Psychosocial Support and Counselling Services
• Provide basic psychosocial support services to learners, facilitators, and community members participating in the SDL Programme.
• Conduct individual and group counselling sessions for learners facing emotional, social, family, or personal challenges.
• Provide psychosocial support to learners experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma, social isolation, or other psychosocial challenges.
• Offer support to survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and facilitate referrals to specialized service providers when required.
• Promote learner well-being and resilience through supportive counselling approaches.
• Facilitate discussions and activities that promote Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), self-awareness, self-confidence, communication skills, empathy, and positive relationships.
• Encourage learners to identify and utilize positive coping strategies and self-help techniques.
• Support learners facing attendance, retention, or participation challenges.
• Maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical standards in all counselling interactions.
Class Visits and Learner Support
• Visit SDL classes regularly, with a minimum of one visit per class per month or as directed by the project.
• Conduct awareness sessions on psychosocial support, emotional well-being, stress management, and resilience.
• Explain the purpose and benefits of psychosocial support and counselling services to learners and facilitators.
• Encourage learners to discuss challenges affecting their learning and participation.
• Identify learners who may require additional support and follow-up.
• Coordinate with facilitators to identify learners experiencing psychosocial or emotional difficulties.
• Support interventions aimed at improving learner attendance, participation, retention, and completion.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Activities
• Facilitate SEL activities and discussions during class visits and community events.
• Promote positive communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills among learners.
• Support development of learners' confidence, self-esteem, and interpersonal skills.
• Encourage inclusive and respectful interactions among learners.
• Integrate SEL concepts into psychosocial support activities and awareness sessions.
Community Awareness and Engagement
• Conduct awareness sessions within communities on mental health, psychosocial well-being, stress management, positive coping mechanisms, and emotional resilience.
• Engage with Village Skills Committees (VSCs), community leaders, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to promote awareness of psychosocial support services.
• Support efforts to reduce stigma associated with mental health and seeking psychosocial support.
• Promote supportive family and community environments for learners.
• Participate in community outreach events, awareness campaigns, and project meetings.
Parenting Education Support
• Support implementation of Parenting Education activities and sessions where required.
• Promote awareness among parents and caregivers regarding positive parenting practices and family well-being.
• Support facilitators in identifying psychosocial issues affecting learners and families.
• Encourage participation of parents and caregivers in parenting education activities.
• Provide basic guidance on family communication, child well-being, and supportive home learning environments.
Referral and Case Support
• Identify beneficiaries requiring specialized psychosocial, protection, health, legal, or social services.
• Refer individuals requiring advanced support to appropriate service providers in accordance with approved referral pathways.
• Coordinate with health facilities, protection actors, social service providers, and relevant organizations to facilitate referrals.
• Follow up on referrals where appropriate and feasible.
• Maintain records of referrals and actions taken while respecting confidentiality requirements.
• Immediately report serious protection concerns through appropriate channels in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
Capacity Building and Training
• Conduct awareness sessions and basic training for facilitators, community mobilizers, VSC members, and other project personnel on:
o Mental health awareness;
o Psychosocial support principles;
o Social and Emotional Learning (SEL);
o Stress management techniques;
o Positive coping mechanisms;
o Psychological First Aid (PFA);
o Gender-Based Violence (GBV) awareness and referral;
o Safeguarding and protection principles.
• Support integration of psychosocial support concepts into project implementation activities.
• Participate in project trainings and refresher sessions.
Monitoring and Reporting
• Maintain accurate records of counseling sessions, awareness activities, referrals, and follow-up actions.
• Maintain beneficiary confidentiality and secure storage of counseling records.
• Prepare monthly activity reports and submit them to the Project Officer and relevant supervisors.
• Report on key psychosocial issues affecting learners and communities.
• Document challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations to improve psychosocial support services.
• Contribute to project monitoring and reporting processes as required.
Safeguarding and Protection
• Promote safeguarding, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), child protection, and protection principles throughout project implementation.
• Ensure that counseling services are delivered in a safe, respectful, confidential, and non-discriminatory manner.
• Identify and report safeguarding concerns in accordance with approved reporting procedures.
• Support beneficiaries in accessing available complaints and feedback mechanisms.
• Maintain professional boundaries and ethical conduct at all times.
Coordination and Collaboration
• Coordinate closely with Project Officers, PCMs, DCMs, Facilitators, Master Trainers, and M&E Officers.
• Participate in project coordination meetings and planning sessions.
• Support community-based interventions aimed at improving learner well-being and participation.
• Work collaboratively with project teams to address barriers affecting learner participation and success.
• Perform any other project-related duties assigned by the Project Officer to support effective implementation of the SDL Programme.
