MIYCN Counsellor

TITLE: MIYCN Counsellor (1)

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Nutrition

LOCATION: Torit

 

GRADE: 4

CONTRACT LENGTH: 11 months

 

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3:  the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

 

ROLE PURPOSE:

The post holder is responsible for the planning and implementation of IYCF program in the assigned sites in collaboration with the Nutrition promoters, and Nutrition Nurse

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: MIYCN Officer

Staff reporting to this post:  Mother leads who are volunteers in the MIYCN implementation.

Budget Responsibilities: N/A

Role Dimensions: 

About: For 100 years, Save the Children has been making a difference in children's lives in more than 120 countries. We are the world's largest independent child rights organisation, underpinned by a vision of a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

 

Save the Children is an organization for talented people with different backgrounds and perspectives. We are proud that our people are representative of the children we work with and we thrive on our diversity. We are an equal opportunity organisation dedicated to our core values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity. Our culture is embedded in these values, along with a strong commitment to our Child Safeguarding Protocol, ensuring that all representatives of Save the Children demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour towards children both in their private and professional lives. In South Sudan, we implement programmes in Child Protection, Child Rights Governance, Education, Food Security and Livelihoods, Health and Nutrition. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential.

 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of MIYCN activities in the assigned county,
• Provide technical guidance on MIYCN to staff at nutrition services sites, and community levels,
• Ensure staff at the nutrition services sites understand and implement activities as per the national MIYCN protocol
• Ensure appropriate and consistent MIYCN messaging to mothers and other  caregivers/takers at nutrition services sites and at the community level.
• Ensure inclusion of  MIYCN  activities during outreach and community based sensitizations for nutrition activities
• Prepare field visit plans and supervision checklist in advance of trips (find example of supervision checklist in toolkit);
• Plan to establish MTMSG and closely monitor and follow up with them at different levels in the community (Payam, Boma Village level).
• Provide supportive supervision to Mother to Mother Support Groups during their weekly, monthly and quarterly activities
• Plan and facilitate to MTMSG and lead mothers in coordination with  MIYCN  promoters.
• Ensure availability and distribution of  MIYCN IEC materials to nutrition services sites, and catchment health facilities.
• Attend community sensitization, program review and feedback meetings on MIYCN.Facilitate coordination for breast feeding promotions marking world celebration days (WBW Agust1, Women’s Day March8) etc.
• Attend community and county level meetings and discussion on IYCF,

Capacity building of CHD and SCI staff working.

• Identify training needs of each staff   related to MIYCN and advice line mangers according.
• Ensure daily on job training on counselling skills to CHD and SCI staffs working in the sites.
•   Work closely with Health providers to build their capacity in adequate provision of counselling sessions in the Health facilities.
•  Liaise   with county Health authorities, other agencies, individuals and community at large to help make changes based on issues raised by clients.
• Participate in supervision and training of the staffs (including refresher courses).

Reporting.

• Compile the weekly and monthly statistics (clients attended to, sessions discussed, clients who are turned up for next appointments) as well as the monthly activity report and share with line manager for review and action.
• Produce monthly progress reports and submit to the  MIYCN  officer
• Document and share success stories from clients helped and managed.

 

General

• Demonstrate compliance and leadership with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

 

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength

• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Diploma in Public Health, Nutrition, Nursing, Midwifery or related field with a minimum of one to two year relevant experiences in implementating MIYCN activities.
• Understanding of community management of acute malnutrition
• Able to supervise, train and coach community nutrition workers, volunteers and mother leads.
• Experience in facilitating community based trainings,
• Computer skills knowledge and applications especially Ms Word and Excel
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathise with children and their careers
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel and stay at the field.
• Strong report writing and computer skills
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.
• Understanding of local language and culture is mandatory.
• Understanding of English language (Listening, speaking, reading, writing).
• Candidate must be female

 

 

 

 

Desirable

• Qualified nutritionist with nutrition education/MIYCN experience.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Problem solving and decision-making skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks
• Able to work to tight deadlines and under pressure
• Strong interpersonal skills, ethical sensitivity and ability to empathise with children, youth and their carers

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.