Save the Children is seeking a Project Assistant (Psychosocial Counsellor) to facilitate the provision of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services for children and their families. This role involves using play and art therapy, individual and group sessions, and resilience building to support vulnerable populations, particularly in refugee settings. The successful candidate will be responsible for training community structures, managing child-friendly spaces, and ensuring accurate data collection and reporting on MHPSS performance indicators.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Delivery
- Facilitate the provision of counselling services for children with protection concerns and their families through play and art therapy, individual, and group sessions.
- Facilitate family counselling sessions to promote positive parent-child relationships.
- Conduct and process psychosocial assessments using approved tools and prepare treatment plans for individual children and caregivers.
- Under the guidance of the Child Protection Coordinator, ensure Child Safe spaces meet recommended safety standards for play and learning.
- Facilitate resilience forums for children and caregivers using Save the Children (SC) resilience-building manuals.
- Facilitate training and mentorship for lay volunteer counsellors, teachers, and other community structures on Basic Counselling skills, Psychological First Aid (PFA), trauma-informed therapy, and specific programs like TEAM UP and We Thrive.
- Support the development of annual detailed implementation plans and ensure accurate data collection on MHPSS performance indicators.
- Support the development of key MHPSS messages for community forums and international mental health days to create awareness and destigmatize mental health issues.
- Plan, organize, and implement psychoeducation forums in partnership with government and community workers.
- Manage the Child Friendly Space at the Kalobeyei settlement.
- Keep abreast of emerging MHPSS concerns and trends and inform the Child Protection Coordinator for adaptive programming.
- Represent Save the Children in MHPSS interagency meetings.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
- Work with the MEAL team to monitor and evaluate program activities, taking corrective action where necessary.
- Prepare counselling reports and document lessons learned to contribute to organizational advocacy.
- Maintain an up-to-date database of beneficiaries counselled, including client progress reports.
- Conduct regular follow-up visits to monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration of children and families supported with psychosocial support.
Skills and Behaviours
- Accountability: Holds self-accountable for making decisions and managing resources efficiently while modeling organization values.
- Ambition: Sets ambitious goals, takes responsibility for personal development, and thinks strategically.
- Collaboration: Builds and maintains effective relationships with team members, colleagues, and external partners; values diversity.
- Creativity: Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions and is willing to take disciplined risks.
- Integrity: Honest and encourages openness and transparency.
Qualifications and Experience
- Education: Degree in Counselling or Psychology.
- Experience: 2 years’ experience working with children is desirable.
- Certification: Must be registered with a recognized body in Kenya (e.g., Kenya Counsellors and Psychologist’s Association - KCPA, or the Counsellors and Psychologists Board).
- Contextual Knowledge: Prior experience in MHPSS within refugee set-ups is essential.
- Technical Knowledge: Strong knowledge of child protection, child rights, and associated protection issues.
- Communication: Fluent in written and spoken English, Kiswahili, and the local language used in the camps and host community; good report writing skills.
- Attributes: Positive attitude towards community work, ability to learn from communities, and willingness to work in difficult or frustrating conditions.
- Commitment: Strong commitment to Save the Children’s Child Protection Policy.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience working in refugee camps, displacement settings, or emergency programs.
- Familiarity with minimum standards for MHPSS in emergency settings.
- Training in psychosocial support, child safeguarding, GBV, or related fields.
