The Psychosocial Support (PSS) Counsellor is responsible for providing quality psychosocial support and basic mental health services within the TLC (Technical Learning Center) to vulnerable children, adolescents, caregivers, and other individuals in need of psychosocial assistance. The role focuses on individual and group psychosocial interventions, psychological assessments, counselling, case planning, referrals, and coordination with case management teams to support the emotional well-being and resilience of beneficiaries.
The PSS Counsellor ensures that services are delivered in line with protection principles, confidentiality standards, safeguarding requirements, and MHPSS guidelines.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Technical Responsibilities
- Provide quality psychosocial support services to vulnerable and at-risk beneficiaries.
- Conduct individual counselling sessions and structured group psychosocial support sessions.
- Ensure quality specialized support services for beneficiaries with psychological distress and psychosocial needs.
- Conduct psychological and psychosocial assessments to identify beneficiaries’ mental health and psychosocial conditions and determine appropriate interventions.
- Develop individualized case plans with clear mental health and psychosocial well-being objectives.
- Monitor beneficiaries’ progress and document psychological recovery and case outcomes.
- Ensure all interventions are survivor-centered, age-appropriate, gender-sensitive, inclusive, and culturally appropriate.
- Provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) when needed.
- Ensure family members and caregivers are engaged appropriately in supporting the beneficiary’s psychosocial recovery and well-being.
- Coordinate closely with case management teams to ensure holistic support for beneficiaries.
- Ensure timely internal and external referrals based on identified needs and established referral pathways.
- Refer complex or severe mental health cases to specialized services or psychiatrists in coordination with supervisors and according to referral protocols.
- Follow up on referred cases and maintain communication with relevant service providers.
- Conduct age-appropriate recreational, structured, and psychosocial activities for children and adolescents attending TLCs, as well as caregivers and other vulnerable groups when required.
- Facilitate psychosocial activities within TLCs, schools, community centers, and other safe learning environments.
- Design and implement structured psychosocial activities aimed at improving emotional well-being, resilience, coping skills, and social cohesion.
Coordination and Community Engagement
- Collaborate with teachers, community volunteers, outreach workers, and community structures to identify children and families requiring psychosocial support and referral services.
- Participate in awareness sessions and community outreach activities related to psychosocial well-being, stress management, positive coping mechanisms, child protection, school retention, and available support services within the TLCs.
- Promote awareness of mental health and psychosocial support within the community.
- Coordinate with other sectors and service providers to ensure integrated and multi-sectoral support for beneficiaries.
- Participate in case conferences, technical meetings, and coordination meetings as required.
Documentation and Reporting
- Maintain accurate, confidential, and up-to-date case files and counselling records.
- Ensure all case documentation is safely archived and accessible only to authorized staff.
- Prepare technical case reports and progress updates for supervisors.
- Submit regular weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly activity reports.
- Ensure data collection and reporting tools are completed accurately and in a timely manner.
- Maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection and safeguarding standards.
Capacity Building and Professional Conduct
- Support capacity building activities for staff, volunteers, and community members on psychosocial support, stress management, and Psychological First Aid.
- Participate in trainings, supervision sessions, and professional development activities.
- Inform supervisors of implementation challenges, protection concerns, or issues affecting service quality.
- Adhere to organizational policies, code of conduct, child safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and protection principles.
Perform any other duties and responsibilities assigned by the line supervisor in accordance with organizational needs and operational requirements.
