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.

UNMISS was established in 2011 under the auspices of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO); subsequently, UNMISS mandate has been renewed through resolutions 2057 (2012), 2109 (2013), 2155 (2014), 2187 (2014), 2223 (2015), 2241 (Dec. 2015), 2304 (2016) and 2327 (2016), 2392 (Dec. 2017), 2406 (Mar. 2018), 2459 (Mar. 2019), 2514 (Mar. 2020), 2567 (Mar. 2021).

Under the direct supervision of Chief Staff Counsellor or Designated Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Acting as a clinical counselling resource to personnel requiring psychological assistance via self, supervisor, or medical referral and performing clinical follow-up; • Providing critical stress management services following critical incidents or other traumatic events as well as for secondary trauma; • Conducting psychosocial assessments making recommendations to the Chief, Counselling Unit or Designated Officer; • Ensuring all personnel have access to counselling services, including travel to County Support Bases in South Sudan where UNMISS personnel are deployed; • Collaborating with the Medical, Conduct & Discipline, Gender, Security, HIV/AIDS, Human Re-sources, UNV programme or other Sections by providing supportive interventions on individual cases upon request, and developing strategic relationships with Senior Management; • Coordinating clinical activities with Civilian and Military Staff Counsellors, Contingent and State Civilian/Military/Police/Staff Clinical focal points; • Providing conflict resolution sessions upon request; • Facilitating greater use of peer support within the organization through the establishment, training, and empowerment of peer support groups, such as Peer Helpers; • Compiling and/or developing information resources that can be made available to personnel including on-line and power point training material, self-help material, and information on other local services available; • Providing stress management induction/briefing to new staff members; • Liaising with other UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) under the Department of Safety and Security (DSS) umbrella in the State regarding clinical and training activities; • Monitoring the stress management programme implementation via data collection including com-piling daily clinical statistics, analysis and documentation; • Reporting to the Chief Counselling Unit on all activities; • Any other related task assigned by the Chief, Counselling Unit or Designated Officer.

Results/Expected Outputs: • All assigned tasks undertaken with utmost confidentiality. Breach of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action; • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment such as specific quantification of mobilized volunteers, activities, capacities.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • 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 in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • 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 capacity development activities and transfer of skills to national personnel during the assignment; • 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.

• Integrity and professionalism • Accountability • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Communication • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

providing clinical services including Counselling; Experience in providing clinical services including Counselling, Trauma and Stress Management, etc; A minimum of two-years experience working in an international and multi-cultural environment; Having a valid driver’s license and proven ability to drive manual gear 4x4 vehicles will be an advantage; Solid computer skills, including full proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word etc) and other IT applications and office technology equipment; Web based management a plus.

Living conditions vary between UNMISS duty stations. Each duty station where UNMISS has a field presence has basic residential camp facilities, which includes running water and electricity. Candidates should be aware that accommodation may be austere with the possibility of water shortages and power blackouts. On arrival in Juba accommodation will be on a share basis. Ablutions will also be shared. As the accommodation situation improves single unit accommodation, with an attached ablution, should become available in all locations. Hard wall accommodation is available in Juba.

All UNMISS duty stations apart from Entebbe, Uganda are considered non - family duty stations. The security level of UNMISS duty stations is classified by the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) who will brief on arrival. A number of locations in South Sudan are prone to conflict.

Primary health care services (preventive and curative) are provided in 11 United Nations Owned Equipment (UNOE) Level-I clinics, 21 Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) Level-I clinics, 4 COE Level-II medical facilities within the mission area and the establishment of contractual agreements for Level-III and Level-IIII care outside the mission area. The 4 Level-II facilities available in Juba, Bor, Malakal and Wau, run by the Troop Contributing Countries (TCC), take referrals from the Level-I clinics and provide hospital-based care.

The climate is tropical with a rainy season in many areas, which should normally span from around April to October. Ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions is essential.