Staff Counsellor

Job Posting: 10/Sep/2024

Closure Date: 01/Oct/2024, 4:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: CSLH

Job Type: Staff position

Type of Requisition: Professional

Grade Level: P-3

Primary Location: Italy-Rome

Duration: Fixed-term: one year with possibility of extension

Post Number: 2010407

CCOG Code: 1I03m

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
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- **FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture**:

- **Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply**:

- **Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values**:

- **FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination**:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for _better production_, _better nutrition_, _a _better environment,_ and _a better life_, leaving no one behind.

**Organizational Setting**

The FAO Health Services (CSLH) provides preventive medical, counseling and occupational health services to FAO employees and their dependents and advises on all health-related matters to the Organization. Within the Health Services, the counseling unit provides services to promote the psychological health and well-being of employees and contributes to a healthy work environment, at headquarters and in field offices worldwide.

The position is located in the Health Services within the Logistics Services Division at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

**Reporting Lines**
The Staff Counsellor reports to the Chief, Health Services.

**Technical Focus**
Overall planning and implementation of the FAO Mental Health Strategy with particular focus on psychological preparation for hardship assignments to minimize ill health effects on the persons and its negative impact on the operations of the Organization.

**Key Results**
Full implementation of the FAO Mental Health Strategy to achieve full coverage of FAO employees and dependents with the needed mental health and wellbeing services.

**Key Functions**
- Reviews and updates the FAO Mental Health Strategy.
- Coordinates the design, development, delivery and evaluation of staff counselling services.
- Leads a team of counsellors and coordinates all aspects of delivery of psychosocial support to headquarters and Decentralized Offices.
- Supports and advises regional counsellors in complex cases or critical incidents as needed.
- Oversees the counselling unit activities managing the performance of counsellors under his/her supervision.
- Provides culturally sensitive psychological support to all FAO employees (to individuals and/or group sessions) either in person or via teleconference and referrals to outside mental health care services as appropriate.
- Develops a proactive and reactive support programme for FAO Level 3 emergency countries and crisis areas and provides active psychosocial support during emergencies and/or after critical incidents to ensure continued staff well-being.
- Delivers workshops, trainings and information sessions on a wide range of topics (e.g. stress management, team building, problem-solving, conflict resolution, etc.) to employees from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, to ensure that staff regularly receive relevant information and are aware of sources where to find information or assistance.
- Designs, reviews and implements a Peer Support programme for Decentralized Offices; contributes to the design of corporate policies and guidelines; designs information booklets/materials to increase awareness of important themes and promote staff welfare.
- Advises managers, the Human Resources Division (CSH), the Security Services (CSOS) and other institutional partners on assisting employees with stress health issues that may affect work functioning and performance, giving guidance and support to employees and the Organization during organizational changes and critical incidents.
- Based on identification of risks in the workplace, provides preventative, educational and information programmes and group presentations on topics including - but not limited to - psychosocial health problems, workplace wellbeing, crisis preparedness and response, and other health promotion topics.
- Within the UN framework of the duty of care in high-risk environment, contributes to the development of policies and procedural guidelines to