Finn Church Aid is a
right-based organisation with 70 years of experience and operations in 12
countries. FCA is Finland’s largest NGO working in development cooperation and
second largest provider of disaster relief. We work in development,
humanitarian assistance and advocacy, guided by international human rights
standards and principles. We contribute to positive change by supporting people
in the most vulnerable situations within fragile and disaster-affected areas.
We consider three thematic areas as central to sustainable change: the right to
peace (R2P), livelihood (R2L) and quality education (R2QE).
In Kenya, FCA has been
working since 2014 in all three thematic areas, supporting local communities
and governments to resolve and prevent conflicts in five counties of northern
Kenya; providing access to primary education in Turkana, Garissa and Marsabit,
Kenya’s poorest counties; and improving access to quality education for
children, youth and their families with holistic support mechanisms. FCA also
provides emergency cash assistance to drought-affected families in Garissa.
Psychosocial Counsellors – 2
Positions
Duty Station: Kakuma/
Kalobeyei
Reports to:Senior
Education Officer
Primary Purpose
The Psychosocial
Counsellors are responsible for the overall planning and provision of
psychosocial support for the project including Persons of Concern (PoCs),
refugees, asylum seekers and host community. S/he helps them solve and cope
with problems in their every day lives. S/he also will help PoCs find services
that are available in their community. The Psychosocial Counselors will work,
as a team, with school-based counselors, community mobilizers and programs
staff.
Tasks and Duties
- Provide
comprehensive psychosocial counseling to school going girls and or parents
of FCA targeted schools aimed at improving learning outcomes and
transition to higher levels of education.
- Providing
individual and group counselling for girls facing mental health problems
and roll out life skills sessions for girls.
- Provide
workshops/training to girls and, parents, community, and stakeholders in
line with power to girls’ concept.
- Performing
individual assessments, drawing up treatments, plans and providing
counselling and psychological support for schoolgirls, both refugees and
host community.
- Providing
individual counselling to girls, support groups or group psychotherapy,
- Collaborate
closely with legal officers in terms of case management and follow-up of
clients.
- Providing
training for teachers, parents, stakeholders regarding trauma-related
issues and self-care strategies aimed at improving learning outcomes for
girls.
- Sensitizing
refugee/host communities regarding trauma and empowering them to develop
own strategies to overcome consequences of war and violence.
- Program
development including proposal and report writing and financial monitoring.
- Advocacy
& Networking
- Ensure
child safeguarding guidelines and ethical practices are observed, adhered
to including coordinated referral pathways in Kakuma/Kalobeyei.
- Develop
new and strengthen existing referral systems with other organizations.
- Engage
in quality self-care through supervision, debriefings, and other shared
sessions especially for the adolescent girls.
- Assist
teachers in the development and implementation of psychosocial counselling
programs in school communities aimed at empowering girls.
- Disseminate
information concerning psychosocial counselling services available for the
girls in refugee/host communities.
- Monitor
girls progress and make informed, timely educational decisions.
- Conduct
regular visits to project sites to collect and verify data for preparation
of regular and ad hoc program reports and briefs to immediate manager.
- Represent
FCA with external stakeholders as requested (inter-agency coordination
meetings, working groups) and influences the shape of broader sector
strategies.
- Take
steps to document lessons learned, from the education program including
that of partners for wider dissemination.
- Perform
other tasks and assumes other responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.
Qualifications
- A
diploma/degree in counselling, social work/community development,
psychology or a higher diploma in counselling with a minimum of 2 years in
related work experience
- Experience
in the provision of psychosocial services to refugees’ /asylum seekers
especially for girls is an advantage.
- Good
report writing and communication skills.
- A
team player with ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Ability
to maintain professionalism in services delivery and ethics
- Highly
motivated, creative, and compassionate person who is dedicated to ensuring
that models of best practice are utilized.
- Females
and qualified locals from within Turkana County are highly encouraged to
apply.
All qualified and
interested candidates are encouraged to send a completed Application Letter and
Curriculum Vitae to: recruitment.esaro@kua.fi stating the vacancy job
title in the subject line
Deadline for receiving
applications is 7th March 2023.
FCA will only contact
short- listed applicants.
FCA is an equal
opportunity employer, irrespective of gender, race or religious affiliation.
FCA is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for humanitarian agencies. Attempts
to influence recruitment procedures through phone calls, emails or inducements
of any kind will lead to disqualifications.
