Position:                               Psychosocial Counsellor (1 position)

Duty Station:                          Hargeisa, Somaliland

Duration:                                One Year (possibility of extension)

Start Date:                              04 January 2025

Issue Date:                             26 December 2024

Closing Date:                         02 January 2025

Background

The University of Hargeisa was founded in 1998 and became operational in 2000. Today, it holds a paramount role in the educational landscape of Somaliland as the national university, established under a presidential charter. As a publicly chartered institution, it operates under the legal framework provided by this charter, signifying its magnitude and authority within the nation’s higher education sector.

The main objectives established at the university include teaching, research and community outreach services.  The Legal Clinic, Human Rights Unit which is under the umbrella of the university of Hargeisa, was established in 2002 by the UNDP and today is the leading department that provides, university community outreach services, especially Legal aid services, GBV, Child protection  and community-based protection services to the Forcibly displaced persons , Host community and people with specific needs.

Legal Clinic was become a Partner for UNHCR in 2006. Since from that period Legal Clinic works with UNHCR as partner. This makes Legal Clinic, Human Rights Unit one of the oldest local partners of the UNHCR Somaliland office today.  During that period, the Legal Clinic , Human Rights Unit have been committed to the community-driven protection throughout the regions of Somaliland.

In 2025, the Legal Clinic, Human Rights Unit in partnership with UNHCR will implement the “Strengthening the Protection Environment for Refugees through Targeted Assistance” project. The project will focus on GBV, child protection, justice (legal assistance), community-based protection, and support for individuals with specific needs. This project aims to improve the protection environment for refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, IDPs (forcibly displaced persons), and stateless persons.

The University of Hargeisa Legal Clinic, Human Rights Unit, seeks applications from competent and experienced candidates for the following positions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Peaceful Co-existing Centre (PCC)  Coordinator  and the overall supervision of the Program Manager  of the project,  the incumbent will undertake the following responsibilities:

1. Conduct clients desk Interview and intake assessments of all cases in the community-based protection (CBP) and data entry on daily basis at the  Peaceful Co-existence Centre (PCC);
2. Welcomes support, and listens to forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) facing stressful life situations and challenges;
3. Helps clients to identify their problems and assists them to find their own solutions;
4. Provide psychological support to cases referred by the community committees (MENA/HECCA ) and other partners or UNHCR based on individual assessments.
5. helps the client in finding and utilizing internal and external resources available;
6. Provide psychosocial counselling services to Forcibly displaced persons (FDPs), assess and support GBV survivors and establish group or individual psychosocial counselling sessions at the PCC
7. Conduct/ participate community sensitization, dialogue, and mediation sessions with wider populations on issues about trauma and GBV, identify and strengthen community structures through engaging community leaders to ensure survivors receive adequate protection support and services
8. Provide professional and confidential services to survivors of GBV, through case management approach
9. Provide referral mechanism services to FDPs including GBV and people with specific needs (PSN)
10. Conducts regular home-to-home visits together with other project team members including physiotherapists and social workers/legal counsellors, interpreters and provides some psychosocial counseling on their premises.
11. Provide comprehensive counselling support to the survivors of GBV focusing on managing trauma and promote social and familial support for survivors
12. Identify and prepare case studies for the individuals of severe emotional problems to help in seeking relevant support with the consent of the survivor and maintain high standard of respect while building trust.
13. Works closely with other project staff, Government stakeholders, and Refugees and asylum seekers committees for the realization of project objectives and goals;
14. Take part in community meetings, awareness, mobilization and training sessions and other coordination meetings as assigned by the supervisor;
15. Develop technical reports on specific cases identified during the individual psychological support sessions or during desk counseling .
16. Ensure the complete and updated filing of beneficiary information, including follow-up visits and referrals.
17. Performs other, similar duties as assigned by the supervisor,

Skills and qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma in Psychology, Psychosocial Counselling and, public health, Social Work or other Social Science related field.
• Minimum 3 years of direct experience in providing psychosocial counseling or PSS(Psychosocial support)  to survivors of GBV and other vulnerable populations
• Passionate about the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
• Excellent knowledge of Protection standards and basic principles.
• Excellent knowledge of safe identification and referral principles.
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Somali language
• Good understanding and experience of working with refugees will be a definite advantage.

COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS

• Delivers timely and appropriate results
• Plans, prioritizes, and performs tasks well without needing direct supervision
• Understands the link between his/her work and the organization’s objectives
• Gathers the right information and uses critical thinking to make effective and timely decisions
• Knows when to involve others in a decision
• Simplifies processes and procedures wherever possible
• Delivers work that reflects a good knowledge and application of technical and professional standards
• Keeps up to date with trends in their work area and Maintains ethical and professional behavior

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Qualified and interested applicants are encouraged to submit curriculum vitae, testimonials, and a letter of interest stating suitability for the position to vacancies.hr@uoh.edu.so with the subject heading “Psychosocial Counsellor” before or on 2 January 2025.