Main purpose
Perform counselling and/or education sessions to patients, following different medical and mental health MSF protocols and procedures, in order to improve their psychosocial wellbeing.
Accountabilities
Identify the psychosocial, socio-economic and administrative needs for patients.
Actively promote the availability of counselling services and carry out individual or group counseling, basic psycho-educational sessions to patients and their families (when needed) to alleviate their psychosocial difficulties within the project scope.
Refer patients to other specialists or institutions for further assistance when necessary to propose the best support available.
Participate in the creation of any material needed for counseling activities and maintain it.
Keep files and statistics of daily activities and participate in team meetings to share experiences and discuss special cases with other counselors, preserving confidentiality.
Inform line manager of any problem arising during day-to-day activities.
Take an active part in trainings, supervisions/intervisions, and support the activities manager when necessary in doing sensitization for MSF staff or external partners about mental health/psychosocial issues.
Discuss difficulties and problems in counselling with supervisor.
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, including the refugee population in Dagahaley and other camps, the local non-refugee population, Garissa county, neighboring Wajir South and Wajir counties, and Somali nationals accessing the camp for medical reasons from across the border.
The counselor educators form the frontline of the primary health intervention for patients with psychological, psychosocial, and mental health conditions in both in-patient and out-patient settings.
The counselor educator will provide counselling and psychoeducation services including, but not limited to, individual therapy, group therapy, play therapy, and family therapy in both in-patient and out-patient settings.
The counselor educator has a responsibility in the community for mental health promotion, sensitization, and empowering community health workers to identify cases and refer them to hospital for further care.
The counselor 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 counselor educator will work closely with the social worker by referring cases that require referrals/linkages to external resources for psychosocial, socio-economic, and protection support.
The counselor educator also has a responsibility in the community for mental health promotion, sensitization, and empowering community health workers to identify cases and refer them to hospital for further care.
Requirements
Education
Essential: Psychology Degree/Diploma.
Registered and licensed by MOH's Kenya Counsellors and Psychologist Board.
Registration by Kenya Counsellors and Psychologist Association (KCPA) or Kenya Psychologist Association (KPA).
Experience
1 year experience essential.
Experience with NGO desirable.
Languages
Fluency in English and Somali is essential.
Fluency in Swahili is desirable.
Competencies
Results-oriented, teamwork, flexibility, commitment, service.