Intern – Counselling Psychology

Reports to: RMNCAH Technical Advisor

Duration: 6 Months with possibility of extension based on availability of funds

Project: INUA Afya ya Mama Project

Project Site: Mathare North Health Facility, Mukuru Kwa Reuben Center, Mukuru Health Center

ABOUT HEALTHRIGHT KENYA

HealthRight Kenya (HRK) is a health and human rights organization whose mission is to empower marginalized communities to live healthy lives. We achieve lasting change for marginalized populations through locally built and owned solutions; equitable access to health services; and better health outcomes for marginalized populations. For more than a decade, have been using a rights-based approach to HealthRight, working with local government and implementing the national government’s community engagement strategy in more than 10 counties across Kenya. HealthRight has also demonstrated its ability to forge relationships from the community level right up to the county level in the most remote and impoverished areas of the country.

Vision: The gap in health outcomes between marginalized populations and the general population is eliminated.

Mission: Expand equitable access to quality health systems for marginalized communities.

INUA Afya ya Mama Project

INUA Afya ya Mama (Swahili name for uplifting Mothers Health) Project is a three year project (2024-2027) funded by Comic Relief. The Project intends to strengthen perinatal mental health service delivery at the primary health care and community; Prioritize community engagement and empowerment and enhance the capacity of healthcare providers in delivering quality mental health care services.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Coordination and Implementation:

• Support in organizing and implementing project activities at the sub-county level.
• Work closely with the Sub County Community Health Strategy, SGBV focal person, Mental Health Focal Person, HCWs, project CHPs, and Champions.
• Represent HealthRight at meetings, conferences workshops, and other forums to promote and articulate issues related to mental health programming.
• Document lessons learned and success stories from the field and share with the MHPSS consultant for review.
• Assist in organizing project documents/ reports.

2. Administrative, Monitoring and Evaluation Support:

• Participate in project monthly and quarterly data review and supervision meetings in collaboration with the Subcounty HRIO and HRK M&E focal person
• Ensure consistent follow-up of activity implementation at the community level.
• Ensure timely submission of quality activity reports by the implementing sub-county health management team.
• Maintain regular communication with APD, MHPSS consultant, APD, CHPs, mental health champions, and the Sub-County Health Management Team (SCHMT).
• Submit detailed activity reports for review and payment.
• Assist in making finance requests and managing project finances in collaboration with finance officers.
• Assist in maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of all project activities and expenditures.

Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Counseling Psychology or a related field.
• Strong interest in mental health and community health initiatives.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse community groups and health care professionals.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Desirable Attributes:

• Prior experience in community health projects or mental health initiatives.
• Familiarity with the informal settlements of Nairobi, specifically Mathare North, Reuben, and Mukuru areas.
• Knowledge of local languages and cultural sensitivity.
• Dynamic, collaborative, and able to work in challenging contexts with patience, perseverance, and flexibility.
• Capacity to work independently, take initiative, set priorities, and manage a variety of activities simultaneously.
• Enthusiastic about learning from others and sharing knowledge.
• Demonstrated intercultural competence and ability to adapt professional skills to fit local conditions and constraints.

The internship stipend for this position is Kes.10,000 per month.