Counsellor

Organizational Profile

Fondazione L’Albero della Vita – The Tree of Life Kenya is an organization registered in Kenya as a Trust with the aim of ensuring the wellbeing, protection and promotion of the rights of children and their families and encouraging community development.

The Tree of Life envisions a world without poverty where children can enjoy their rights; grow up in a safe environment, protected from all kinds of violence and abuse, with access to equal opportunities.

The Tree of Life has been working in Kenya since 2011, focusing on Children’s rights and protection.

In Nairobi County, the Tree of Life has been implementing activities to strengthen Alternative family based-care options for vulnerable children with specific focus on reintegrating them back to their families of origin, kinship and foster care.

The project

The Tree of Life is implementing a project in Nairobi County, aimed at contributing to the protection of vulnerable children through the promotion and provision of Alternative Family based care services. The project is being implemented in line with the care reforms promoted by the Government.

The objective of the project is to Promote and implement Foster & Kinship Care as a value of solidarity to enhance parenting experiences and provide a protective option for the most vulnerable children in Nairobi County.

Job Title :** Counsellor

Duty station:** Nairobi County

Starting date :** 1st April 2024

Duration of the assignment: ** 9 months, with 3 months’ probation

Deadline for application: 20th March 2024

Role and Responsibilities:

· Coordinate and implement the Child Protection – PSS component of the project, in accordance with the project objectives.

· Develop and implement an effective PSS strategy for the project, including proactive planning for the sustainability of children within families and communities.

· Develop an annual detailed work plan for the project component for which he or she is responsible and review this plan each month with support from the supervisor. Implement Psychosocial activities according to the work plan in line with project requirements, as well as proposing any necessary changes.

· Development of a training plan and delivery of the training sessions to project partners and stakeholders.

· Provision of group and individualized psychosocial support to children, families and community members located in the target areas.

· Provision of support to the members of staff within CCIs in identifying and assessing children to be considered for family-based care and in providing an ongoing basic PSS service.

· Identification / development of information material for psychosocial support and training activities.

· Organization and facilitation of home and school visits.

· Support to the organization of awareness campaigns on kinship and foster care, the Rights of the Child, family strengthening and community solidarity.

· Participation to relevant sectorial coordination/CAC meetings in Nairobi County, visibility activities; networking with key stakeholders of the sector in the area, supporting the creation of linkages and partnerships with government and private entities.

· Compile narrative and quantitative reports, in line with project guidelines and requirements.

· Support the collection of visibility and information materials about the project.

· Support the development of M&E tools aimed at monitoring and evaluating the project as well as assessing its impact.

· Properly document the achievements and lessons of the project activities and support the dissemination to partners and stakeholders.

· Collect receipts, administrative documents with the support of the Tree of Life Finance office, ensuring that all expenses are properly documented and done according to the available budget.

· Contribute to the development and implementation of mechanisms of sustainability of AFC services, with main focus on Foster and Kinship Care

· Work as a team player providing relevant information and assistance to colleagues and ensuring project components for which she or he is responsible are interlinked.

· Support the scaling up and the expansion of the project, providing relevant input, contributing to feasibility studies, data collection and new project proposals development.

· Any other duty as required by the supervisor commensurate with the post and relevant to the achievement of Project objectives.

Minimum requirements

Knowledge and skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Counselling psychology or any other relevant field of study with specialization in counselling.

· Knowledge and experience in counselling minors is essential.

· Knowledge and experience on Care Reform, Alternative Family Care are an asset.

• Strong ability to work with partners using effective interpersonal and communication skills and to respectfully interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Strong analytical skills, report writing, administration, monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Solid organizational/time and project management skills as well as proactive, resourceful and results-oriented.

· Computer skills (Microsoft office word, excel, etc.)

· Data handling skill

· Excellent spoken and written English and Swahili languages.

Other Skills Required

· Honesty and strong ethics are required in order to be successful in this position

· Ability to work independently and as part of a team

· Demonstrated capacity and willingness to learn – open to learning new ways of doing things

· Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality, participatory approach and sustainable development

Experience:

· A minimum of 3 years in the psychosocial field and preferably in the NGOs sector

· Ability and willingness to implement project activities

· Actual grassroots experience, working with children, families and communities

· Good numerical, report writing and documentation skills.

· Experience in the monitoring and evaluation of psychosocial programmes.

Confidentiality

Employees must sign a child Safeguarding Policy and a confidentiality agreement, and may not share organizational materials without the express written permission from a supervisor; and

Respect – the Tree of Life aims to always show respect and appreciation for team members, Partners and all.

Working schedule

Working hours will be agreed upon. However, flexibility will be required to suit the project’s needs.