GradeNOC
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeNational Professional Officer
ReasonTemporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment
Hardship LevelA (least hardship)
Family TypeFamily<p></p><p></p>
Residential location (if applicable)
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2023-09-01
Target End Date2024-03-31
Job Posting End DateJuly 31, 2023
Standard Job DescriptionStaff Counsellor Organizational Setting and Work Relationships UNHCR runs its operations in 136 countries and 520 locations, carried on by over 16,500 staff members and members of the affiliate workforce. Given the nature of work, the psychological hazards range from workplace stress, exposure to traumatic situations and vicarious exposure to traumatic experiences of people of concern. All these can reflect at the individual, interpersonal and team levels and can affect the staff well-being as well as the efficiency of the operation. The Staff Health and Wellbeing Service (SH&WS) and more specifically its Psychosocial Wellbeing Section (PWS), are entrusted with addressing these challenges. The Psychosocial Wellbeing team comprises the Staff Counsellors based in Geneva, in the Regional Bureaux and in some multi-country offices and country operations. The team works together in designing staff wellbeing plans and interventions under the leadership of the Chief, PWS. The Staff Counsellor is expected to collaborate closely with the staff health professionals, management team in the operation, human resources function as well as the field safety function with fully respect of professional boundaries and confidentiality of individual cases. The Staff Counsellor works closely with the existing Peer Advisors in the operations of coverage and collaborates with the Office of the Ombudsman and the Ethics Office. The Staff Counsellor is a member of the UN Staff/Stress Counsellor Group and the incumbent adheres to its professional and ethical standards and other technical issuances. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties - Undertake psychological risk assessment for the operations of coverage and design the appropriate response measures in close collaboration with the operations and under the supervision from the Chief, Psychosocial Wellbeing Section. Such measures should include but are not limited to individual or group counselling, trauma interventions, workshops/training, raising awareness and sensitization meetings, team building or other professional forms of support. - Ensure access for staff and family members to individual counselling either internally (with Staff Counsellors in UNHCR) or externally (by providing referrals and information about the available resources and insurance coverage) for work related issues (stress, trauma, interpersonal conflicts, harassment, and job insecurity) and personal issues (family, marital, children or finance related problems). - Provide timely response to critical incidents in the operations under the coverage in accordance with the UNHCR SOP on Support to staff affected by critical incidents. Organizing the psychological first aid (personally, through the Peer Advisors Network in the region or other UN Staff Counsellors available in the region), assessments, referrals and necessary follow-up is undertaken and coordinated with the Psychosocial Wellbeing Section, Snr. Regional Medical Officer and relevant HR functions in the operation. Provide the guidance to the operational managers in relation to the post incident staff support as required. - Undertake regular travels to the operations under coverage as per PWS strategic priorities and demands from the Regions. - Implement the global UNHCR psychosocial wellbeing projects (psychological preparation for hardship assignment, end of assignment debriefing following hardship assignment, framework of support to high risk environments) and take an active part in developing the new initiatives. - Maintain regular contact with the counselling resources in the countries under the coverage including the members of the UN Staff/Stress Counsellors Group (UNSSCG) and other local/regional mental health professionals/ resources outside the UN system, e.g. NGOs, private mental health practitioners. - Take part in the relevant interagency working groups aimed at advancement of psychosocial support to staff in the UN. - Collaborate closely with the Office of the Ombudsman and the Ethics Office in relation to management, training and support to the UNHCR Peer Advisors Network. - Maintain records of individual cases in the confidential electronic case management system in accordance with the UN Confidentiality Guidelines for Staff/Stress Counsellors. Provide monthly statistics to the PWS, HQ. Ensure timely reporting on field missions, general staff wellbeing assessments and related recommendations to the Representative and the Heads of Offices and the Chief PWS. Provide input in global reports by the PWS as required - Provide expert advice and guidance to the Representatives of the operations covered by the function and the Chief of the Psychosocial Wellbeing Section/ Staff Health and Wellbeing Service (SH&WS) at the HQ. - Ensure the adherence to the professional standards of the UNSSCG (continuous education, registration and supervision) as well as the Code of Ethics for UN Staff Counsellors. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Psychiatry; Psychotherapy Social Work; Counselling; or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Registered mental health professional (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Demonstrated clinical experience, including case management and counselling skills for a minimum of 5 years. Working experience on prevention and response to sexual harassment in the workplace. Desirable Understanding of the humanitarian work environment. Functional Skills *WB - Counselling *MD - Patient case management *MD-Drafting clinical notes *WB - Suicide risk assessment *WB - Application of trauma interventions in crisis situations *WB - Ability to identify staff in distress and provide appropriate support *WB - Coaching peer advisors *WB-Treatment of vulnerable/traumatized individuals WB - Organizational Psychology and/or Psychiatry TR-Training Design and Material Preparation TR-Training - Virtual and face to face (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate ProfileAdditional Duties and responsibilities:
The following will be expectations on the staff counsellor based in Colombia:
