Counsellor

Position: Counsellor (SWG/PS 2)  - Pay band 8
 
The National Family Planning Board, a Statutory Agency of the Ministry of Health and Wellness is seeking to identify a motivated, result-orientated, and qualified professional to fill the following vacancy.

The incumbent will report to the Senior Treatment Liaison Officer.  He/she is to provide counselling and referral services in the area of sexual and reproductive health covering inter alia, HIV/AIDS and STIs, contraception, menstruation, fertility, infertility, sexuality and abortion in keeping with the goals, philosophy and objectives of the National Family Planning Board. 

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in one of the behavioural sciences preferably with a major in counselling, psychology or other supporting behavioural science courses;
• Three (3) years’ experience in general counselling and/or family planning counselling.

Key responsibility areas

A.)  Management/Administrative

• Maintains an efficient recording system to facilitate easy retrieval of information and provide relevant data for the continuous development of technical support to programmes; 
• Maintains efficient client profile records to facilitate effective evaluation of services to meet expressed needs on a continuous basis; 
• Prepares monthly qualitative and quantitative reports of all services provided, highlighting specific needs/concerns identified by clients; 
• Keeps abreast of new Family Planning/Family Life Education/HIV/AIDS/STI developments in order to disseminate accurate and current information. 
• Liaises with the Accounts and Procurement to determine the status of disbursements and procurement in relation to the component;
• Prepares Terms of Reference for planned consultancies and training interventions relating to the component;
• Support coordination of SRH training and technical assistance for stakeholders in private organizations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies according to overall programme objectives;

 B.) Technical / Professional

• Responds to the sexual reproductive health information needs of clients through telephone calls, face-to-face and social media communication;
• Makes referral to appropriate individual/agencies in order to meet the clients’ needs;
• Serves as a resource person to workplaces, schools, youth groups, church groups, Parents Teachers Associations by providing information on contraception, Family Planning, Family Life Education, HIV/STI prevention and utilising appropriate methodologies;
• Assists with the content preparation for traditional and social media related to Sexual and Reproductive Health; especially targeting adolescents and youths
• Distributes Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to individuals and agencies on request; 
• Assists with exhibitions mounted by the Division and serves as a resource person at the exhibitions;
• Organises and conducts (along with other members of the Division) rap sessions with adolescents and youths selected from secondary and high schools and University within the corporate area;
• Conducts Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) lectures and other activities;
• Keeps the Division informed about trends observed on Family Planning/Family Life Education; concerns/requests to facilitate the development of programme/educational materials to address same.

Other 

• Performs other related functions assigned from time to time by the Senior Family Planning & Counselling Support Officer. 

Required competencies

Core 

• Ability to communicate with people at all levels; 
• Basic computer literacy; 
• Ability to identify and analyse work related problems and generate innovative or appropriate solutions; 
• Ability to use initiative by taking action when necessary without prompting; 
• Must have integrity and behave in an ethical manner; 
• Excellent Customer Relations skills. 

Technical  

• Thorough knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and family life education.
• Must be a good listener and capable of exercising tact, discretion and sound judgment. 

Specific Conditions associated with the job 

Normal office environment.
May be required to work beyond normal working hours.

Note

Interested candidates are invited to visit www.jnfpb.org/about-us/opportunities or www.moh.gov.jm/careers to view details of the other requirements for the position.

Applications should be emailed to nfpbapplications@jnfpb.org to the attention of the Director, Human Resource Management and Administration (Acting) no later than March 17, 2023.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Contact

Director

Human Resource Management and Administration (Acting) 

Email: nfpbapplications@jnfpb.org

Base Salary: Undisclosed