Counselling Psychologist
Provide psychological counseling support to UN staff and dependents.
Overview
Provide psychological counseling support to UN staff and dependents.
You have:
- At least three years of progressive experience in psychology practice since completion of University master’s degree in psychology is required.
- Additional training or certification in related fields such as trauma counselling, alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, cross-cultural communication or conflict resolution is required.
- Proven experience of working in an international setting is required.
- International experience in employee assistance programmes or organizational interventions is desirable.
- Experience in providing online psychosocial support, in-person or virtually in a challenging multicultural environment is desirable.
- Previous experience of working in an Occupational health setting and networking with Administrative/Human Resource professionals is desirable.
Contract
This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.
The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) is the UN headquarters in Africa and the representative office of the Secretary-General. We support programme implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UNHABITAT) globally, as well as other UN offices in Kenya, by Providing administrative, conference and information services (www.unon.org).
This position is located at United Nations Office at Nairobi Joint Medical Services, which is part of the Division of administrative services, Human resource management service (DAS, HRMS), providing services under the common service framework to staff of agencies located in Kenya and in other countries that host outposted offices.
Under the direct supervision of Associate Staff Counsellor, UNON JMS, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Provide virtual or in-person psychological counseling support to staff members and dependents on appointment or on a walk-in basis.
• Offer psychosocial support to hospitalized staff members or their dependents including making hospital visits where this I deemed necessary.
• Provide mental health counseling and support including making relevant referrals for external expertise intervention when necessary.
• Provide multicultural counseling and including but not limited to, adaptation and adjustment processes. Conduct virtual or in-person psychosocial needs assessments of psychologically affected staff members in various offices on site or outposted and report on the same.
• provide psychoeducation to staff members in virtual or in-person group sessions Provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) to clients faces with acute psychological incidents and provide bereavement and grief supportive counseling when required.
• Provide support and leadership in employee assistance programs where indicated in conjunction with respective supervisors and HR focal points where performance issues are observed and reported including where issues of alcohol and substance use/misuse interventions are needed.
• Provide Mission preparedness and post-missions psychosocial debrief and counseling support. Offer pre-retirement preparedness support and counseling to staff members.
• Prepare Psychosocial information and training materials as guided by UN staff counselor and provide awareness training on emerging mental health issues of both national and international concern to United Nations Organization Support the JMS team of doctors and nurses in managing workplace crises, and other medical consultations as deemed necessary.
• Support the UN Plus Coordinator in providing HIV /AIDS counseling and other supportive services. Participate in JMS in-house training and offer technical contributions on mental health related discussion.
• Prepare materials to respond to post-Pandemic recovery processes and provide psychosocial risk mitigation.
Results/Expected Outputs
• Successful support to staff in managing mental health related issues and delivery of knowledge on ways to build resilience to cope with the ever-changing dynamics of the workplace.
• Successful implementation of the various aspects of the UN Mental Health Strategy within the duty station.
• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with the diverse groups of staff at the duty station and beyond. Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed
• Professionalism • Planning and organising • Communication • Respect for Diversity
• At least three years of progressive experience in psychology practice since completion of University master’s degree in psychology is required. • Additional training or certification in related fields such as trauma counselling, alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, cross-cultural communication or conflict resolution is required. • Proven experience of working in an international setting is required. • International experience in employee assistance programmes or organizational interventions is desirable. • Experience in providing online psychosocial support, in-person or virtually in a challenging multicultural environment is desirable. • Previous experience of working in an Occupational health setting and networking with Administrative/Human Resource professionals is desirable
The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighbouring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO).
Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP.
The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.
Link to the Entitlement Calculator: https://app.unv.org/calculator You may check the full benefits and allowances applicable to the duty station using the UVP calculator. Please see the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers for more information and details.”
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe your experience providing psychological counseling in a multicultural environment? | This question evaluates your experience in handling diverse cultural backgrounds. | Discuss specific situations where you successfully provided support to individuals from different cultures. |
| How do you approach crisis intervention and support in acute psychological incidents? | The interviewer wants to assess your strategies and techniques in crisis situations. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What methods do you use to conduct psychosocial needs assessments? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How would you handle a situation where a staff member refuses to seek help for their mental health? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you explain your experience with employee assistance programs? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What techniques do you employ to provide psychological first aid? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you support staff in managing workplace dynamics and stress? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your approach to preparing training materials on mental health awareness. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |