Staff Counsellor

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

UNDP helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

To increase its capacity to respond to the psychosocial and mental health care needs of its personnel during and after the COVID19 pandemic, UNDP is looking for a Russian speaking counsellor.

Supervision to be provided by HR Specialist, Office of Human Resources:

• Provide psychological support to individual personnel working in different geographic locations through tele-counselling services; deliver group sessions for offices and teams on issues of common concern; • Provide advice and other support to managers to help them ensure a psychologically healthy workplace. • Contribute to the design of policies and guidelines, as well as information / booklets to increase awareness about issues related to mental health and well-being; contribute to/develop promotional materials on key topics • Design and deliver workshops, trainings, and information sessions on a wide range of topics (e.g. stress management, domestic violence, mental health promotion etc) in Russian and English, to ensure that staff regularly receive relevant information and are aware of sources where to find information or assistance; • Prepare evidence-based written material on psychosocial issues of interest for UNDP personnel in Russian and English, including monthly newsletter, material for the Wellbeing App and the Wellbeing site. • Actively engage with management and staff with a view to identifying their concerns. • Prepare comprehensive reports, and plan and implement other staff counselling activities to ensure the provision of cohesive counselling services.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs

• Efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality counselling support rendered to UNDP personnel • A suite of tool, communication materials and reference materials developed for personnel and managers • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNDP mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

registration as a mental health professional in the country of origin is required. • Additional certification in trauma intervention, substance abuse counselling, cross-cultural communication is an advantage; • Experience in counselling victims of gender-based violence is an asset; • Fluent in English and Russian required. Working knowledge of another language is an asset. (Spanish, French, English, Portuguese and Arabic).

This position will be assigned to the following duty stations: Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey is an upper middle-income country, with highly-urbanized cities and well developed infrastructure systems. Most of Turkey is assessed to be at security level 1-Minimal. Security level 2 Low applies to Ankara and Istanbul.
Seismic activity remains one of the primary hazards in Turkey. Turkey’s population of nearly 81 million is almost entirely Muslim. Turkish is the official language. English predominates as the second language. The post will be located in Istanbul, which has a population of around 15M people, and straddles the European and Asian continents.
Istanbul is a UN Hub for the Europe and Central Asia Regional Offices of several UN agencies, including UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women among others. There is a lively and large group of international community. Istanbul International Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport have direct connections with all European, Central Asian and global cities. Istanbul provides modern services and entertainment opportunities and an elaborate medical services system. Healthcare is exceptionally good with various public and private hospitals with experienced doctors and medical staff, some of whom speak English. No specific vaccination is required to enter Turkey. Considering the rapidly changing pandemic situation in Istanbul, travellers should consult the receiving entity or the partner UN Agency, or UNDSS about the latest travel requirements/restrictions.