Background

Critical Incident Stress Management Section (CISMS) affiliated personnel, including locally engaged National Stress Counsellors, are primarily responsible for stress management, resilience building and mental health support following critical incidents in the UN system as mandated by the policy on Stress and Critical Incident Stress (MSCIS, 2015; Chapter 1V; Security Policy Manual).  Stress counsellors have specific responsibilities in emergency preparedness, emergency response and follow-up services. Furthermore, they monitor stressors that affect UN personnel, identify trends and tailor psychosocial support services to address and promote holistic staff psychosocial well-being services in coordination with the local UN doctor, the Security Advisor, HR Officers, UN Counsellors from other UN agencies, funds and programs and senior and line managers UN system wide.

The current security level in Ukraine is highly volatile due to the ongoing war and as a result, the psychosocial well-being of UN personnel is impacted severely. The daily threats to the safety and security of UN personnel have made UN personnel highly vulnerable to critical incident stress resulting in physical and psychological trauma and related illness. National staff and families are most at risk due to the nature of the armed conflict. The UN Security Management Team in collaboration with the UN stress counsellor, medical and security professionals in the headquarters and in country are required to adopt appropriate psychosocial strategies and interventions to assist UN personnel and their eligible family members.

Due to the above reasons and in line with the UN Duty of Care Framework, it is essential to establish an in-house national stress counsellor for psychosocial support services, particularly for national UN personnel including eligible dependents. The main role of the national stress counsellor will be to assist the international stress counsellor in UNDSS in building a sustainable stress management program that benefits UN personnel operating in country with the main goal of strengthening and building resiliency skills among personnel in dealing with ongoing critical incident stress through the provision of professional counselling services, well-being checks and referrals to specialized mental health services in the country to mitigate and prevent long term consequences of trauma such as PTSD, Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Explosive Anger and Substance Abuse among UN personnel.

The National Stress Counsellor will be based in Kyiv, Ukraine and travel when cleared by UNDSS to provide psychosocial support services for staff and eligible dependents located across the country.

The national stress counsellor will report to the international stress counsellor.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall technical supervision of the international stress counsellor, UNDSS, Ukraine, the national stress counsellor will conduct the following activities:

Implement a wide range of stress management activities, including the UN strategic framework on critical incident stress prevention and management (MSCIS-2015).

1. Develop and implement a stress management plan for the UN offices in the country;
2. Perform psychosocial needs assessments and focus groups and monitor the determinants of stress in UN personnel.
3. Provide individual and group counselling sessions related to critical incidents.
4. Organize training sessions on stress and stress-related issues and coping mechanisms.
5. Provide referral advice to UN personnel.
6. Identify, address and follow up on critical incident stress cases among UN personnel in the country.
7. Liaise with local experts and institutions in the country for referral as well as with UN line managers, medical doctors, and local physicians in order to build a network of professionals ready to support and intervene in case of need.
8. Advise the UN SMT/Country Team Management on culturally applicable and gender and diversity inclusive stress mitigating strategies, and activities.
9. As required, the national stress counsellor will conduct field visits to the regions for the psychosocial needs assessment, counselling and well-being visits.
10. Provide reports to the international stress counsellor on all activities at least monthly or as required, maintaining due confidentiality;
11. Other activities as requested.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Integrity – Ability to work honestly, openly, impartially and in accordance with the values of the United Nations.
• Professionalism – Ability to work in a calm, competent and committed manner; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Respect for Diversity – Ability to work effectively, respectfully, and inclusively with people from different backgrounds and with different perspectives.

Commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter and the Organization’s core values – Professionalism, Integrity and Respect for Diversity

Planning and Organizing: Demonstrated ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor his/her own work plan with minimum supervision. Ability to work under pressure or in crisis situations. Availability to travel within the area of responsibility.

Creativity: Ability to actively seek to improve services, offer new and different options to solve problems/meet client needs, and promote and persuade others to consider new ideas.

Teamwork: Proven interpersonal skills and the ability to listen and work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Communication: Proven and sustained communication (verbal and written) skills.

Required Skills and Experience