Term of Reference (ToR) for Mental Health and Counseling Supervisor

Kopila Valley Sewa Samaj

Term of Reference (ToR) for Mental Health and Counseling Supervisor

Health & Wellness Program

Introduction

With a vision of “a world where every child is safe, educated, loved”, Kopila Valley Sewa Samaj (KVSS) established in 2007, is a non-governmental, apolitical, and not for profit organization. Our mission is to change the world by empowering Nepal's children. We do this by providing quality education, a safe environment, and through inspiring others while putting the children first, strengthening families and local communities.

Most at-risk and disadvantaged children are provided with quality education at Kopila Valley School (KVS), one of the greenest schools in Nepal, made from the rammed earth and nestled on a campus with a commitment to building sustainable programs. Along with the lifelong gift of education to the disadvantaged children, we support their family members to improve their living standards and make it sustainable through holistic programs ranging from children’s home, health and wellness through women empowerment to career guidance/counseling, and scholarships for further studies.

Health & wellness is one of the important programs of KVSS that provides health services and emergency response to our students and local community. It spreads promotional, preventive and basic curative healthcare services to students of KVS, staff and guardians along with some community outreach programs. Main components of the health & wellness program include clinic, nutrition by ensuring local and organic food, mental health and counseling support and family development program. Family Development Program is for social wellbeing to create a positive support circle, and strengthen families to be able to resolve their issues by themselves and the individuals in the family can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. 

We do this with our funding partner BlinkNow Foundation and in close ties with the local government and communities.

Along with the growing challenges and complexities of mental health, we are committed to provide counseling services to students, staff, guardians, and the community ensuring their psychosocial well-being. Effective integration of mental health in schools ensures meaningful collaboration between school, family, children and community to build a safe and nurturing learning environment. Through our support, we aim to foster resilience, emotional balance, and a healthier community. Mental health & counseling supervisor plays a vital role in strengthening KVSS mental health program by providing expert guidance, supervision, and strategic direction to enhance mental health services which will integrate mental health support into the academic environment, ensuring students receive the emotional and psychological care they need. Additionally, the supervisor will support career counseling efforts, helping students explore their interests, strengths, and future opportunities. By addressing both mental well-being and career development, this role will create a supportive learning environment that empowers students to succeed academically and plan for a better future. Thus, to strengthen in-house mental health counselor’s professional support with revitalizing relevant policies and protocols, KVSS is hiring a consultant who has substantial mental and psychosocial health related qualifications and expertise in an NGO and/or school setting.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Policymaking: Review and draft policies related to health and wellness, focused on mental health and counseling.
2. Capacity building: Training and capacity building of the health and wellness team with special emphasis on mental health counselors.
3. Program intervention and case management: Lead referral case management and interventions that need specialized skills guiding alongside the frontline care providers.

DETAILED AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES

In close coordination with the Health and Wellness Associate Manager and consultation with the school leadership team and Head of Programs, the consultant will ensure the following deliverables:

1. Policymaking: Review and draft policies related to health and wellness, focused on mental health and counseling.

• Review existing guidelines and procedures on mental health and psychosocial support at KVS and KVSS. 
• Identify and present to the leadership team the gaps in the existing policies.
• Prepare and provide recommendations to update the health and wellness and, more specifically, the mental health-related policies to address the gaps.
• Develop mental health, and health and wellness-related standard operating procedures for KVSS.
• Provide orientation and support the KVSS team in integrating mental health policies to improve student’s academic performance.

2. Capacity building: Training and capacity building of the health and wellness team with special emphasis on mental health counselors.

• Assess the capacity--needs of mental health counselors and recommend to the leadership team areas of professional growth needed to meet the expectations of mental health and counseling.
• Build the capacity of KVSS counselors and enhance their skills, as evidenced by pre- and post-assessment results.
• Conduct in-person or online one-on-one sessions with the Mental Health Counselors and Social Workers on a monthly basis and with program leads as per need.
• Design and conduct professional development workshops on current trends in counseling, behavior management, and crisis management, including implementing strategies to prevent burnout among the case management team through stress management programs and self-care practices.
• Support the program leads in identifying basic mental health wellness-related issues and building capacity to apply simple intervention tools.

3. Program intervention and case management: Lead referral case management and interventions that need specialized skills guiding alongside the frontline care providers. 

• Oversee and provide supervisory support to KVSS counselors and other relevant team members in case management where specialized skills are needed.
• Provide counseling supervision to mental health counselors and career counselors in collaboration with the respective program lead.
• Identify relevant psychometric tools for assessing students’ and alumni’s mental health, emotional well-being, and career aptitude and train the team on the appropriate use of psychometric assessments. 
• In collaboration with the Health and Wellness team and school team, develop and implement a Behaviour Intervention Plan to manage adolescent behavioral concerns.
• Support the counseling team in coordinating with external mental health resources, referrals or specialized interventions as needed in the evolving context and needs.

The consultant will be responsible for safety and security procedures and abide by the policy/procedures of KVSS alongside the child protection code of conduct.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Advance degree (Masters or higher) in Counseling, Psychology or related field
• Experience of school counseling or mental health services and behaviour intervention
• Proven track record in developing and implementing training and supervising counseling professionals
• Excellent coaching, mentoring and communication skills

Timelines

The consultant will begin assessment and review of existing policy, guidelines and procedures on mental health and counseling right after the consultant agreement tentatively from the second week of April and the consultancy service will run through December 2025 as per need.

The tentative total days will be 10 days a month for the first three months of signing off the consultancy agreement, and then five days a month till 31 December 2025. Nevertheless, the days will be subject to changes as per needs and negotiated by the consultant and the organization.

Deadline

The deadline of submission for the mentioned consulting service is 04 April, 2025. The interested candidates are supposed to email us with a CV, Proposal with detailed budget, scan copy of Nepali Citizenship, PAN Card, Educational Certificate, Experienced Certificates related to Counselling within the deadline at: kvssadmin@kopilavalley.org

Address: Ward no. 4, Birendranagar Municipality, Surkhet

Phone: 083-412169