Project Assistant (Psychosocial Counsellor)

Job Description

Dimensions: 

Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, supporting children through both development and humanitarian relief programs. These initiatives are delivered directly and in collaboration with local partners. Our current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
In 2012, as part of a global reorganization, Save the Children unified the operations of Save the Children UK, Canada, and Finland into a single entity in Kenya. In February 2014, we completed a second transition by merging with the British INGO Merlin, integrating their health and nutrition programs into our portfolio. Today, Save the Children maintains an operational presence in Nandi, Kajiado, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kakuma Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana, and Wajir, and works through partners in many other regions across the country. We employ approximately 230 staff, including members of the Global team who are hosted and hired in Kenya, but support Save the Children International (SCI) global operations. In 2025, our annual operating budget was approximately USD 20 million.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Project Assistant- Child Protection is responsible for supporting the implementation of  psychosocial activities, providing counselling services to children in psychosocial  distress who are identified by Save the Children or referred  by other actors in the project area The role ensures that mental health and psychosocial concerns of children and families at risk are identified and addressed to  improve children’s wellbeing and build resilience for optimal functioning in their daily activities. The role builds capacity of community structures, volunteers and partner staff on MHPSS to provide layered support aligned to interagency MHPSS guidelines and international standards.

Working under the supervision of the Child Protection Coordinator, the role contributes to SCI’s child protection programming in Kakuma/Kalobeyei refugee camps and host community.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to:  Child Protection Coordinator

Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Busia, Dadaab and Kakuma/ Kalobeyei Refugee Camps, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and we work through partners in many other parts of the Country. In 2016, Save the Children established a new project office in Madagascar whose operations the Kenya Country Office manages.

Dimensions: 

Staff directly reporting to this post:  None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programme Delivery:

• Facilitate provision of counselling services for children with protection and families through play and art therapy, individual and group sessions.
• Facilitate family counselling sessions to promote positive parent-child relationships.
• Conducts and processes psychosocial assessments using approved tools and prepares treatment plans for individual children and caregivers. 
• With guidance from Child protection Coordinator ensure the Child Safe spaces are within the recommended safety standards for child to play and learn.
• Facilitate resilience forums for children and caregivers using SC resilience building manuals.
• Facilitate trainings and mentorship for lay volunteer counsellors, teachers and other community structures on Basic Counselling skills, PFA, trauma informed therapy, TEAM UP, We Thrive etc to build their capacity to support children and families at community level.
• Support in the development of annual detailed implementation plans ensure accurate data collection on MHPSS performance indicators.
• Support in the development of key MHPSS messages for delivery in community forums, international mental health days etc for awareness creation and destigmatize mental health
• Plan, organize and implement psychoeducation forums in partnership with Government and community workers such as lay volunteer counsellors, CPVs etc 
• Manage the Child Friendly Space at Kalobeyei settlement 
• Keep abreast with emerging MHPSS concerns and trends and informing the Child protection Coordinator for adaptive programming.
• Represent SC in MHPSS interagency meetings

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team for monitoring and evaluation of programme activities including taking corrective action where necessary. 
• Preparation of Counselling reports and documentation of lessons learnt.
• Support in the documentation of programme learning and ensuring it contributes to organizational advocacy.
• Maintain an up-to-date database beneficiaries counselled including client progress reports.
• Conduct/ensure regular follow-up visits to monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration of children and families supported with psychosocial support and document changes identified.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

• Accountability:
• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
• Ambition:
• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically 
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• Collaboration:
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity

Honest, encourages openness and transparency

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Degree in counselling or Psychology.
• 2 years’ experience working with children is desirable
• Registered with a recognized body in Kenya e.g. Kenya Counsellors and Psychologist’s Association (KCPA), Counsellors and Psychologists Board etc
•  Prior experience in MHPSS in refugee set-ups is essential.
• Knowledge of child protection, child rights and protection issues.
• Strong self-starter, able to take initiative and adapt to changing circumstances and priorities.
• Positive attitude towards community work with emphasis on the ability to learn from communities and support participatory, innovative approaches to problem solving.
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathise with all children and their carers.
• Fluent in written and spoken English, Kiswahili and the local language in the camps and the host community.
• Good report writing skills.
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions.
• Commitment to Save the Children’s Child Protection Policy.