MT04000
LAY COUNSELOR EDUCATOR
Level 4
Reports to (Hierarchical)
Mental Health /Patient Support Activity Manager
Reports to (Functional)
Mental Health Supervisor/Health promotion Supervisor
Job Family
Medical
Main Purpose
Perform basic counseling and/or educational activities to patients, families, communities, following MSF protocols and procedures, in order to improve the health condition of the patient.
Accountabilities
- Actively promote the availability of MSF services
- Carry out, individually or in group, basic counseling and/or educational sessions, to patients, their families, hospital staff and/or the community
- Refer patients when necessary to other specialists or external actors in order to provide the best available support
- Collect and report specific information related to the target group
- Keep files and statistics updated about the counseling and/or educational activities
- Give testimonies to patients and in the community on own experiences as a patient(*)
Education
Desirable, formal degree in social work.
Experience
- Desirable working experience in related jobs
- Makes part of the target group of patients and is willing to share his own experiences as a patient () () only valid for peer educators/counselors
Language Level Description
B1 Independent User
Threshold or intermediate
- Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
- Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
- Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
- Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Technical Skills
Data management
Autonomous
Able to provide routine data analysis
Person / material hygiene
Under Supervision
Capacity to ensure adequate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Infection control
Under Supervision
Knowledge and respect of universal standard precautions
Knowledge and respect of disinfection material guidelinesL1 Knowledge and respect of universal standard precautions
Knowledge and respect of disinfection material guidelines
Pharmacy
Autonomous
Knowledge of possible drug side effects and interactions for most common drugs
Able to explain drug administration routes to patients
Knowledge of MSF drug management (right treatment of dangerous drugs, etc.)L2 Knowledge of possible drug side effects and interactions for most common drugs
Able to explain drug administration routes to patients
Knowledge of MSF drug management (right treatment of dangerous drugs, etc.)
Stock
Under Supervision
Able to manage ward/OT material stock (inventory, refilling)
Able to evaluate equipment status (availability, functioning)
L1 able to manage ward/OT material stock (inventory, refilling)
Able to evaluate equipment status (availability, functioning)
Counseling
Under Supervision
Able to perform basic counseling and/or educational sessions under supervision
Able to identify cases presenting psycho-social problems
Social Sciences methodology
Under Supervision
Able to administrate a quantitative questionnaire (interviewer)
Able to administrate socio-economical closed questionnaire
Able to collaborate in the mapping of a geographical area
Able to collaborate in the mapping of the different actors, organization, etc
Health promotion
Under Supervision
Perform basic HP activities of prevention and mobilization
Manage no more than 1 or 2 HP approaches (including animation techniques )
Manage no more than 1 or 2 medical topic (for instance : cholera)
Nutrition
Under Supervision
Understand of therapeutic feeding principles
Clinical competence
Under Supervision
Basic knowledge of normal physiology
Able to identify abnormal (pathological) cases
Lab
Autonomous
Able to use rapid diagnostic tests (malaria, syphilis, hemoglobin, glucose, etc)
Transversal Competencies
Commitment to MSF’s Principles
Demonstrates knowledge of and accepts MSF’s principles
- Respects the choices made by the organisation.
- Has basic knowledge of MSF’s mission and main activities.
- Respects and accepts the medical ethics and principles of MSF.
- Knows the difference between MSF’s activities and those of other NGOs and actors.
Behavioural Flexibility
Accepts changes
- Accepts changes without knowing the full reasons for them.
- Accepts new ideas in a positive way.
- Positively accepts changes in his/her environment.
- Accepts arguments opposed to his/her own.
- Is willing to listen and to take on new tasks in his/her job.
Stress Management
Manages own stress
- Expresses awareness of his/her own stress level.
- Is able to identify causes of his/her own stress and/or asks for help in detecting them.
- Is able to express to others his/her personal stressors at an appropriate time without overwhelming them.
Results and Quality Orientation
Performs his/her work
- Knows objectives of the job.
- Defines tasks to achieve objectives and establishes a working plan.
- Reviews and checks his/her work to detect mistakes and to correct them immediately.
- Values high-quality work.
Service Orientation
Knows and understands clients’ needs and interests
- Identifies and has a clear understanding of who the client to be served is.
- Identifies clients’ needs and concerns, and provides them with useful information and quick solutions.
- Listens to clients and asks them questions to determine their needs and motivations.
- Gets to know how the rest of the team works.
Teamwork and Cooperation
Acknowledges the importance of teamwork and cooperation
- Is responsible for his/her work because he/she knows the repercussions it has on the team or on others.
- Establishes and maintains good working relationships with colleagues, is accessible and listens to others.
- Cooperates with the team and supports decisions made.
- Demonstrates a predisposition to work with others and gives help when asked.
- Acknowledges there are common goals as well as individual objectives deriving from the personal plan of action.