Staff Counsellor

Mission and objectives

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM – UN Migration) is a related organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM’s operations cover diverse thematic areas such as: Humanitarian Relief Assistance, Protection (including Gender based Violence and Child Protection), Shelter and Non-food items, Health and Psychosocial Support, Resettlement, and Movement Management.

Context

This assignment is part of IOM’s Country Office in Germany, and based in our sub-office in Kaiserslautern, where IOM is engaged in a humanitarian project, carried out with different partners on the ground.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will:

• Provide psychological counselling and support, confidential one-to-one and group sessions, to staff members and dependents.

• Conduct psychosocial risk assessments in the workplace and help, as appropriate, to address highlighted issues.

• Suggest to the CoM and relevant stakeholders, improvements for the effective implementation of the UN Mental Health Strategy in the Country Office.

• Participate in and, when required, coordinate Staff Welfare responses to emergencies and critical incidents; liaise with the Senior Staff Welfare Officer in case of complex emergencies requiring a coordinated response; ensure that Country Office security plans include provisions to provide for the psychosocial needs of staff during emergencies and following critical incidents;.

• Develop and provide training to all staff on relevant topics including stress management, emotional processing, dealing with critical incidents, wellbeing; provide targeted training to managers to increase their knowledge and skills to create a supportive working environment and increase awareness on mental health.

• Produce psycho-educational material for dissemination.

• Work with colleagues to develop preventative initiatives (e.g. preparing for critical incidents).

• Offer managerial consultations to address specific needs on request and/or to explore avenues of enhancing humanitarian staff wellbeing and mental health in accordance with the UN Mental Health Strategy.

• Identify and liaise with local regional mental health resources that can be used for referrals or in times of crisis; refer staff members who are in crisis and require emergency psychological and/psychiatric support to appropriate external providers.

• Ensure that reports and other administrative duties are carried out to a professional standard; develop tools for data collection, analysis, monitoring and reporting mechanisms at the Country Office level, maintain records and produce regular reports; keep the Senior Staff Welfare Officer in HQ updated on numbers and statistics of services provided in the Country Office.

• Participate in Staff Welfare meetings and activities (monthly group supervision, team coordination meetings, team retreats, etc.).

• Undertake duty travel to various duty stations of the mission or very challenging areas when necessary.

• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);

• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;

• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.

• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;

• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;

• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs:

• As an active IOM team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to IOM and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

o Responsible for the implementation of the staff welfare activities in IOM Germany;

o Built a trust based relationship with staff members of our mission;

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Clinical Psychology, Counselling, Social Work or a related field from an accredited academic institution is required.

• 5 years of experience in the field of mental health is required.

• Experience with other UN Agencies, International Humanitarian Organizations or Employee Assistant Programs considered essential; demonstrated familiarity with the impact of working conditions of humanitarian workers on their well-being is desired.

• Experience of working in hardship duty station or providing counselling services to staff working in very difficult and hazardous environments is desired.

• English, Level: Fluent, Required

• German, Level: Fair, Required

UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances:

The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos).

For information specific to your assignment please see below:

Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations of the monthly post adjustment.

Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): EUR 3206.5

Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400

Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): EUR 267.21

Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance

Leave entitlements:

Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month

Certified sick leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle.

Uncertified sick leave: 7 days for 12 months and 4 days for shorter assignments

Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months (shorter assignments are prorated) Maternity Leave: 16 weeks

Paternity Leave: 10 days

Apply before 19 September 2024.