Stress Counsellor

Background

UNDSS is responsible for providing leadership, operational support and oversight of the security management system to enable the safest and most efficient conduct of the programmes and activities of the United Nations System.

The primary responsibility of the UNDSS Stress Counselor will be to develop a sustainable stress management system, providing psychosocial support services to UN AFP personnel in Eastern Conflict Area (ECA) of UKraine and to improve the critical incident stress management preparedness of the UN security management system.

Duties and Responsibilities

MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The overall goal of the assignment is to implement a wide range of stress management activities, including the UNDSS Critical Incident Stress Management Unit (CISMU) strategic framework on critical incident stress prevention and management; the United Nations Standard Operating Procedure on critical incident stress.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES/SCOPE OF WORK

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief Security Adviser (CSA), and the technical supervision of the CISMU Headquarter Regional Counsellor the incumbents will:

• Develop and implement a stress management plan for the UN Offices in the Eastern Conflict Area (ECA);
• Perform an ongoing assessment and monitor the determinants of stress in the UN Offices, as well as stress levels among the UN staff;
• Provide individual and group counseling sessions to the staff;
• Organize training sessions on stress and stress related issues for UN staff;
• In order to create the Critical Incident Stress Intervention Cell( CISIC) the locally based Stress Counsellor will organize peer helper training workshops for a selected group of UN staff jointly with the UNDSS CISMU and to follow up on their activities;
• Promote, plan and implement welfare activities for UN staff in the country;
• Identify, address and follow up on critical incident stress cases among the UN staff in the ECA;
• Travel regularly to the UN Offices/Sub-Offices in the country in order to implement preventative and mitigating stress management activities;
•  Conduct missions to other countries in the Region in case of need;
• Liaise with local experts and institutions in the country for referral, as well as with UN line managers, medical doctors, and local physicians in order to build a network of professionals ready to support and intervene in case of need;
• Advise the UN Management on stress culturally and gender sensitive mitigating strategies, decisions and activities;
• Provide monthly reports to the Security Advisor and to the UNDSS CISMU on all activities.
• Other activities as needed

Deliverables:

MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

The Contractor shall report to the UNDSS Chief Security Advisor. The payment shall be arranged in stages in accordance with the proposed payment scheme below and upon acceptance of the deliverables based on quality control and recommendations.

The Contractor shall provide the necessary information and reports according to a preliminary determined schedule or as soon as possible (within a reasonable period of time). UNDSS will be the ultimate authority to control the quality of work results and assess the Contractor’s performance during the assignment.

UNDP will provide payments upon provision of deliverables duly certified by UNDSS in accordance with the table above.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDSS;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;

• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS:

Common requirements to all applicants:

• Advanced university degree in Psychology (ClinicalPsychology or Counselling Psychology Master’s Degree or equivalent preferred ) or Psychiatry (MD);

• Certification or country-specific licensure authorizing the incumbent to deliver mental health services;

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in psychological counseling with special emphasis on critical incident stress; Experience in providing stress counselling within the United Nations system or any other International Organization is desirable;

• Fluency in verbal and written Ukrainian, Russian and English languages.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS:

• P11/CV, including information about experience in similar projects / assignments and contact details for referees.

• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP.

• Financial proposal.

• Agendas of three trainings conducted in the past by the applicant on the respective topic.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL:

 Lump sum contract

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).  

Travel costs

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Evaluation method: lowest priced technically compliant offer

• Advanced university degree inPsychology (ClinicalPsychology or Counselling Psychology Master’s Degree or equivalent preferred ) or Psychiatry (MD): pass/fail;

• Certification or country-specific licensure authorizing the incumbent to deliver mental health services: pass/fail;

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in psychological counseling with special emphasis on critical incident stress; Experience in providing stress counselling within the United Nations system or any other International Organization is desirable: pass/fail;

• Fluency in verbal and written Ukrainian, Russian and English languages: pass/fail.