Counsellor Educator

Vacancy Announcement

Doctors Without Borders India (DWBI) aims to provide medical assistance without any kind of discrimination including offer medical assistance during natural and manmade disasters through establishment of healthcare centers, implementing medical programs for critical illnesses on its own or with partners, working for creating medical awareness and capacity building and carry out/sponsor research to provide strategic input on relevant medical treatment options in India.

Position: COUNSELOR EDUCATOR
Job Location: Patna, Bihar
No. of position: 1
Project: Patna Advanced HIV
Duration: 01 year (Renewable)
Start Date: ASAP
Application closing date: 31 May 2023

We offer:

• Salary Gross 36,540 /- per month (non-negotiable)
• 18 days annual leave; 12 days paid leave as per specified list of holidays; Sick/Casual leave of 12 days as per calendar year (pro-rated based on hire date).
• Contributions made for statutory benefit programs such as Provident Fund.
• Covered under accident insurance
• DWBI provides medical reimbursement for employees and their dependents as per health care policy
• A stimulating, professional environment in an international organization.

PURPOSE OF POST:

Perform counseling and/or education sessions to patients, following different medical and mental health DWBI protocols and procedures, in order to improve their psychosocial condition.
Perform counselling and education sessions to patients’ post-test of HIV diagnosis and perform adherence counselling to ensure patients follow the treatment regime.

FUNCTIONAL AND HIERARCHICAL LINES

Hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Mental Health Activity Manager

ACCOUNTIBILITIES

Identify the psychosocial, socio-economic and administrative needs for patients
Actively promote the availability of counselling services and carry out, individual or in group counselling, basic psycho educational sessions, to patients, their families (when needed), in order to alleviate their psychosocial difficulties within the project scope.
Refer patients to other specialists or other institutions for further assistance, when necessary in order to propose the best support available.
Participate in the creation of any material needed for counselling activities and look after it,
Keep files and statistics of daily activities and participate in team meetings to share experiences and discuss special cases with other counsellors, preserving confidentiality
Inform line manager of any problem of any kind arising during the day-to-day activities.
Take active part in trainings, supervisions and support the activities manager when necessary in doing sensitization for DWBI staff or external partners about mental health /psychosocial issues. Discuss difficulties and problems in counselling with supervisor.


CONTEXT SPECIFIC ACCOUNIBILITIES

Main responsibilities and tasks:

To be part of the mobile team in order to:

• Actively promote the availability of counselling services.
• Provide person-centered care to clients, families and caregivers during the illness phase through to bereavement.
• Provide individual, partner, and family counselling as necessary and required.
• Provide counselling to clients and families in areas not limited to: stigma and self-esteem, dignity, adaptation to the illness and its consequences, social functioning, advocacy issues, relationships, communication, dealing with death and dying, grief and loss, spiritual distress/well-being, legacy work and culturally-based needs.
• Conduct basic psychological assessments to evaluate clients’ social and emotional status.
• Consult and collaborate with the medical team on psychiatric concerns and medication.
• Refer clients when necessary. Advocate and support access to community resources, providing in-formation and guidance.
• Conduct psycho-educational sessions as necessary and appropriate
• Oversee community social activities involving volunteer social workers.
• Provide post-test counselling sessions to individuals who have been recently diagnosed positive with HIV.
• Effectively using DWBI approved flipcharts to psycho educate the patients and/or their care-takers about HIV, CD4 and viral load.
• Provide psychoeducation with individual and group counselling on TB, Preventing Mother to child transmission and HIV diagnosis using flipcharts.
• Using counselling skills and education to address any stigma, discrimination of prejudice associated with HIV diagnosis.
• Refer patients to other specialists or other team (nurses, medical and mental health counsellor edu-cators) for further assistance, when necessary in order to propose the best support available,
• To work in GGSH whenever allocated by the MHAM and take part of grand round if needed.

Reporting:
• Keep systematic records of work and maintain confidentiality.
• Make regular reports of work to supervisor.
• Teamwork and continuing education:
• Take active part in trainings and continuing education opportunities.
• Participate in regular clinical supervision and team meetings (MDT, general staff meeting, MH team meeting, Medical meeting)

Specific skills
• Adheres to all standards, practices and policies regarding confidentiality and privacy of information, set forth by employer.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload & taking initiative when appropriate.
• Maintain good filing system.
• Good communication and social skills to connect with the community.
• Exhibits creativity & innovation.
• Able to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Ability to manage stress in adverse situations.
• Demonstrates flexibility in taking up tasks outside of regular job responsibilities as required.
• Willingness and ability to live and work in a rural setting.
• Understanding of MS Office especially Word, Excel & PowerPoint.

REQUIREMENTS


Education


Experience

Bachelor Degree in counselling, social sciences, psychology or other similar degree/diploma


Essential: Minimum 2 years of work experience of working in non-governmental organization or paramedical services
Desirable: Previous experience with terminal illness and palliative care counselling an asset Previous experience of working at DWBI

Languages

Competencies
Local language essential. Mission language desirable.

Commitment, Flexibility, Results, Teamwork


This job description may be amended in line in line with the activities or evolution of the organization.

To apply for the above position:

Please clearly state which position you are applying for and send CV and letter of motivation to apply for this position (with phone number) not later than 31 May 2023 to patna-hr-assist@oca.msf.org

Application without motivation letter will not be accepted.

Note: Due to high volume of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. MSF is an equal opportunity employer, and women candidates are encouraged to apply. We do not use any external recruitment consultants. Recruitment of local based candidates will be prioritized.

Local candidates will be given priority for the recruitment. However we encourage applications from any interested Indian candidate.
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