Avenda Benjamin
Terseer
Lagos,Lagos
Summary
A highly passionate humanitarian worker, with proven experience in Project Management, supporting clients in the clinical and community settings; committed to employing client-centered approach in gradually assisting project beneficiaries to become self-sufficient and self-reliant and enable them cope and make informed decisions. With over 8 years’ experience in community MPHSS, providing counseling, protection, and employing professional and ethical conduct in protection and psychosocial support, and client confidentiality. Having special interest in health and hygiene promotion, TB/HIV/AIDS centered counseling/testing. As a graduate of sociology with over 8 years of experience in public health and humanitarian services, program planning and management, monitoring, and evaluation.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
12
12
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Project Assistant
International Organization for Migration
Lagos, Lagos
04.2019 - Current
- Produced highly accurate internal and external letters and memoranda.
- Created and updated physical records and digital files to maintain current, accurate and compliant documentation.
- Offered office-wide software support and training, troubleshooting issues and optimizing usage.
- Managed quality and client deadlines by working closely with staff to maintain adherence with project requirements.
- Identification, screening, and referral of migrants with MPHSS/GBV and other protection needs for psychological/psychiatric evaluation and care under different projects.
- Oversee the provision of specialized assistance and leadership for planning and implementing the MHPSS component within the AVRR program, Migration Management unit in Lagos Nigeria by tracking and monitoring the implementation progress to verify the projects objectives are achieved and suggesting corrective actions.
- Coordinate and provide training to identified IOM colleagues and other partners’ staff involved with returnees on MHPSS support, including Psychological First Aid Training, and other relevant PSS trainings (e.g., understanding emotional issues among returning migrants, positive communication skills, basic MHPSS concepts
- Lead the team in designing and implementation community level sensitization activities on MHPSS issues through psychosocial and recreational activities adapted to the needs, age, and abilities of migrants.
- Oversee the provision of reintegration assistance within case management, specifically for vulnerable cases of returning migrants and ensure the documentation and filing of all vulnerable cases for reference and monitoring including regular update of beneficiaries’ information.
- Manage the day-to-day implementation and functioning of the AVRR programme and activities, within the component of MHPSS.
- Liaise and strengthen partnerships with relevant governmental, non-governmental (NGOs), international organizations as well as other relevant stakeholders.
- Collect and analyze and present information through periodic and ad-hoc reports on MHPSS activities for evidenced based programming. Coordinate and exchange information with national institutional, professional, and academic counterparts.
- Provide and coordinate counseling to the returnees to facilitate smooth psychosocial reintegration within family and community in coordination with protection focal points.
- Provide technical oversight and monitor MHPSS component activities including those implemented by the local partners, by reviewing respective records, including control of plans, progress reports, project inputs, identify issues and propose adjustments, as necessary.
- Provide specialized support to implementation of protection screening and needs assessment of the qualitative and quantitative impact of psychosocial support activities at individual, family, and community level.
- Provide guidance, coaching and training to other staff and any relevant person involved in returnee’s assistance.
- Undertake duty travel to very challenging areas when necessary, including field visits to the beneficiaries’ and monitor developments.
- Perform any other duties as required.
Community-Based MHPSS Counselor
NEEM Foundation
Maiduguri, Borno
08.2017 - 04.2019
- Developed team communications and information for meetings.
- Prepared a variety of different written communications, reports and documents to ensure smooth operations.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Lead community based psychosocial support activities for Jere and Maiduguri Metropolitan Councils in Borno, Northeast Nigeria.
- Provide Psychological First Aid to New arrivals/victims of terrorism in Borno State in the Deutsche government’s funded MHPSS/counseling on wheels project.
- Provide client-centered Mental Health & Psychosocial counseling sessions to IDPs displaced by Boko Haram insurgency.
- Provision of Health Education, Water Sanitation & Hygiene promotion among IDPs
- Accurately document counselling session/treatment outcomes
- Develop and deliver individual and group session plans at the family, community, and institutional level.
- Weekly attendance of in-house professional development workshops and training courses.
- Provide counseling and deradicalization sessions with repentant terrorist, children associated with armed forces and groups (CAFAAGs) and other community members.
- Provide group and individual psychoeducation and psychosocial support sessions for women and children on IDP camps and communities.
- Facilitate sessions at peace building meetings among men, women and youth within communities displaced by Boko Haram crisis in Borno state Nigeria.
- Psychosocial Assessment, testing, evaluation, referral, consultation, program planning, chemical dependency counseling/education, prevention services/activities, individual, group, couple, and family therapy.
- Leading the provision of counseling services to the under-served hard-to-reach host communities in and around Maiduguri, Borno State.
- Instituting peace mechanisms in communities affected by the insurgency in Borno State. This includes monthly meetings with and between community stakeholders, building the Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) capacity of community stakeholders and setting up community-based peace committees.
- Train volunteers in community-based protection and mental health and psychosocial support approaches and interventions as psychological first aid and Safe Spaces and other community spaces.
- Advocating for the importance of integrating protection and psychosocial support in all sectors.
- Conduct community awareness on identification of vulnerable children & process of registration of separated & unaccompanied children.
- Refer cases with specific needs to competent service providers, follow up & document referred cases.
- Actively conduct tracing of families in collaboration with community members & local authorities & in coordination with other humanitarian actors
- Ensure that all program data is properly & regularly collected by field staff, check data & ensure logical presentation to program lead.
- Represent the organization at inter agency coordination meetings.
Community Care & Support Associate
Centre for Integrated Health Programs
Makurdi, Benue
02.2016 - 07.2017
- Identified social, economic, recreational and educational services in community to meet clients' needs.
