About Danish Refugee Council

Job Description: Protection Officer (Psychosocial Support)

About the Job

The Protection Officer (Psychosocial Support), under the direct supervision of the Protection Team Leader in Herat, is primarily responsible for providing psychosocial counseling to project beneficiaries and targeted communities, raising awareness, liaising with government and other key stakeholders, and conducting training.

Responsibilities

• Community Engagement:
• Establish and maintain positive and efficient relations with target beneficiaries, community members, humanitarian actors, and other key stakeholders.
• Develop field activities plan in close coordination with the Protection Team Leader for target communities.
• Counseling and Support:
• Provide individual and group psychosocial counseling and awareness sessions to project beneficiaries in target communities and/or at the urban Hub (community center).
• Build trustful relationships with communities, maintaining a respectful and professional attitude.
• Identify major stressors in the community and provide counseling for handling stress, offering technical support as needed.
• Provide focused psychosocial counseling to individuals, groups, and communities while ensuring confidentiality.
• Child Friendly Space Support:
• Support the team in facilitating activities at the Child Friendly Space.
• Provide safe and stimulating structured and non-structured psychosocial support (PSS) activities, including recreational activities.
• Support for SGBV Survivors:
• Provide counseling and assistance to households suffering from high levels of daily stress and SGBV survivors.
• Facilitate group therapy sessions for SGBV survivors and women at risk.
• Capacity Building:
• Provide capacity building to protection officers, assistants, focal points, community leaders, and other partners on basic counseling principles and standard case management practices related to SGBV.
• Case Management:
• Ensure all individual case files are opened and closed according to international standards, with proper data storage in line with data protection protocols.
• Conduct interviews, surveys, psychosocial evaluations, home visits, and incident reporting.
• Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Work closely with MEAL officers to carry out client satisfaction surveys, measuring the impact of response services and identifying gaps.
• Community Discussions:
• Organize and facilitate regular community-level discussions to strengthen community-based prevention and response to psychosocial issues and SGBV.
• Needs Assessment:
• Provide support in needs assessment surveys for future protection programming.
• Reporting:
• Submit weekly progress reports of activities to the line manager.
• Other Duties:
• Perform other relevant duties as needed or requested.

Job Requirements

Experience and Technical Competencies:

• At least 2-3 years of work experience in psychological/psychosocial counseling, preferably with IDPs/refugees/returnees.
• Strong experience working with vulnerable clients, including SGBV survivors and victims of child abuse.
• Knowledge of child-friendly interviewing techniques and effective communication with children.
• Familiarity with IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.
• Understanding of the psychosocial support needs of IDPs/refugees in Afghanistan.

Education/Qualifications:

• University degree in Psychology or Social Work, with a valid certificate from the Ministry of Health as a professional psychosocial counselor.
• Understanding of humanitarian work principles, human rights, and the needs of internally displaced persons and refugees in Afghanistan.
• Interest in humanitarian work and human rights, with a willingness to learn.
• Ability to express thoughts clearly, analyze, and present information concisely.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Languages:

• Pashto and Dari: Fluency required.
• English: Preferred.
• Computer Skills: Preferred.

We Offer:

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the DRC salary scale.

Submission Guideline

Application Process:

Interested candidates should apply for this position by clicking on the link below. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in the same language. Note that applications without a CV will not be considered.

Online Application Form