PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

To provide efficient and effective psychosocial counselling to WHO workforce and their family members at multiple locations in EMR.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department of Business Operations (BOS) is responsible for providing efficient and effective support services to all programmes and activities of the organization in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) in respect of budget and finance, human resources and talent management, administration, procurement, information technology, security and staff health and well-being.

The incumbent serves as the WHO Staff Counsellor and is responsible for providing a full range of counselling services to personnel.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Provide WHO workforce with individual and group counselling (i.e., short-term intervention, referral), following self-referral or referral by the supervisor or another professional.
2. Identify adequate local resources and facilitate referrals to external mental health professionals for psychological/psychiatric support (including coordination with UN Medical Services) whenever necessary.
3. Develop and implement a comprehensive emergency personnel-focused mental health programme in collaboration with the Regional Staff Counsellor.
4. Ensure services in a timely and sensitive manner to WHO  staff and dependents after critical incidents, and ensure follow up support of those affected following critical events.
5. Work closely with multidisciplinary teams to identify and address psychological risks at the individual, unit and organizational levels.
6. Provide guidance/ support to managers and senior management on the management of staff where mental health conditions are involved and advise on emergency psycho-social support management for WHO workforce.
7. Support WHO staff with mental health conditions by providing rehabilitation strategies and the staff’s return-to-work intervention. Contact the affected personnel offering practical support, psycho-education, psychological first aid and referral information.
8. Strengthen the network of Peer Support Volunteers (PSV), including the training and technical supervision of the Peer Support Volunteers.
9. Employ a holistic approach while providing emergency evidence-based psycho-social support to staff who have been involved in critical incidents.
10. Facilitate evidence-based trauma-informed interventions for WHO staff and their dependents.
11. Coordinate with UNDSS, EMRO Regional Staff Counsellor, UN staff/stress  counsellors, and Peer Support Volunteers to ensure adequate psycho-social support during emergencies.
12. Contribute to policies on staff mental health and well-being and perform administrative duties, including participating in regional meetings and other activities, completing reporting requirements, etc.
13. Maintain detailed records of activities and provide comprehensive reports to the Regional Staff Counsellor.
14. Perform any other incident-specific related duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: • An advanced/Postgraduate University Degree or equivalent in psychology, counselling, clinical psychology, psychiatry (medical or nursing), marriage and family therapy, or social work with evidence of training in mental health counselling.
• Registration as a mental health professional in the country of origin is required
• A valid certification or license to practice at the national level in clinical psychology or social work.

Desirable: • Additional training or certification in a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, resilience, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, mediation, trauma etc. will be an advantage.
• Registered membership in a legitimate professional organization.

Experience

Essential: • Minimum five ( 5) years of progressively professional relevant counselling experience post licensure/certification/registration with experience in a similar setting such as an international and/or humanitarian organization. Some related experience in outbreak and health emergencies context.,

Desirable: • Working experience with UN agencies, national or international NGOs.
• Experience either working in a hardship location or providing counselling services to staff working under very difficult and security compromised environments is an asset.

Skills

• Proven ability to accurately assess psychosocial or mental health needs, risks and protective factors
• Advance knowledge in provision of psychosocial support and counselling services in a professional and confidential manner.
• Ability to function in a multicultural environment while displaying sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Ability to manage crisis situations exerting professionalism and strict confidentiality.
• Ability to manage crisis situations which involve diverse actors and stakeholders.
• Ability to identify clients’ needs and suggest appropriate solutions.
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentation).
• Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of both genders and diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
• Skills in designing and delivering trainings/information sessions on a number of subjects and ability to adapt those to different audiences.

WHO Competencies

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

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic (for Arabic speaking country).
Desirable: Working knowledge of WHO language would be an asset.

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

• Proficiency of Microsoft office applications.
• Capacity to work with IT communication tools such as TEAMS or ZOOM.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 64,121 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• • This requisition will be used to establish a roster of Staff Counsellor, P3, to fill temporary similar positions. Placement on the roster does not guarantee appointment to a position.
  • Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that: 
    1 -Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated.
    2- All required details regarding your qualifications, education, training and experience are provided under relevant sections.
    3- Your experience records are properly entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.
  • Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model:

    https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/enhanced-who-global-competency-model

• 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.
• Positions at the international professional category within WHO will be subject to the Organization’s Mobility Policy. The abovementioned position is a rotational position, and its standard duration of assignment is linked to the ICSC hardship classification of the duty station.

• In the event that 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 Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• 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 staff. 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 w

ith 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 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 final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• 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 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• 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.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

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