Counselling Psychologist

HIAS is a global Jewish nonprofit organization working across five continents to ensure that refugees and displaced persons are protected. Throughout the United States, we help refugees reunite with families, resettle, and become self-sufficient. Guided by our values and history, we help refugees rebuild their lives in safety and security and advocate to ensure that all displaced people are treated with dignity.

Position Summary: The Counselor is responsible for delivering on-site and remote Mental Health and Psychosocial Support services (MHPSS), including responding to incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) in a timely, survivor-centered, and caring manner. The Counselor works with GBV survivors, women engaging in survival sex, community partners, service providers and local authorities to prevent gender-based violence incidents from happening and to ensure that GBV survivors know which services are available to them and how to access them. In addition, the counselor will provide on-site and remote individual and group support to other forcibly displaced people and vulnerable migrants to have improved mental health and psychosocial well-being helping them to access their rights. This goal may be achieved through three key outcome areas: (1) Family, community, and social structures; (2) promoting the psychosocial well-being and resilience of individuals and communities to develop healthy coping mechanisms; and (3) Individuals in need of mental health and psychosocial support utilize appropriate specific care, including referrals to specialty care when necessary.

The Counselor will report to the GBV Coordinator and will work in coordination with the GBV and the Protection Officer if required.

Essential Functions:

1. Provide individual and group counselling services and other short term therapeutic services to beneficiaries referred by HIAS officers and other stakeholders.

2. Conduct psychosocial counselling to GBV survivors and other refugees experiencing other forms of trauma using highest levels of confidentiality and professional ethics and etiquette. 3. Implement activities that are sensitive to the needs of vulnerable individuals. This includes, among others, psychological first aid, support, or self-help groups and other recreational and/or social support activities for the population. 4. Together with the GBV Coordinator plan workshops, trainings and capacity building for community mobilizers, leaders, and service providers. 5. Contribute to the development of a reliable referral system with service providers in Guyana including governmental institutions, civil society, and the private sector. 6. Collaborate closely with the GBV and Protection Officer to provide outreach to encourage survivors to come forward and seek assistance. 7. Work collaboratively with other agencies providing services to Venezuelan refugees/migrants and other displaced persons. 8. Provides accurate, timely and consistent analysis and reporting to Program Manager on program activities. 9. Prepare and maintain a tracker for all activities conducted. 10. Ensure constant and accurate upkeep of data (physical and electronic) to reflect the status of persons of concern by checking that all data fields are filled in properly; manages and updates beneficiary files, as necessary. 11. Perform other duties as required

Qualifications & requirements:

• University degree in Clinical Psychology, Social Psychology, or related field with at least 2 years of experience counseling, supporting survivors and/or social work experience. • Fluency in Spanish and English required. • Familiarity with MHPSS and GBV IASC guidelines. • Extensive knowledge of group facilitation techniques and experience. • Demonstrated understanding of gender and gender equality. • Ability to develop work plans, meet deadlines and capture program progress for donor reports. • Strong motivation to humanitarian work, service-oriented mindset, and sense of accountability to the populations HIAS serves. • Demonstrated ability to think creatively and critically. • Sense of initiative and capacity to work autonomously. • Excellent computer skills; proficiency in Microsoft office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook). • Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills. • Must be a team player and able to work with a range of diverse, vulnerable populations understanding of community-based approach required. • Experience working with refugee will be an added advantage. • The candidate should have keen awareness and good knowledge of psychosocial issues and the complexities of working on these issues with a refugee population. • Ability to uphold the highest level of integrity and confidentiality. • Passionate about HIAS’ mission and values.

Disclaimer:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required or permanent location. Location is subject to change based on programmatic needs. Flexibility is essential as we grow and develop. The successful candidate must be comfortable in a fast-paced, changing work environment with many crucial deadlines. All team members may be required to perform duties outside of their normal work hours of responsibilities as needed.

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.