Staff Counsellor

Job Title: Staff Counsellor 

Organization: World Health Organization (WHO)  

Grade: P3

Contractual Arrangement: Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 6 months

Closing Date: Oct 10, 2023, 12:59:00 AM

Primary Location: Ukraine-Kyiv

Organization Unit: EU_UKR WHO Country Office, Ukraine

Schedule: Full-time  

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings. 

PURPOSE OF THE POST

To achieve WHO’s mission to Promote health, keep the world safe, serve the vulnerable, WHO has a crucial role in responding to health emergencies by providing an essential mix of technical competence and normative expertise and the ability to deploy into the deep field to address outbreaks and other health emergencies and public health events wherever they occur.  

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies incident management system, at the country level, the incumbent will work at the three strategic levels of intervention to Promote and sustain mental health at work for all WHO Country Office workforce in Ukraine: 

• Prevent: contribute to reshape work environments to minimize psychosocial risks and prevent the workforce from experiencing mental health conditions
• Protect and Promote: strengthen awareness, skills and opportunities for recognizing and acting early on mental health issues to protect and promote the mental health of all in the workforce
• Support: support individuals in the workforce with mental health conditions to access, continue working and thrive at work  

Under the supervision of the Staff Health and Wellbeing Officer, and in collaboration with the Regional Staff Counsellor and Regional Staff Physician, the Staff Counselor is responsible for addressing mental health at work at the WHO Country Office in Ukraine. Travel is required at times to remote and difficult locations. As part of the Country Office structure the functions of the Staff Counselor is part of Staff Health and Wellbeing services in WHO Country Office in Ukraine. The incumbent maintains at all times a high standard of professional ethics and confidentiality consistent with the ethical guidelines and standards of practice. The incumbent works with a sensibility to the context and cultural environment to cover all the aspects of WHO guidelines of mental health at work. 

The incumbent works on psychosocial counselling services through the implementation of contextually and culturally relevant stress management programs to staff members (and their dependents) and consultants in the WHO Country Office in Ukraine. The incumbent will be responsible for developing strategy and program to provide psychosocial support to the WHO workforce responding to the Ukraine crisis. 

The incumbent will address the psychosocial needs identified, with the aim of improving the mental health and well-being of the WHO workforce and their dependents. The position requires a highly skilled mental health professional with humanitarian work experience.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME AND OF THE IMMEDIATE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

The mission of the Division of Health Emergencies (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to assess, prevent and manage health emergency risks, and lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

The WHE Division brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacities in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. The Programme is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In the country of assignment, based on priorities set by the WR, the incumbent will work under the direct technical supervision and guidance of the Regional Staff Physician the incumbent will have front line responsibility to improve the capacity and resilience of staff members and consultants to respond effectively during emergencies in accordance to policy guidelines established by the HQ and Regional Office. S/he will closely cooperate and partner with the Staff Health and Wellbeing Services in WHO headquarters and Health Medical Service in the respective regional office.

SUMMARY OF ASSIGNED DUTIES

Under the general guidance of the Staff Health and Well-Being Department (EURO and HQ) and the Staff Counselor, the incumbent will: 

• Support managers in addressing psychosocial risk factors within their team.
• Facilitate team discussions and develop action plans to reduce burnout risks.
• Engage leadership and managers in addressing psychosocial risk factors.
• Develop proposals for health and well-being committees and collaborate on their implementation.
• Develop a psychological support strategy for the Ukraine Country office.
• Assess and monitor psychosocial needs affecting staff well-being.
• Research and evaluate measures for reducing stress in the field.
• Provide support and advice to leadership on healthy work practices.
• Offer individual and group counseling to staff as needed.
• Provide guidance on managing personnel with mental health conditions.
• Provides expert training, consultation, and psychological support in preventing, identifying, and resolving issues related to staff members' well-being and mental health by developing and delivering tailored workshops and webinars/dialogues.
• Conduct induction courses on psychological well-being for new personnel.
• Provide in-person support through regular visits to field offices.
• Organize expert training, workshops, and webinars on staff well-being.
• Ensure adherence to professional standards and confidentiality within the unit.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Skills
WHO Competencies:

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences#
• Communication
• Knowing and managing yourself
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Producing results

Functional Knowledge and Skills

• Maintain at all times a high standard of professional ethics and confidentiality consistent with the ethical guideline sand standards of practice
• Actively engage with management and staff, listen to their concerns, and stay approachable
• Training/facilitation skills
• Ability to coordinate with other relevant specialist service in the Organization including Occupational Health and Safety, Security, Ombudsman, HR
• Good knowledge of MHPSS during emergency situations
• Proven ability to accurately assess psychosocial or mental health needs, risks and protective factors
• Advance knowledge in the provision of psychosocial support and counselling services in a professional and confidential manner
• Demonstrated knowledge in designing and delivering contextually and culturally appropriate trainings and information sessions on a wide range of stress-related issues
• Ability to manage crisis situations involving diverse actors and stakeholders
• Ability to effectively work in multi-cultural environments under stressful conditions

Education Qualifications

• Essential: First level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in psychology, psychiatry, counselling, clinical social work or other related mental health professions. University Certification or country-specific licensure authorizing the incumbent to deliver mental health services.
• Desirable: Additional certification in various related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, family counseling, critical incident stress management, and cross-cultural communication, is desirable. Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in psychology, psychiatry, counselling, clinical social work or other related mental health professions. 

Experience

• Essential: A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in staff clinical counseling, mental health, cross-cultural communications, counseling, psychiatry, clinical psychology, clinical social work, or related areas is required.
• Desirable: Experience working in an international organization in the field or cross-border is required. Experience in working within or directly supporting a crisis or emergency response is required. Experience in developing policies and programs related to staff well-being and mental health is desirable. 

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Expert knowledge of Ukrainian.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
• In the event your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and E-Manual.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. 
  The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply. 
  Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
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