2. Purpose of the Position
The MHPSS Counsellor will provide basic mental health and psychosocial support services to beneficiaries attending the assigned SHC. The position will focus on providing psychological first aid (PFA), basic psychosocial counselling, supportive listening, identification of MHPSS needs, appropriate referral, follow-up, and psychosocial awareness. The counsellor will support individuals and families experiencing stress, anxiety, grief, trauma-related distress, emotional difficulties, and other psychosocial challenges within the scope of the services and competencies available at the health facility. The position will work closely with doctors, nurses, midwives, nutrition counsellors, vaccinators, community health workers, and other health facility personnel to ensure that MHPSS is appropriately integrated into primary healthcare services.
3. Key Responsibilities
3.1 MHPSS Counselling and Support
- Provide basic psychosocial counselling to eligible beneficiaries attending the SHC.
- Provide supportive listening and a safe, respectful, and confidential environment for beneficiaries.
- Provide psychological first aid to individuals experiencing acute distress, where appropriate and within the counsellor's training and scope of practice.
- Support beneficiaries experiencing stress, anxiety, grief, trauma-related distress, family difficulties, and other psychosocial challenges.
- Assist beneficiaries in identifying practical and positive coping mechanisms.
- Provide information about available community and specialized support services.
- Ensure that counselling is culturally appropriate and responsive to the needs of beneficiaries.
- Maintain professional boundaries throughout all counselling interactions.
- Provide services without discrimination based on gender, age, disability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.
3.2 Identification and Basic Assessment of MHPSS Needs
- Identify individuals who may require MHPSS support during health facility visits.
- Conduct appropriate basic psychosocial assessment in accordance with approved procedures and the counsellor's training.
- Identify signs of significant psychological distress or other concerns requiring further assessment.
- Identify beneficiaries who may require specialized mental health or protection services.
- Assess immediate psychosocial needs and provide appropriate first-line support.
- Identify urgent or high-risk situations and immediately follow established referral and escalation procedures.
- Maintain appropriate documentation of assessments and counselling sessions while protecting confidentiality.
3.3 Referral and Follow-Up
- Establish and maintain knowledge of available referral services within the project area.
- Refer beneficiaries requiring specialized mental health, medical, protection, or other services to appropriate providers.
- Coordinate referrals with the Facility In-Charge and relevant health personnel while maintaining client confidentiality.
- Explain referral options and procedures clearly to beneficiaries and caregivers.
- Follow up on referred beneficiaries where appropriate and permitted under project procedures.
- Maintain confidential referral and follow-up records.
- Report referral barriers and gaps in available services to the supervisor.
- Support continuity of care for beneficiaries requiring ongoing assistance.
4. Psychological First Aid (PFA)
The MHPSS Counsellor will:
- Provide PFA to beneficiaries experiencing acute emotional or psychological distress.
- Ensure a calm, safe, and respectful environment during PFA.
- Listen to beneficiaries without judgment.
- Help beneficiaries identify immediate practical needs and available sources of support.
- Provide accurate and appropriate information.
- Link beneficiaries with relevant services and community support.
- Avoid practices that may cause further distress or harm.
- Refer beneficiaries requiring specialized clinical or mental health intervention to qualified services.
The counsellor shall provide services within their professional competencies and shall not independently diagnose or manage conditions beyond their qualifications and approved scope of practice.
5. Individual and Family Psychosocial Support
- Provide basic individual counselling to beneficiaries presenting with psychosocial concerns.
- Provide appropriate family-level psychosocial support when required.
- Promote healthy communication and positive coping strategies.
- Support beneficiaries in strengthening existing family and community support systems.
- Provide counselling related to stress management and emotional wellbeing.
- Support beneficiaries to identify practical strategies for managing common psychosocial challenges.
- Provide appropriate psychoeducation regarding mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.
- Encourage timely care-seeking when symptoms or concerns require further professional intervention.
6. Community-Based MHPSS and Awareness
The MHPSS Counsellor will support appropriate community-level activities, including:
- Conducting MHPSS awareness and psychoeducation sessions.
- Promoting positive coping mechanisms and community-based support.
- Raising awareness about common mental health and psychosocial concerns.
- Addressing harmful misconceptions and stigma related to mental health.
- Promoting early help-seeking and appropriate referral.
- Working with community health workers to identify individuals who may require MHPSS services.
- Promoting supportive family and community environments.
- Providing information about available MHPSS and referral services.
All community activities must be conducted in accordance with approved project plans and culturally appropriate approaches.
7. Integration with Primary Healthcare Services
The MHPSS Counsellor will work closely with the SHC health team to integrate MHPSS into routine healthcare services.
Responsibilities include:
- Coordinate with doctors, nurses, midwives, nutrition counsellors, vaccinators, and other health workers.
- Support identification of psychosocial concerns among patients attending routine health services.
- Provide MHPSS services to eligible beneficiaries referred by health facility staff.
- Refer health conditions identified during counselling to qualified clinical personnel when appropriate.
- Participate in multidisciplinary case discussions when necessary and permitted, while maintaining confidentiality.
- Contribute to a holistic, client-centered approach to healthcare.
- Promote the integration of mental health and psychosocial considerations into health and nutrition services.
8. SHC-Specific Responsibilities
Each of the five MHPSS Counsellors will be assigned to one Static Health Center.
