The Psychosocial Support Counselor will provide critical psychosocial support and case management services to vulnerable women and girls in Badakhshan province. The role involves offering individual counseling, follow-up support, referrals, and disseminating information on available services to facilitate access. Working closely with the Project Manager and provincial coordinator, the counselor will oversee the implementation of psychosocial/group support activities, skills-building sessions, and recreational activities in collaboration with local partners.
Key Responsibilities:
Psycho-social Support Services:
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- Conduct individual and group counseling sessions tailored to address trauma recovery, stress management, and overall psychosocial well-being.
- Conduct regular awareness raising sessions on MHPSS.
- Maintain proper record with full details of the conducted sessions.
- Fill/submit monthly statistics form and reports to provincial officer to finalize the data into the report hub.
- Report on the weekly, monthly and quarterly basis to immediate supervisor.
- Provide crisis intervention and emotional support for individuals experiencing acute distress or mental health crises.
- Design and implement personalized psychosocial support plans that align with the needs, cultural norms, and resilience capacities of beneficiaries.
- Facilitate psycho-educational workshops on emotional regulation, stress coping strategies, and resilience-building.
Assessment and Case Management:
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- Conduct initial psycho-social assessments and regular follow-ups to monitor progress and adjust support interventions as needed.
- Maintain confidential and accurate case records and documentation, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and data protection protocols.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop holistic care plans for beneficiaries, integrating psycho-social support with other services.
Capacity Building and Training:
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- Provide training and capacity-building sessions for local staff and community volunteers on basic psycho-social support techniques and psychological first aid.
- Support the integration of psycho-social considerations into the overall program activities and community-based initiatives.
Networking and Referral Coordination:
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- Establish and maintain effective partnerships and referral pathways with relevant stakeholders, including health facilities, social services, and community-based organizations.
- Coordinate referrals for beneficiaries requiring specialized mental health services, ensuring continuity of care and support.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:
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- Monitor and evaluate the impact of psycho-social interventions through regular assessments, case reviews, and beneficiary feedback mechanisms.
- Prepare timely and accurate reports on psycho-social activities, outcomes, and challenges for internal and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to the development of best practices and lessons learned in psycho-social support programming.
- Maintain confidentiality and accurate documentation of all client interactions and case management activities.
Ethical and Professional Standards:
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- Uphold ethical principles, confidentiality, and the rights of beneficiaries in all interactions and interventions.
- Adhere to professional codes of conduct and guidelines for psycho-social counseling and mental health support.
- Ensure all interactions and interventions with clients adhere to organizational and donor-approved policies, protocols, and ethical standards.
Community Engagement and Advocacy:
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- Engage with community leaders, local authorities, and beneficiaries to promote awareness and understanding of mental health issues and psycho-social well-being.
- Advocate for the integration of mental health and psycho-social support into broader humanitarian and development agendas.
Continuous Professional Development:
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- Stay updated on best practices, research findings, and developments in psycho-social support and mental health fields.
- Participate in relevant training, workshops, and supervision sessions to enhance skills and competencies.
Organizational Responsibilities:
Policy Adherence:
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- Adhere to the Code of Conduct, uphold humanitarian principles, and respect international humanitarian law in all activities.
Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA):
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- Promote PSEA standards within Helping Hands for Women Organization (HHWO) and ensure beneficiaries are aware of their rights and protections.
Compliance & Ethics:
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- Maintain a thorough understanding of compliance and ethics standards relevant to the position and uphold the highest level of integrity in all work.
Safeguarding:
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- Fulfill the shared responsibility to safeguard and protect populations served by HHWO from exploitation, abuse, neglect, and trafficking.
