MHPSS Counsellor

Job Summary Key Duties and Responsibilities: • Conduct safe, confidential and needs-based individual counselling and structured group psychosocial support sessions. • Provide psychological first aid and basic emotional support to people affected by floods, displacement, return and other distressing events. • Screen for psychosocial distress and protection risks using approved tools and determine appropriate follow-up or referral in consultation with the participant. • Develop simple, consent-based support plans, document follow-up actions securely and close cases responsibly when objectives are met or referral is completed. • Facilitate age-appropriate sessions on stress management, positive coping, emotional well-being, social support and help-seeking. • Maintain an updated, verified service directory and make confidential referrals to health, nutrition, protection, GBV, legal and specialized mental-health services. • Immediately follow approved procedures for disclosure of self-harm risk, suicide risk, violence, abuse, exploitation or other urgent protection concerns. • Support safe-space staff to create a welcoming, non-discriminatory environment and advise the team on psychological safety and appropriate communication. • Obtain informed consent, store records securely, share only the minimum necessary information and never disclose identifiable case information in routine reports. • Perform duties in accordance with OCHR policies, the approved workplan, and applicable donor standards and guidance. • Promote safe, dignified and inclusive access to services, applying do-no-harm, confidentiality, informed consent and survivor-centred principles. • Comply with OCHR safeguarding, child safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, code of conduct, anti-fraud and conflict-of-interest requirements. • Explain available feedback and complaint channels to participants and promptly report safeguarding concerns through approved confidential pathways. • Maintain accurate, sex- and age-disaggregated activity records and submit timely daily, weekly and monthly information to the supervisor using approved formats. • Coordinate respectfully with project colleagues, community representatives, relevant authorities and service providers while protecting personal data. • Participate in orientation, supervision, team meetings, capacity-building activities and performance reviews, and carry out other project-related duties assigned by the supervisor. Job Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Counselling, Social Work, Mental Health or a closely related field. • Minimum two years of relevant counselling or psychosocial-support experience, preferably with an NGO or humanitarian programme. • Demonstrated knowledge of psychological first aid, basic counselling skills, safe identification and referral, confidentiality and survivor-centred practice. • Experience supporting women and adolescent girls in conservative, emergency-affected or displacement settings is strongly preferred. • Ability to recognize cases beyond the position’s competence and refer them without attempting clinical diagnosis or treatment. • Strong interpersonal, active-listening, facilitation and documentation skills; ability to remain calm and maintain professional boundaries. • Fluency in the relevant local language is required; working knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto and basic English is an advantage.