Staff Counsellor

JOB TITLE: Staff Counsellor

GRADE: Consultant level II

TYPE OF CONTRACT: International Consultant

DURATION: 11 months

DUTY STATION: Bangkok, Thailand

VACANCY NUMBER: 828220

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 7 July 2023

DEADLINE OF APPLICATION: 23 July 2023

JOB PURPOSE

The main role of the Staff Counsellor is to support the Regional Staff Counselling team in providing efficient and effective psychological support to WFP employees and their official dependents in Asia and the Pacific. A large emphasis is placed on extensive engagement with staff and promotion of staff wellbeing in times of crisis.

The Staff Counsellor will support the RBB Wellness Team in providing holistic and collaborative support to our WFP population. A large emphasis is placed on extensive engagement across the region and promoting wellbeing across multiple thematic areas.

The Staff Counsellor will report functionally and administratively to the Regional Staff Counsellor in the WFP Regional Bureau of Bangkok. The position will be based in Bangkok and have a regional remit. Travel is required to country offices within the region, including to remote and difficult locations, and on short notice at times of critical emergencies.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Provide culturally sensitive counselling services to WFP employees and eligible dependent, which includes case management, individual and group sessions, and trainings.
• Provide active psychological support including during emergencies and/or after critical incidents to ensure continued staff well-being and that managers & staff are provided with the effective support to manage change.
• Participate in crisis response, provide crisis counselling to individuals and/or groups during emergencies and after critical incidents, and ensure follow up support;
• Provide pre and post deployment briefings to staff deployed to hardship duty stations through briefings, counselling sessions and other activities to ensure proactive support is extended to staff.
• Work closely with WFP Regional Staff Counsellor to develop Psychosocial contingency plan(s) for WFP across Asia & the Pacific region – when and if needed.
• Support the Regional Staff Counsellor in identifying workplace psychosocial hazards by assessing the needs, including ongoing and anticipated needs.
• Contribute to the design of policies and guidelines, as well as information materials to increase awareness and promote staff wellness.
• Contribute to building a mental health referral network of professionals to facilitate culturally appropriate psychosocial support for WFP employees in the region. Refer to external mental health professionals and relevant services when needed, coordinating case management support as needed.
• Contribute to advising the WFP Management in RBB of potential impacts on organizational health.
• Support and maintain the WFP Wellness Support Volunteer Network (WSV) through training and supervision.
• Contribute to building the content of WFP Wellbeing App (Country pages & general resources).
• Maintain the highest ethical standards related to the provision of psychological services consistent with the Wellness Division Ethical Guidelines and Standards of Practice Complete administrative duties, such as maintaining statistics on implemented activities and completing reporting requirements as per requirements of the Staff Wellness Division.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Doctorate, Masters or equivalent) in Psychology, Psychiatry or demonstrably equivalent studies.
• The candidate must be licensed/registered or equivalent with a governing body as a mental health professional. Additional training or certification in a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, critical incident stress, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, mediation, trauma etc. will be an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum six (6) years of progressively responsible professional post graduate experience relevant to the field is required.
• Experience either working in a hardship location or providing counselling services to staff working under very difficult and insecure environments.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Broad knowledge of all facets of the field of counselling and ability to provide an environment in which others can talk confidentially and act without fear or repercussions within a climate of established trust.
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentations) including the ability to defend and explain difficult issues and positions to staff at all levels.
• Ability to identify clients’ needs and suggest appropriate solutions.
• Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients.
• Very good working knowledge of technology tools such as PowerPoint, Excel and Word.
• Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries and establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Languages: Proficiency in writing and verbal communication in English, with intermediate knowledge of another UN language advantageous.

All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behaviour aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely:
• Leading by example with integrity,
• Driving results and delivering on commitments,
• Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork,
• Applying strategic thinking,
• Building and maintaining sustainable partnerships.

ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.