Psychosocial Counsellor (2) (Internal)

The Psychosocial Counsellor, reporting to the Program Manager, provides essential psychosocial support to individuals with cervical cancer, their families, and caregivers. This role involves offering high-quality counseling and addressing the emotional, social, mental, and spiritual needs of patients as part of comprehensive care. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the Counsellor conducts psychosocial assessments, designs and implements interventions, and contributes to training, monitoring, evaluation, and research. The Counsellor’s duties align with Baylor College of Medicine's protocols and Malawi’s healthcare policies, ensuring compliance with national mental health and medical standards.

Essential Duties

• Carry out routine psychological assessments on patients/clients through interviews, observations and tests including assessment for risk of suicidal thoughts.
• Identify and strengthen service gaps in the current psychosocial services available at the facility
• Identify and train palliative care champions.
• Provide a safe/conducive environment which will aid client’s free expression of feelings.
• Develop and provide appropriate individual, family and group based psychotherapeutic interventions.
• Ensure that all clients benefit from psychosocial counseling assessment and appropriate intervention plan is drawn for each client.
• Ensure proper documentation and storage of client-related information such as assessment notes, diagnostic records, intervention plan and treatment/progress records.
• Maintain clients' privacy and confidentiality of records concerning their treatment and general matters related to work.
• Conduct regular evaluation of all counseling services and assist in strengthening existing programs offered by the Institution/Program.
• Coordinate referrals, act as client advocate in coordinating required referral services.
• Provide mentorship and training in psychosocial counseling services to other care providers and students.
• Evaluate the impact of psychotherapeutic interventions and educational programs through operational research and other related developments that are appropriate and relevant to the clients’ and service needs.
• Collaborate with other professionals to assess other clients’ needs and plan their treatments.
• Ensure relevant feedback is given to health care providers who referred the client for psychosocial care services in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Maintain and develop professional competence in psychosocial services through the ongoing professional development.
• Provide relevant consultation counseling services to the facility staff whenever necessary.
• Supervise other counsellors assigned to you and students on practical attachments.
• Attend all relevant Program meetings and prepare reports
• Represent the Program/Institution on matters of Psychosocial Care Services.
• Supervise assigned counselors and students, attend meetings, represent the program, prepare reports, and perform other assigned duties.
• Minimum of a diploma in psychosocial counselling from a recognized institution.
• Registration with Medical Council of Malawi is a prerequisite.
• At least two years’ experience of providing counselling/psychotherapy.
• Experience in program designing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Proficiency in using the computer mainly Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Chichewa and English.
• Ability in goals setting.
• Superior interpersonal, leadership, research, time management, organization and evaluation skills.
• Ability to listen patiently and carefully.
• Proficiency in conflict resolution, consensus based decision making and group facilitation.
• Ability to work in a team orientated environment is a must.
• Ability to work over some weekends is essential.
• Private Health Insurance
• Pension Plan