Hiring Office: UNFPA Turkmenistan CO

Title: Specialist on social work

The functions of a Specialist on psychological counselling include the following:

Preparatory work:

• Participation in induction training and advanced training courses organized by the UNFPA and NRCST.

Service Delivery:

Call service:

• Answer calls and assist subscribers in identifying their needs;
• Provide general information upon user requests;
• If necessary, assess the risk to which users are exposed, if any;
• Offer psychological support, and upon receipt of consent, provide basic psychological assistance and refer for specialist consultation;
• Provide information on options for contacting relevant services and specialists;
• If necessary, sign up the survivors for consultations with specialists in psychological counseling or social work.

Case management:

• Conduct interviews, identify and conduct an initial assessment of the situation and determine the needs of the user and her/his family;
• Conduct a detailed assessment of the situation, vulnerability and risk situation in which the user and/or her/his children find themselves, as well as the needs, strengths and existing opportunities;
• Together with the user, develop and implement an individual intervention plan with the involvement of the necessary specialists and structures at the local level, as well as with the participation of the user and, if necessary, her/his family;
• Provide information, as well as coordinate and monitor the receipt of multidisciplinary services in order to implement the most appropriate social assistance measures focusing on the needs of the user;
• Provide support in making an informed decision, paying particular attention to physical and psychological safety;
• Work in collaboration with other social work specialists;
• Carry out regular monitoring and evaluation of progress together with social work specialists;
• If necessary, provide follow-up actions, including referral and coordination with other relevant stakeholders (medical services, social services, police, mayors, employment services, public organizations, lawyers, etc.;)
• Regularly conduct activities to obtain user feedback on the quality and effectiveness of the services received, and evaluate the services provided;
• Make a decision to close the case and archive it, or to reopen the case/refer the case to other specialized services;
• Assist in enrolling users in available trainings and programs for the purpose of employment and income generation.

Continuous professional development and reporting:

• Be informed about the goals, objectives and work of UNFPA, IFRCC and NRCST, interact with UNFPA and NRCST staff as a full member of the team;
• Participate in trainings and other events to improve professional skills in psychological support, maintaining call services and social services;
• Fill out the necessary documentation (assessment forms, individual plan, etc.);
• Ensure the confidentiality of all work with clients and compliance with ethical standards;
• Store all documents (reports, files, etc.) in a safe place;
• Provide monthly reports based on agreed data collection methodology.

Duration and working schedule: 9 months from June 20, 2024 to March 20, 2025

Place where services are to be delivered: At the place of residence in the cities of Ashgabat, Mary, Turkmenabat, Dashoguz, Balkanabat and Tejen, Regional Department of the National Red Crescent Society

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, sociology, medical or pedagogical education, law, economics and other humanities and/or a certificate of completion of specialized courses in counseling in the field of psychology and social work.

Experience:

• Three years of work in areas requiring communication with people and/or providing social assistance;
• Including at least 2 years of experience providing services to vulnerable groups, including women, older people and adolescents in difficult life situations;
• Excellent knowledge of Turkmen and Russian languages;
• Knowledge of computer programs.

To get additional information and apply for the position, please follow the link.