Jobs - 63296- Stress Counselor

Stress Counselor

Location :

Kabul, AFGHANISTAN

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

08-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Organizational Context:

The Department of Safety and Security is responsible for providing leadership, operational support and oversight of the security management system to enable the safest and most efficient conduct of the programmes and activities of the United Nations System.

The primary role of the UNDSS CISMU Stress Counselor will be to develop and maintain a sustainable stress management system applicable to all UN Agencies operating in the country and to improve the critical incident stress management preparedness of the UN security system in case of emergencies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the administrative supervision of the Chief Security Adviser and the technical guidance of the Critical Incident Stress Management Unit (CISMU) Regional counselor, counselor will administrate a wide range of stress management activities, actively participating in emergency preparedness in the country in collaboration with UNDSS and the UN emergency coordination group as per the UNDSS CISMU standard operational procedures on critical incident stress.

Develop and implement a stress management plan applicable to all UN Agencies in the country;
Provide individual, group and critical incident counseling sessions to the staff and dependents as/when needed;
Plan and Facilitate preventative stress management training on a variety of stress related sues to UN staff in the country and circulate useful reading resources related to stress periodically;
To assist in establishing the Critical Incident Stress Intervention Cells (CISICs) including selecting Peer Helpers and family focal points; facilitating peer helper training sessions (jointly with UNDSS CISMU); and coordinating and following up on all relevant activities;
Promote welfare activities for UN staff in the country in collaboration with the existing Staff Association;
Identify, address and follow up on critical incident stress cases among the UN staff and dependents in the country;
Be willing to visit & travel regularly to the UN Offices/Sub Offices in the country in order to implement preventative stress management training activities and offer technical consultations when needed;
Liaise with local experts and institutions in the country for referral purposes. Collaborate with UN managers, medical doctors, and local physicians on psychosocial issues with the objective of establishing a network of professionals ready to support and intervene in case of need;
Advise UN management on stress mitigating strategies and activities;
Perform ongoing assessments and monitor the determinants of stress in the UN staff to include activities such as data collection, analyses and related documentation;
Overall Management of the Department and to provide monthly reports to the Chief Security Adviser with copies to UN Headquarters UNDSS CISMU on all its activities;
Monitor environmental factors that could lead to stress, with particular focus on stress related to critical incidents, with respect to civilian staff members of the mission; develop, organize and implement a stress management programme for such staff.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Well-developed communication-, leadership-, and teambuilding skills.

Professionalism:

Broad knowledge of all facets of the field of counseling and the ability to provide a confidential environment in which others can talk and act without fear or repercussions within a climate of established trust.

Behavioral competencies:

Proven experience in knowledge transfer and capacity development;
Excellent networking skills;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Treats all people fairly and without favoritism.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master Degree in Psycho -educational studies, psychology, psychiatry, clinical social work, or other clinical mental health profession.

Experience:

Minimum of five years of professional experience (among which three at international level) in psychological counseling, training skills, with special emphasis on managing critical incident stress;
Additional training or experience in a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, critical incident stress and cross cultural communication would be an asset;
Previous experience working with United Nations System in the same field is distinct advantage.
Proficient in computer applications, particularly in MS Office.

Language:

Fluency in both written and spoken English;
Proficiency in the national language of the duty station (Dari) is an advantage.

Application procedure:

Interested and qualified International candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Jobs site at http://www.af.undp.org/content/afghanistan/en/home/operations/jobs/ and please ensure that to fill up and upload Personal History Form-P.11 which is available at http://www.af.undp.org/content/afghanistan/en/home/operations/jobs/ in the relevant field of the on-line application.

Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Successful candidates must be prepared to start work within 6 weeks of the offer of appointment.

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.