Back Health/Wellness Coordinator (UNCARES)

Background

Since 1991, the UN has had a system-wide HIV workplace policy. UN Cares was the program designed to implement the policy by unifying HIV workplace programmes across the UN system and “Delivering as One” a comprehensive range of HIV services to all UN personnel and their families.

In 2014 there was an opportunity to review and evaluate performance and discuss various changes in the UN Cares programme. The changes included Reaching out to UN personnel & dependants through Learning sessions, Wellness & Health programmes and Children Activities enriching the response to their broader wellbeing issues emerging in UN Cares programme implementation. The response was to integrate HIV intervention with other issues thereby being packaged as part of a larger issue rather than being handled as a stand-alone issue to ensure that the benefits made do not roll back. The package also included Sexual orientation and gender identity, Disabilities and Drug use.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator the Health and Wellness Coordinator is responsible for supporting the UN Cares team to ensure the physical and mental health as well as the general wellbeing of staff members and their dependents.

Due to the high rate of mental health issues and the associated stigma and discrimination, the Health and Wellness coordinator will have a particular focus on mental wellbeing, staff stress management counselling services and awareness for and support to People Living with HIV and other chronic and/or life-threatening conditions.
The implementation of stress management activities is based on the UNDSS CISMU strategic framework on critical incident stress prevention and management outlined in the policy on Management of Stress and Critical Incident Stress (MSCIS-2015) that encapsulates the United Nations Standard Operating Procedure on critical incident stress management.

In co-operation with existing Health Care Services, e.g. the Primary Care Clinic (PCC) and UN doctors (UNEP), the incumbent shall also co-ordinate various wellness programmes for UN staff and their dependents.

The Health and Wellness Coordinator will work in close collaboration with the Operations and Programme teams, UNAIDS Team, Duty of Care Coordinator, Mental Health institutions, the UN PCC by WFP, UNEP, other UN Agencies in Malawi, UN+, NGOs, hospitals, other internal and external partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures implementation of corporate policies and strategies and serves as a focal point for the UN System in Malawi on Health and Wellness in the Workplace, through achievement of the following results:

• Facilitate inter-agency co-ordination by serving on the existing Inter-Agency Working group on Health and Wellness in the UN workplace;
• Implement corporate policies and strategies to enable Health and Wellness workplace concepts to be mainstreamed into all agencies’ activities in Malawi;
• Coordinate strategic action to promote the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV (GIPA) among the UN Agencies in Malawi;
• Provide an avenue for reduction of Mental health and HIV related denial, stigma, and discrimination among staff members of the UN system in Malawi;
• Develop and coordinate a stress management plan for the UN Offices;
• Conduct periodic psychosocial needs assessments and monitor the determinants of stress in UN Offices;
• Identify, address, and follow up on Critical Incident Stress cases among UN staff with UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS);
• Together with the Duty of Care Coordinator, liaise with local experts and institutions in country for referrals, along with UN line managers, medical doctors, and local physicians to build a network of psycho-medical professionals ready to support and intervene in case of need;
• Provide individual and group counselling sessions to staff and their families;
• Travel regularly to UN Offices/Sub-Offices in country to implement preventative and mitigating stress management activities;
• To serve as a resource person to non-UN agencies and organizations wishing to develop their own workplace programmes;
• Work together with UN Duty of Care, Primary Care Clinic and PIH to ensure a common approach leading to a UN Duty of Care Strategy.
• Provide monthly reports to the UN Resident Coordinator and periodic to UNDSS Regional Stress Counsellor for support
  Competencies
  • Fluency in written and spoken English and in the local language (Chichewa).
  • Being respectful and responsible, managing emotions and having integrity.
  • Managing individuals in the team.
  • Managing and communicating existing and future work.
  • Reasoning through and managing difficult situations.
  • High level of confidentiality Required Skills and Experience
    • Master’s degree in Counselling and Guidance.
    • First degree in Health Science, Public Health, or any Social Science
    • Critical Incident Stress Management certificate will be an added advantage
    • Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in psychological counselling, psychotherapy for trauma and critical incident stress.
    • Additional certification/ training or experience in alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, critical incident stress, harassment, management of Health and Wellness programmes in the workplace and employee grievance handling will be an added advantage
    • Experience with the United Nations is desirable Disclaimer

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