Psychosocial Counsellor at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

Background

• COOPI started its operations in North-East Nigeria in July 2014 to carry out a rapid evaluation of the most relevant constraints suffered by the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) displaced by the food crisis and the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.
• COOPI’s aim is to support the most basic and pressing needs of communities affected by the violence. Despite the challenges presented by the security situation and the remoteness of the area, COOPI is providing a multi-sectoral emergency response to the victims of Boko Haram focused on food security, nutrition, protection and education.

Scope of the Vacancy

• The Psychosocial Counsellor will to provide a range of therapeutic counselling services to children, adolescents and their families in the urban area of Maiduguri.
• He/She will promote access to specialized protection services, education, nutrition, health facilities within the community.

Main Duties / Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Protection Officer, he/she:

• Provide individual, group and family counselling services to the beneficiaries as necessary
• Carry out awareness sessions on child rights in the IDPs camps, primary schools, Child Friendly Spaces, Youth Clubs
• Ensure all cases of children at risk are addressed on all levels and ensure that local communities are aware of all existing CP services available.
• Identify capacity building needs and gaps in CP and PSS support in the target areas.
• Ensure child rights violations are monitored, recorded and reported
• Map all care specialized services available within the community or in its proximity for referral
• Identify what are the cases that can be responded through community mechanisms
• Facilitate parenting or caregivers support groups
• Develop creative interventions based on needs presented by the community
• Organizes recreational activities and community events to promote access to education and child’s rights
• Any other related duties as assigned from time to time.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Education, Psychology or other relevant field
• Prior experience (at least 3 years) working in complex emergency context as Social Worker, Case worker Supervisor, Psychologist
• Experience in case management, group facilitation and direct practice with vulnerable groups
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing individual, group and family counselling services
• Fluency in English
• Good communicator, strong listening capacity, open minded, proactive and creative
• Respectful and inclusive of individual and cultural differences
• Significant experience involving work engaging people in and from community settings
• Knowledge of and adherence to COOPI Code of Conduct
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of beneficiaries’ files
• Knowledge of the local language (Hausa and Kanuri)

Preferred:

• Good knowledge of the intervention area/s and local context