The counsellor will:
- Establish and maintain an appropriate counselling space at the assigned SHC.
- Ensure that counselling is conducted in a private and confidential environment.
- Provide MHPSS counselling to eligible beneficiaries.
- Support PFA and basic psychosocial interventions.
- Conduct appropriate identification and assessment of MHPSS needs.
- Maintain confidential counselling records.
- Coordinate referrals with the SHC clinical team.
- Participate in health facility meetings and technical discussions.
- Conduct MHPSS awareness sessions where included in the approved work plan.
- Coordinate with community health workers regarding appropriate identification and referral.
- Participate in supportive supervision and technical training.
- Report service delivery, referral, and follow-up information according to established procedures.
9. Case Management and Continuity of Support
Within the scope of the position and approved project procedures, the MHPSS Counsellor will:
- Support beneficiaries requiring continued psychosocial assistance.
- Develop appropriate follow-up plans for beneficiaries requiring additional support.
- Maintain accurate and confidential case documentation.
- Monitor progress during follow-up sessions.
- Adjust counselling and support approaches based on beneficiary needs and supervisor guidance.
- Refer cases requiring specialized intervention.
- Ensure appropriate handover or referral when the counsellor is unable to continue providing support.
- Maintain continuity of care while respecting beneficiary consent and confidentiality.
10. Documentation, Data Collection and Reporting
The MHPSS Counsellor will:
- Maintain accurate records of MHPSS services provided.
- Document counselling sessions according to approved HDDO procedures.
- Maintain confidential referral and follow-up records.
- Submit routine activity reports to the designated supervisor.
- Provide required information to the M&E/MEAL team for project indicator tracking.
- Participate in data verification and quality assurance activities.
- Ensure that personal and sensitive beneficiary information is protected.
- Report any data-quality concerns or documentation gaps to the supervisor.
- Contribute to monthly, quarterly, and other project reporting requirements as requested.
Only appropriate aggregated or authorized information should be shared for project reporting purposes.
11. Quality Assurance and Professional Practice
The MHPSS Counsellor shall:
- Deliver services in accordance with applicable Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) guidance, relevant humanitarian MHPSS standards, and HDDO procedures.
- Work within the limits of professional qualifications and competencies.
- Participate in supervision and technical support sessions.
- Seek guidance from supervisors when dealing with complex or high-risk cases.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Apply ethical principles in all counselling activities.
- Use appropriate and culturally sensitive communication approaches.
- Maintain a safe and respectful counselling environment.
- Follow infection prevention and control measures applicable to the health facility.
12. Safeguarding, PSEA and Protection
The MHPSS Counsellor must:
- Fully comply with HDDO's Code of Conduct, PSEA policy, safeguarding procedures, and other relevant policies.
- Treat all beneficiaries with dignity and respect.
- Maintain professional boundaries with beneficiaries.
- Never exploit or abuse beneficiaries or use the counselling relationship for personal benefit.
- Never request or accept inappropriate payments, gifts, favors, or services.
- Maintain confidentiality and respect informed consent.
- Report safeguarding concerns through established reporting mechanisms.
- Follow appropriate procedures for responding to protection concerns.
- Apply a child-safe and survivor-centered approach where relevant.
- Ensure that services are provided without discrimination.
13. Confidentiality and Data Protection
Due to the sensitive nature of MHPSS services, strict confidentiality is required.
The counsellor shall protect:
- Beneficiary identity and personal information
- Counselling records
- Mental health and psychosocial information
- Referral information
- Case follow-up information
- Family and household information
- Any other sensitive project or beneficiary information
Information may only be shared with authorized personnel when necessary for legitimate service delivery, referral, safeguarding, or reporting purposes and in accordance with HDDO procedures and applicable confidentiality requirements.
14. Coordination and Teamwork
The MHPSS Counsellor will coordinate closely with:
- Project Manager
- Project Health and Nutrition Officer
- Facility In-Charge
- MD Doctor
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Nutrition Counsellors
- Vaccinators
- Community Health Workers
- M&E/MEAL staff
- Relevant health authorities and referral service providers, as appropriate
The counsellor is expected to contribute to an integrated health service delivery approach while maintaining the confidentiality of beneficiaries.
15. Field, Security and Operational Responsibilities
Although the five MHPSS Counsellors are based at SHCs, they may participate in approved community awareness, referral, or outreach activities when required by the project work plan.
The counsellor must:
- Follow HDDO security procedures and instructions.
- Participate in security briefings when required.
- Immediately report security incidents and access constraints.
- Follow approved travel procedures.
- Avoid unauthorized travel or activities.
- Maintain professional conduct in all project locations.
- Adapt service delivery approaches to changing humanitarian and security circumstances.
16. Key Deliverables
The MHPSS Counsellor is expected to contribute to:
- Regular and quality MHPSS counselling services at the assigned SHC.
- Psychological first aid for beneficiaries experiencing acute distress, where appropriate.
- Identification of individuals requiring MHPSS assistance.
- Appropriate referral of beneficiaries requiring specialized services.
- Follow-up and continuity of psychosocial support.
- MHPSS awareness and psychoeducation activities.
- Accurate and confidential counselling documentation.
- Timely submission of MHPSS activity and referral reports.
- Effective integration of MHPSS into primary healthcare services.
- Compliance with safeguarding, PSEA, confidentiality, and professional standards.
