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.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan was established in 2002 as a political Peace Keeping mission, directed and supported by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Missions – DPKO. Staff Counselling provides counselling services to cope with crises, manage relationships and develop better ways of relating to others. What can we help with is stress, depression, anxiety, anger, alcohol or substance problems, balancing work and personal life. Decision making & managing change, adjusting to new circumstances and parent/child/partner/colleague conflict.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Chief Staff Counsellening and Welfare Unit,the UN Volunter will be responsible for :

Clinical: • Assessing personnel (includes all mission personnel: intarnational and national staff; UN Volunteers; contractors and Agencies Funds and Programmes personnel in emergency cases) wellbeing and psychosocial needs and making recommendations to the Chief, Staff Counselling and Welfare or designated officer. • Conducting individual or group defusing and emotional first aid following critical incidents or other traumatic events as well as for secondary trauma. • Providing appropriate referral following critical incidents Medical, Counselling, Security, Human Resources, or Conduct and Discipline offices as appropriate. • Acting as a clinical counselling resource to personnel requiring psychological assistance via self, supervisor, or medical referral. • Performing clinical follow-up. • Producing e-bulletins and other educational material. • Writing reports and update statistics. • Ensuring all personnel has access to counselling services. This will include traveling to Field Offices in Afghanistan where UNAMA personnel are deployed. Collaborating with the Medical, Administration, Security, Human Resources or other Sections by providing supportive intervention on individual cases upon request and develop strategic relationships with Senior Management. Wellbeing: • Supporting collobaration between Staff Counselling and Welfare in the mission, e.g. organizing healthy living activities, recreational clubs, café/bar, exercise and meditation classes, speaker series, play readings, training, and other wellbeing activities and events in collaboration with the Welfare committee. • Attending and actively participating in meetings of the Welfare Committee. • Helping the Welfare committee in developing and maintaining a library including arranging the loan as well as rotation of books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs whenever it is necessary. Training: • Facilitating greater use of peer support network 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 staff including on-line and power point training material, self-help material, and information on other local services available. • Providing an induction/briefing to new personnel in the mission. e.g. introduction to local culture, wellbeing/recreational activities and facilities, local markets, and restaurants, in collaboration with the Welfare etc. • Creating and distributing wellbeing pamphlets/posters and material.

Administrative • Monitoring the stress management program implementation via data collection including compiling daily clinical statistics, analysis, and documentation. • Reporting to the Chief Staff Counsellor, on all activities. • Performing other related tasks assigned by Chief, Staff Counselling, or designated officer.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNAMA; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNAMA procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNAMA in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNAMA mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Experience in providing clinical services including Counselling, Trauma Debriefing, and Stress Management, etc.

Afghanistan is a hardship duty station with volatile security. Living and working conditions for UN volunteers in UNAMA are similar to the living conditions of all other internationally recruited staff members. UN volunteers are provided with safe accommodation in an extensive compound in Kabul with good infrastructure and amenities. The mission has three compounds in Kabul: Compound Alpha, and UNOCA (UN Operational Complex in Afghanistan) the largest one.

UNAMA has three different locations in Kabul, most of the substantive offices, including the SRSG’s are located at the so-called alpha Compound and Palace #7, which is close to the city center, while most of the administrative and technical support offices are located at the UNOCA compound on Jalalabad Road, at some distance from central Kabul.

Generally speaking, stringent security measures are in place throughout the country and UN volunteers as other UN staff, are quite limited to duty stations when it comes to movement. Walking is virtually not allowed. The movement is done inside the “green zone” (only) in armored vehicles driven by national qualified UN drivers.

The single unit accommodation in UNOCA and other field locations are fully furnished; this includes, furniture, washing machine dryer, hot plate, iron and iron stand, microwave, plates, cups, spoons, cooking utensils, electric kettle. One bedsheet and pillow cover is provided. The monthly charge for UN provided accommodation is USD 300 which is deducted from the monthly Volunteer Living Allowance. Inside the UNOCA compound are two cafeterias, a restaurant, a Supermarket and 3 small shops which provide a variety of imported canned and frozen food on offer. There is a Fresh vegetable market daily. There is also a social center, a gym hall and a small library with books and DVDs, run by the welfare Office, within the same compound. UNOCA has a new minimarket where basic goods can be bought also. There are also a number of UN cleared supermarkets in Kabul, in Jalalabad, and in Mazar-I-Sharif. The Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own towel and other personal accessories including toiletries and medicines which they may not find easily within the supermarkets inside the UNOCA Compound.

Some degree of medical service is provided in all UNAMA duty stations. There is a UN clinic in UNAMA/UNOCA complex, and access is granted in Kabul to other private international clinics (when and if needed).

Contact with and outreach to the local community is usually limited. As mentioned, many places are off-limits, and the choice of recreational facilities are very poor. For all these reasons, bring a stock of books, DVDs/VCDs, computer games, etc., is highly recommended.

Summer in Afghanistan is hot and dry, but winter is the opposite – cold and wet. Therefore, both summer and winter clothing and comfortable boots with insulation are necessary.

Afghanistan is a unique country and UNAMA is a unique UN mission. It requires more stamina, commitment, and flexibility than elsewhere to make life comfortable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in hazardous and harsh conditions involving physical hardship and little comfort is essential