War Child Canada is a registered Canadian charity based in Toronto that works to accelerate peace and disrupt the cycle of violence by investing in and empowering local communities to build brighter futures through comprehensive, evidence-informed programs that foster resilience, self-reliance, and self-determination.

War Child Canada is globally recognized for our grassroots, community-driven model of humanitarian action that’s rooted in collaboration and entirely locally led. We have developed a solid track record of long-term, sustainable impact supporting children and families living in areas dominated by conflict and crises.

War Child’s flagship Afghanistan program advances social impact in the lives of vulnerable children, women, and their families through its humanitarian and development programming in Protection, Health, Education and Livelihood sectors in various provinces of Afghanistan.

The Psychosocial Support Counselor is an essential member of the Child Protection project team, responsible for providing comprehensive psychosocial support, including counseling and referral services, to children at CFSs and within communities. Additionally, the PSS Counselor will strengthen the capacity of Community Mobilizers, and CFS Facilitators by training them in foundational PSS principles and practices. This capacity-building effort will enhance their ability to identify and support children in need of Psychosocial Support services.

The PSS counsellor will mainly be responsible for the following:

1. Planning and Materials Development:

• Develop and execute field activity plans in collaboration with the Child Protection Officer and project team.
• Review and enhance existing PSS materials, tailoring them to address the needs of beneficiaries, including stress and depression reduction.
• Adjust and adapt PSS training content to ensure relevance to the specific context and needs of the targeted communities.

2. Capacity Building and Training:

• Conduct training sessions for CFS facilitators on PSS techniques and skills to enhance their capacity.
• Facilitate pre-developed psychosocial training plans and workshops for families, community leaders, parents, teachers, and children in targeted communities.

3. Psychosocial Support Delivery:

• Identify and assess beneficiaries requiring psychosocial support, ensuring comprehensive intake and post-session evaluations.
• Provide PSS support to individuals, families, and groups, focusing on emotional well-being and resilience.
• Conduct case management, including admission assessments, individualized care planning, follow-ups, and case closure as necessary.
• Facilitate timely referral and follow-up of cases requiring additional specialized services.
• Provide ongoing technical advice and support to the project team, ensuring effective delivery of PSS services.

4. Reporting and Professional Development:

• Maintain accurate documentation of activities, including beneficiary records, assessments, and progress reports.
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities, demonstrating a commitment to learning and enhancing PSS knowledge and skills.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the supervisor, within the scope of project objectives and responsibilities.

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant discipline (e.g. General Psychology, Counselling, Mental Health).
• Additional qualification or certification in Mental Health, Psychology, Counseling or in another relevant field is highly desirable

Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in psychosocial support or mental health services, preferably in humanitarian or development contexts.
• Demonstrated experience working with children, families, and communities in need of psychosocial or child protection support.
• Proven ability to conduct assessments, develop individualized care plans, and provide PSS interventions to vulnerable populations.
• Experience in supervising and building the capacity of field teams, including community mobilizers and CFS facilitators.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong communication, counseling, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse groups.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities under pressure.
• Ability to develop culturally sensitive materials and adapt interventions to local contexts.
• Proficiency in reporting, data collection, and analysis to monitor the effectiveness of PSS interventions.
• Fluency in local languages (Dari and Pashto) and proficiency in English is required.
• Commitment to upholding child safeguarding policies, PSEA standards, and humanitarian principles.

War Child Canada is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified Afghan women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interested applicants are invited to complete the application process using the link below. If the link does not work when clicked, please copy and paste it into your browser's address bar:

https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/3QUAKLuq