on providing psychological support and report to the Child Protection Manager.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in the development of professional, effective and appropriate psychosocial programming, including direct individual and group counseling support.
• Provide professional and confidential services to SGBV and trauma survivors.
• Assist in the development and provision of psychosocial activities within Heshima Kenya’s project areas within the Urban Refugee Program.
• Supervise and provide training, mentorship, and other technical support to social workers directly involved with the psychosocial component of Heshima Kenya program.
• Strengthen and maintain networks with community leaders, groups and service providers to ensure that survivors receive support from the community and to encourage greater communication, collaboration and coordination among partners (protection, health, legal, and psychosocial sectors).
• Collect data on Child Protection issues including SGBV and monitor trends and emerging issues.
• Assist with developing adequate project monitoring systems and help to ensure that community incentive workers utilize these systems correctly and consistently.
• Assist with preparing all relevant reports regarding Heshima Kenya’s psychosocial activities.
• Ensure timely implementation of psychosocial program activities.
• Provide leadership and guidance regarding psychosocial activities to all community workers to ensure all program activities meet required standards of operation.
• Work in collaboration with Social workers to the outreach coordinator to ensure ongoing needs assessments, monitoring and follow ups of children’s’ intervention activities are timely.
• Lead awareness-raising and/or sensitization campaigns on the Heshima Kenya’s psychosocial activities and other SGBV related services in collaboration with the Social Workers and the Child Protection Manager.outreach coordinator.
• Lead the team of Social Workers in the development of monthly outreach plans based on case trends and children’s needs. Prepare monthly and weekly reports.
• Oversee the case management identification and provision of support to the beneficiaries.
• Perform any other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a Kenyan Citizen.
• Degree in counseling or psychology, Social Science from a reputable University recognized in Kenya.
• Minimum 5 years experience of direct psychosocial/counseling experience with refugees and with a passion of helping vulnerable children; experience working with survivors of violence and trauma required.
• Clear understanding of gender-based violence and issues regarding violence against children.
• Able to maintain confidentiality, counseling ethics and respect for survivors.
• Able to lead, train, supervise, facilitate and motivate Community Incentive Workers in their respective tasks in a professional, respectful and supportive manner.
• Positive, highly motivated, innovative, with strong organizational and inter-personal skills.
• Able to coordinate multiple tasks while maintaining attention to quality and detail.
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Strong knowledge of computer applications, including MS Word and Excel.
• Luency in English and Swahili. Any other language will be an added advantage.
• Experience working in the field of Gender-based Violence.
• Must be registered with Kenya counseling association.
• Be proficient in report and proposal writing and sound knowledge of computers i.e. Ms Word, Excel and Outlook.
• A flexible team player able to work in a diverse cultural working environment.

HOW TO APPLY:

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested candidates meeting the above qualifications should send an application letter indicating your current & expected salary and a detailed CV with daytime telephone contact to reach the undersigned on or before 28th March 2016.
The Country Director, Heshima Kenya. P.O Box 63192-00619. Nairobi/ Email:hr2015@heshimakenya.org with a cc to info@heshimakenya.org. Clearly state the subject of the email as Psychological Counselor/ Case Worker

Applicants should be ready to begin immediately
Note: HK is any equal opportunity employer. Only shortlisted candidates will be conducted.