MHPSS Counsellor (Maternity Cover)

About the role

Action Against Hunger (ACF) is recruiting a Maternity Cover MHPSS Counsellor to implement mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and care practices integrated with nutrition and health interventions. The role focuses on the psychosocial needs of mothers and caretakers in health facilities, child stimulation and the mother-child relationship, and follow-up of care practices.

Key responsibilities

• Identify the psychosocial and care needs of mothers and caretakers in health facilities and design a methodology to improve psychosocial care.
• Assess whether psychosocial care services exist in health facilities and help strengthen them.
• Help develop teaching aids adapted to the needs of the target population.
• Run play sessions with age-appropriate toys, encourage mothers and children to play together, and conduct stimulation activities tailored to beneficiaries' needs.
• Provide individual counselling to mothers and caretakers, evaluate their knowledge before and after sessions, and support health instructors and appetite testing.
• Organise and direct sessions on breastfeeding practices and child development, and help parents whose children struggle during appetite testing.
• Facilitate discussion and working groups, analyse group sessions using an evaluation grid, and manage strong emotions in groups.
• Identify beneficiaries needing special attention (unusual behaviour, aggression, isolation, food refusal), support them through interviews and counselling and refer them to the medical team when needed.
• Keep records of social activities up to date, enter MHPSS cases in the MHPSS database and report to the line manager.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in psychology and counselling, or a Ministry of Public Health-approved 2-year diploma in psychosocial counselling.
• At least 2 years of experience in mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies (mandatory).
• Fluency in the local language, including Uzbeki, is mandatory.

Required skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, good team interaction and a positive attitude.
• Good MHPSS case formulation skills.

Candidates apply by sending a cover letter and full CV with three referees to the Human Resources department of the ACF office, or by email, stating the vacancy title and number. Academic certificates are not submitted with the application. Applications close on 01 November 2026.