Mental Health - Counselor Educator

Introduction about MSF:

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)  is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people in 70 countries who are affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation and our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.

We offer basic healthcare, perform surgery, fight epidemics, rehabilitate and run hospitals and clinics, carry out vaccination campaigns, operate nutrition centers, and provide mental healthcare. Our activities include the treatment of injuries and disease, maternal care and the provision of humanitarian aid. Where necessary, we set up sanitation systems, supply safe drinking water, and distribute relief to assist survival.

Responsibilities:

• Carry out  screening, education, awareness, and basic supportive counselling services in both clinical and community based settings.
• Identify the psychosocial, socio-economic and administrative needs for patients
• Actively promote the availability of counseling services and carry out, individual or in group counseling, basic psycho educational sessions, to patients, their families (when needed), in order to alleviate their psychosocial  difficulties within the project scope.
• Refer patients to other specialists or other institutions for further assistance, when necessary in order to propose the best support available.
• Participate in the creation of any material needed for counseling activities and look after it,
• Keep files  and statistics of daily activities and participate in team meetings to share experiences and discuss special cases with other counselors, preserving confidentiality
• Inform line manager of any problem of any kind arising during the day-to-day activities.
• Take active part in trainings, supervisions/intervisions and support the activities manager when necessary in doing sensitization for MSF staff or external partners about mental health /psychosocial issues.
• Discuss difficulties and problems in counseling with supervisor

Education

• Counseling, social work, psychology or other similar degree/diploma.

Experience

• 1 year experience essential. Experience with NGO desirable.

Languages      

• Local language: Arabic essential.
• English – basic level of reading, speaking and writting . essential
• French: is an asset