Counselor Educator - MSF Switzerland

Medecins Sans Frontieres – Switzerland Kenya Mission
Job Vacancy: Counselor Educator
MSF Switzerland (MSFCH) is a humanitarian medical organization providing emergency medical aid to populations in need based in Dagahaley and Mombasa County.
Job Title: Counsellor Educator.
Work Location: Dagahaley Refugee Camp, Dagahaley, Garissa County.
Duration: 12 months fixed term contract (starting with 3 months’ probation period) renewable based on performance.
Start Date: As soon as possible.
The selected candidate will be reporting to the Mental Health Supervisor, MSF Dagahaley Project. This position is only open to Kenyan nationals
Main Purpose: Perform counselling and/or education sessions to patients, following different medical and mental health MSF protocols and procedures, in order to improve their psychosocial wellbeing.
Accountabilities

• 
  
• Identify the psychosocial, socio-economic and administrative needs for patients.
  
• Actively promote the availability of counselling services and carry out, individual or in group counseling, basic psycho-educational sessions, to patients, their families (when needed), to alleviate their psychosocial difficulties within the project scope.
  
• Refer patients to other specialists or other institutions for further assistance, when necessary to propose the best support available.
  
• Participate in the creation of any material needed for counseling activities and look after it,
  
• Keep files and statistics of daily activities and participate in team meetings to share experiences and discuss special cases with other counselors, preserving confidentiality.
  
• Inform line manager of any problem of any kind arising during the day-to-day activities.
  
• Take active part in trainings, supervisions/intervisions and support the activities manager when necessary, in doing sensitization for MSF staff or external partners about mental health /psychosocial issues.
  
• Discuss difficulties and problems in counselling with supervisor.
  

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

• 
  
• The Mental Health Department is located within the 100-bed capacity Dagahaley Hospital that serves a catchment population of approximately 92,000 which includes the refugee population in Dagahaley and the other camps, the local non-refugee population, Garissa county, and the neighboring, Wajir South and Wajir counties in addition to Somali nationals who access the camp for medical reasons from across the border.
  
• The counselor educators form the frontline of the primary health intervention for patients with psychological, psychosocial and mental health conditions at both in-patient and out-patient settings.
  
• The counselor educator will provide counselling and psychoeducation services including and not limited to; individual therapy, group therapy, play therapy and family therapy in both in-patient and out-patient settings.
  
• The counselor educator has a responsibility to play in the community in terms of mental health promotion, sensitization and empowering the community health workers to identify cases and refer them to hospital for further care.
  
• The counselor educator has an active role in community sensitization and awareness- specifically tailored to address misperceptions about mental health, substance abuse and stigmatization of perceived mental health patients.
  
• The counselor educator will work closely with the social worker by referring cases to the social worker that require referrals/linkages to external resources for psychosocial, socio-economic and protection needs support.
  
• Counsellor educator also has a responsibility to play in the community in terms of mental health promotion, sensitization and empowering the community health workers to identify cases and refer them to hospital for further care.
  

Requirements
Education

• 
  
• Essential: Psychology Degree/Diploma.
  
• Registered and licenced by MOH's Kenya Counsellors and Psychologist Board.
  
• Registration by Kenya Counsellors and Psychologist Association (KCPA) or Kenya Psychologist Association (KPA).
  

Experience

• 
  
• 1 year experience essential. Experience with NGO desirable.
  

Languages

• 
  
• Fluency in English and Somali Language is essential, Fluency in Swahili is desirable
  

Competencies

• 
  
• Results, teamwork, flexibility, commitment, service
  

If you meet the above requirements, please complete your application by 04.12.2025 through this link: https://zurl.to/Cibl?source=CareerSite
Because of the number of applications we receive, applications not complying with all of these instructions will not be considered:
Please attach the following:

• 
  
• CV of maximum two pages, including contact information (telephone number, e-mail address, physical address)
  
• Short cover letter (max. one page)
  
• Scan of your national ID
  
• Scan of your academic qualifications
  
• Each attachment must contain the full name of the applicant.
  

We apologize that due to the volume of application we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
MSFCH is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge any application/recruitment or training fee. We encourage applications from women, individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.
The protection of your personal data is important to MSF. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. MSF will not use your personal data in any other way other than for purposes of recruitment.