Background

Malawi AIDS Counselling and Resource Organization (MACRO) is a locally registered non-governmental organization (NGO), established in 1995 to complement the Government of Malawi’s efforts in combating HIV and AIDS and addressing other health-related challenges. MACRO’s vision is “A Malawi populace free of ill-health,” and its mission is “To transform the lives of Malawians through the provision of high-quality HIV and AIDS and other health-related services.” With funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MACRO is implementing the IMPACT Project, which aims to strengthen effective interventions to address unmet needs for HIV Testing Services (HTS) in CDC-supported districts, contributing to the attainment of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. In line with the implementation of the project, MACRO invites applications from suitably qualified, experienced, and motivated candidates to fill the following vacant positions under the IMPACT Project.

About the Role

The Psychosocial Counsellor will be responsible for providing high-quality, client-centred psychosocial counselling and support services to individuals living with HIV, their partners, families, caregivers, and other clients affected by HIV and related health conditions at MACRO clinics. The role aims to address clients’ emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual needs while promoting mental well-being, resilience, treatment adherence, and overall quality of life.

Responsibilities

• Conducting psychosocial assessments, identifying clients’ counselling and support needs, developing and implementing appropriate intervention plans, and providing individual and group counselling sessions.
• Supporting clients in coping with HIV diagnosis, stigma and discrimination, disclosure challenges, treatment adherence, and other psychosocial concerns.
• Collaborating with clinical and community-based healthcare teams to facilitate referrals, strengthen continuity of care.
• Maintaining accurate and confidential counselling records.
• Ensuring the delivery of holistic, ethical, and non-discriminatory services in line with national guidelines and MACRO’s established protocols.
• Conduct routine psychological assessments, including suicide risk assessments, through interviews, observations, and tests.
• Provide a safe and conducive environment for clients to freely express feelings.
• Develop and deliver individual, family, and group-based therapeutic interventions.
• Create and implement intervention plans for all clients, ensuring proper documentation of assessments, diagnoses, and progress.
• Support Community outreach activities and stakeholder strengthening in the district.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of a Diploma in Psychosocial Counselling from a recognized institution.
• Registration with the Medical Council of Malawi (mandatory).
• At least 5 years’ experience providing counseling/psychotherapy.
• Experience in program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of HIV programs and Ministry of Health service delivery systems (preferred).

Skills

• Proficiency in psychosocial assessment and counseling techniques for individuals, couples, families, and communities.
• Strong respect and empathy for persons living with HIV.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Skills in goal setting, conflict resolution, and group facilitation.
• Superior interpersonal, leadership, research, and time management abilities.
• Open-minded, non-judgmental, and able to listen patiently and carefully.

• Providing high-quality, client-centred psychosocial counselling and support services to individuals living with HIV, their partners, families, caregivers, and other clients affected by HIV and related health conditions at MACRO clinics.
• Addressing clients’ emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual needs while promoting mental well-being, resilience, treatment adherence, and overall quality of life.
• Conducting psychosocial assessments, identifying clients’ counselling and support needs, developing and implementing appropriate intervention plans, and providing individual and group counselling sessions.
• Supporting clients in coping with HIV diagnosis, stigma and discrimination, disclosure challenges, treatment adherence, and other psychosocial concerns.
• Collaborating with clinical and community-based healthcare teams to facilitate referrals, strengthen continuity of care.
• Maintaining accurate and confidential counselling records.
• Ensuring the delivery of holistic, ethical, and non-discriminatory services in line with national guidelines and MACRO’s established protocols.
• Conduct routine psychological assessments, including suicide risk assessments, through interviews, observations, and tests.
• Provide a safe and conducive environment for clients to freely express feelings.
• Develop and deliver individual, family, and group-based therapeutic interventions.
• Create and implement intervention plans for all clients, ensuring proper documentation of assessments, diagnoses, and progress.
• Support Community outreach activities and stakeholder strengthening in the district.

• Proficiency in psychosocial assessment and counseling techniques for individuals, couples, families, and communities.
• Strong respect and empathy for persons living with HIV.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Skills in goal setting, conflict resolution, and group facilitation.
• Superior interpersonal, leadership, research, and time management abilities.
• Open-minded, non-judgmental, and able to listen patiently and carefully.

• Minimum of a Diploma in Psychosocial Counselling from a recognized institution.
• Registration with the Medical Council of Malawi (mandatory).
• At least 5 years’ experience providing counseling/psychotherapy.
• Experience in program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of HIV programs and Ministry of Health service delivery systems (preferred).