1. Provide team and individual psychosocial support to all staff and affiliate workforce in Colombia operation.
2. Provide culturally sensitive individual counselling for staff and their eligible dependents for work related issues (stress, trauma, interpersonal conflicts, harassment, job insecurity) and/or personal issues (family, marital, children or finance related problems) or make external referrals as appropriate.
3. Provide support to staff following critical incidents in Colombia in accordance with the UNHCR SOP for supporting staff affected by critical incidents.
4. Organizes workshops/training, raising awareness and sensitization meetings, team building or other professional forms of support. Promote work-life balance and self-care activities.
5. Providing individual/group support to managers. Providing guidance to management and senior management on psychosocial hazards, mitigating measures and working conditions conducive to protective work environment
6. Give guidance/support to Peer Advisors (PA’s) in the operation related to support that they are giving to colleagues at their duty stations.
7. Establish the contact with field offices and field units and set up a plan of psychosocial interventions to UNHCR personnel and their families. Travelling regularly to the field sites for preventative and mitigating stress management activities.
8. Contributes to psychosocial risk assessment.
9. Provide regular updates to the Representative and Senior staff counsellor in the Bureau on the status of mental health and possibilities for improvement, while respecting confidentiality.
10. Record the individual cases as per guidance by the Psychosocial Wellbeing Section.
11. Any other duties agreed in cooperation with Representative in Colombia, Snr Staff Counsellor in Panama, and the Chief of the Psychosocial and Wellbeing section at Headquarters.
Supervision:
The national Staff Counsellor will work under the direct supervision of the UNHCR Representative in Colombia, while working under the technical guidance of the Senior Staff Counsellor in Panama.
The national staff counsellor will be a part of the global Psychosocial Wellbeing team and will have the access to professional resources developed by the team already.
Key Competencies:
• High level of self-awareness, with excellent observation and listening skills.
• Able to work with people of different backgrounds and culture.
• Observes and adhere to ethical, legal and therapeutic standards.
• Excellent written and verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to develop and tailor presentations to effectively deliver psychoeducation.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Familiar with CBT, motivational interviewing and solution-focused techniques.
• Training in mindfulness or solution-focused counselling an asset.
• Patient case management skills.
• Ability to identify staff in distress and provide appropriate support.
Desirable qualifications and skills:
• Understanding of the humanitarian work environment.
• Excellent presentation and written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent working knowledge of MS Office.
Language Requirements:
• Knowledge of English and Spanish required. Knowledge of any other UN language would be an asset.
Functional ClearanceThis position requires Functional Clearance
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)Spanish
,English
,
Desired languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
SkillsMD-Drafting clinical notes, MD - Patient case management, TR-Training Design and Material Preparation, TR-Training - Virtual and face to face, WB - Ability to identify staff in distress and provide appropriate support, WB - Application of trauma interventions in crisis situations, WB - Coaching peer advisors, WB - Counselling, WB - Organizational Psychology and/or Psychiatry, WB - Suicide risk assessment, WB-Treatment of vulnerable/traumatized individuals
Education
CertificationsMental Health - Other
Work Experience
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