- Assisted case management team in identifying potential problems by providing input to counselors and other professionals in regard to development of client program plans.
- Targeted specific community groups with wellness and disease management information.
- Helped vulnerable individuals navigate complex healthcare system.
- Provision of psychosocial support, Personal Hygiene, Dignity & prevention services to people living with HIV/AIDS.
- Adherence counseling, defaulter tracking, and documentation of services provided for patients at clinics and community levels.
- Formation and coordination of support groups of people living with HIV/AIDS across council wards in Konshisha & Buruku LGAs
- Supporting Care & treatment activities across primary health care clinics across LGAs
- Distribution & supervision of nutritional incentives and conditional cash transfer to malnourished/handicap HIV positive mothers on PMTCT.
- Supervision of community testers, data clerks, TB volunteers, Lab volunteers, Peer Health Educators & coordination of weekly/monthly data review meetings.
- Coordinating and tracking weekly program performance across supported sites.
- Generate management information (data demand and information usage) to supervisor and other team members when needed.
- Work closely with the SMOH, SMoWASD, NPHCDA, NOGs, and HIV TWGs in Benue State in identifying and capitalizing on leverage points for improved linkages and referral coordination at the community level and for Integration of HIV Prevention Care & Support elements for Key Population activities.
- Lead the process in ensuring all Peer Navigators ensure prompt enrollment and referral of all newly identified HIV cases.
State Care & Support Assistant
Benue State AIDS Control Agency
Makurdi, Benue
06.2014 - 02.2016
- Under the direct supervision of the Community Engagement (CEO) conduct a thorough assessment of health facilities under the World Bank Project in target communities/LGAs.
- Work with the CEO to engage community actors in a dialogue around an inter-disciplinary analysis of strength and weaknesses in the clinical practices, mechanisms, and systems towards improving health care delivery and WASH activities in Benue.Mobilize local partners (teachers, caregivers, medical nurses, and other professionals as appropriate) to support community HIV Testing Services (HTS).
- Facilitate development of community-specific action plans and provide technical guidance throughout their implementation.
- Regularly monitor field activities and maintain working relationships with community leaders, professional networks, and other program stakeholders. Ensure timely information to the CEO about issues and successes of the activities and contribute to periodic report to donors.
- Provide support in establishment of community monitoring groups with participation of community-based organization (CBO), NGOs.
- Organize on-the-ground activities for piloting of HIV/TB Referral Systems, conduct monitoring of project activities, and provide feedback and recommendations.
- Compile timely regular and circumstantial reports to CEO.
- Routine supervision & mentoring of Health care facilities providing HIV services across Benue State LGAs
- Collaborating with implementing partners & relevant agencies in coordination & provision of treatment, care & support services across the state
- Coordination of state level prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS
- Training of LGA Counselor testers on HIV Testing Services (HTS)
- Provision of Mobile Rapid HIV Testing services to IDPs in Various camps of Benue state.
- Clinic based TBHIV prevention, care/treatment & referral between the HIVTB services.
- Routine supervision & mentoring visits to TB HIV treatment sites in Konshisha LGA
- Ensure all TB HIV M&E tools are available at all sites.
- Receive & follow up results of patients with real time documentation of diagnostic & treatment outcome.
- Hold monthly review meetings with the facility TB referral coordinators and the LGTBLC.
- Submit monthly report to the State Technical Officer
Social Worker
Psychiatric Clinic, Federal Medical Centre
Makurdi, Benue
09.2010 - 11.2014
- Delivered comprehensive therapeutic services to children, adolescents and adults to support child welfare and prevention services.
- Completed detailed charts to summarize interactions with patients and booked follow-up sessions.
- Recommended long-term residential treatment, short-term residential treatment and individualized and group drug counseling for clients with substance abuse issues.
- Administered assessments and developed academic goals based on specific disabilities and barriers to learning.
- Conduct assessment & provide help to mental health patients from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic educational & other backgrounds.
- Provision of therapy & social rehabilitation, crisis intervention and outreach services
- Performed intake & evaluation process, consisting of identifying information, medical insurance information, medical history, presenting symptoms & others.
- Consulting with other professionals like Psychiatrists & Psychologists in treatment plan formulation & implementation
- Provision of psychoeducation, and play therapy, substance abuse counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, group/family counseling, and supportive counseling.
Education
Master of Science - Criminology
National Open University of Nigeria
Lagos 01.2021 - Current
PDGE - Postgraduate Diploma in Education
Postgraduate Diploma in Education
National Teachers' Institute 01.2018 - 12.2018
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
Benue State University
Makurdi 10.2004 - 12.2008
GED -
NKST Secondary School
Naka, Benue State 09.1998 - 07.2004
No Degree - Diploma in Mental Health
Alison
Online 08.2021 - 08.2021
Skills
Spreadsheet development
undefinedTimeline
No Degree - Diploma in Mental Health
Alison
08.2021 - 08.2021
Master of Science - Criminology
National Open University of Nigeria
01.2021 - Current
Project Assistant
International Organization for Migration
04.2019 - Current
PDGE - Postgraduate Diploma in Education
Postgraduate Diploma in Education
01.2018 - 12.2018
Community-Based MHPSS Counselor
NEEM Foundation
08.2017 - 04.2019
Community Care & Support Associate
Centre for Integrated Health Programs
02.2016 - 07.2017
State Care & Support Assistant
Benue State AIDS Control Agency
06.2014 - 02.2016
Social Worker
Psychiatric Clinic, Federal Medical Centre
09.2010 - 11.2014
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
Benue State University
10.2004 - 12.2008
GED -
NKST Secondary School
09.1998 - 07.2004
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