BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION – MALAWI

VACANCIES

The Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation – Malawi (BCMCF-M) is a not-for-profit organization working in partnership with the Malawi Government in the health sector. Our mission is to improve the health and lives of children with HIV, cancer and blood disorders through high quality, high impact, ethical, state of the art comprehensive care and treatment, training of health professionals and clinical research. We are situated within the Kamuzu Central Hospital premises, opposite Kamuzu College of Nursing.

Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation has awarded Baylor College of Medicine Global Health a generous grant of $2.25 million to launch the Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Pilot Initiative in Malawi. This initiative, which will be implemented  at Area 25 Community Hospital , aims to tackle cervical cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Malawi. BCMCF-M invites applications from suitably qualified individuals to fill the following position of:

Position: Psychosocial Counsellor

Reports to:        Program Manager          

Location:           Area 25 Community Hospital

Position Description:

The Psychosocial Counsellor, reporting to the Program Manager, provides essential psychosocial support to individuals with cervical cancer, their families, and caregivers. This role involves offering high-quality counseling and addressing the emotional, social, mental, and spiritual needs of patients as part of comprehensive care. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the Counsellor conducts psychosocial assessments, designs and implements interventions, and contributes to training, monitoring, evaluation, and research. The Counsellor’s duties align with Baylor Foundation Malawi” protocols and Malawi’s healthcare policies, ensuring compliance with national mental health and medical standards..

Essential Duties

• Conduct routine psychological assessments for patients, including suicide risk evaluation.
• Identify and address gaps in psychosocial services and train palliative care champions.
• Create a safe environment for client expression and provide individual, family, and group therapy.
• Ensure comprehensive psychosocial assessments and intervention plans for all clients, with proper documentation and confidentiality.
• Regularly evaluate counseling services and improve existing programs.
• Coordinate referrals, act as client advocate, and mentor other care providers and students.
• Assess intervention impacts, collaborate with professionals, provide feedback to referring providers, and maintain professional competence.
• Supervise assigned counselors and students, attend meetings, represent the program at relevant forums, prepare reports, and perform other assigned duties.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of a diploma in psychosocial counselling from a recognized institution.
• At least three years’ experience of providing counselling/psychotherapy.
• Experience in program designing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Proficiency in using the computer mainly Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Chichewa and English.
• Superior interpersonal, leadership, research, time management, organization and evaluation skills.
• Ability to listen patiently and carefully.
• Proficiency in conflict resolution, consensus- based decision making and group facilitation.
• Ability to work in a team orientated environment is a must.
• Ready to work over some weekends.

Suitably qualified and experienced candidates should address their applications, including a detailed Curriculum Vitae and names of three traceable referees who are not relatives to:

The Executive Director
Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation-Malawi
P/Bag B-397
Lilongwe 3

E-mail:  recruitment@baylor-malawi.org

The closing date for receiving applications is on 15^th  November, 2024. Only shortlisted applicants will be acknowledged.