Virtual Counselor

Terms of References for Counselor (virtual)- Mythri Clinics

About YRGCARE

Established in 1993, Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRGCARE) is a premier non-government organization providing comprehensive HIV services in India. Its objective is to provide prevention, care, support and treatment services for people living with HIV/AIDS, to prevent new infections, and to ensure that patients and their families are treated with dignity. It is one of the sub-recipients of Johns Hopkins University (JHU) for the ACCELERATE program, a five-year program supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in India.

Specific Responsibilities:

• The counselor works under the guidance and supervision of Assistant Director (plg), O/o Directorate, Hyderabad.
  
• To provide virtual counseling and address concerns of community about services such as general health care, HIV/STI screening, and social entitlements and guide them towards appropriate resources in their vicinity, after thorough assessment of their needs.
  
• To offer mental health first aid including referrals to specialist care, if necessary to helpline callers and Mythri Clinic attendees.
  
• To provide information about non-medical services such as TG portal registration, upskilling and employment schemes offered by the Dept. of Emp., of PwDs, SC and TG Persons and guide clients to professional networks for legal services and other social protection needs.
  
• Follow up with the caller’s through telephone /peer-mediated approach where necessary and as far as possible by the virtual counselor only.
  
• Ensure document on action of received calls in the counseling register.
  
• To coordinate with Mythri Trans clinic teams through respective team leads.
  
• Maintain district wise register of referral networks to refer callers for health and non-health needs including gender affirmation services, HIV/STI and other need-based tertiary care services to Govt hospitals as well as local support groups and other community resources.
  
• To engage online with local transgender CBOs/NGOs and organizations working with/for trans community to create awareness about the Mythri Clinics and mobilize clients to the clinics.
  
• Uphold virtual confidentiality and integrity of the data and caller-related information.
  
• Stay updated on latest additions/changes in gender affirmation guidelines globally and at national/state level.
  
• Provide support in data quality audits.
  
• Collection of client feedback and utilization of data in improving the services and there is in build mechanism in the helpline number.
  
• Perform any additional duties as assigned by the Assistant Director, adapting to the evolving needs of the program and the community.
  
• The honorarium will be paid by the ACCELERLATE.
  
• Shall maintain separate register for frequent callers.
  
• The counselor shall administratively report to the State Manager, ACCELERATE/YRGCARE, Telangana.
  
  

• Gender Sensitivity: In-depth understanding of transgender-specific health issues and the ability to provide culturally competent care.
  
• Communication Skills: Strong interpersonal, communication, and counseling skills, with the ability to work effectively in virtual format.Fluency inTelugu is necessary.
  
• Confidentiality: Commitment to maintaining privacy and confidentiality of caller information.
  
• Collaborative Approach: Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including healthcare professionals, community champions, and other stakeholders.
  
• Commitment to Continuous Learning: Stay updated on the latest transgender health guidelines and best practices in counseling.
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology, social Work, counseling, or a related field.
  
• Prior experience in counseling, especially with marginalized communities (preferably transgender population).
  
• Shall know the language skills in Telugu, English and Hindi.
  
• Shall have the knowledge on excel and word documentation works.
  
• Familiarity with virtual counseling platforms and telehealth tools
  
• Strong understanding of health issues faced by the transgender community, including mental health challenges, HIV, and gender-affirming care and/or willingness to learn about these issues.
  
• We encourage applications from individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. While specific qualifications are typically required, we are open to relaxing these criteria for candidates with relevant lived experience and skills to contribute to this position.
  

Equal Opportunity Employer:

YRGCARE is an equal-opportunity employer. At YRGCARE, we are committed to supporting inclusion and diversity as part of our values. We actively celebrate employees’ different abilities, sexual orientations, ethnicity, faith, and gender. Our employees are provided with equal opportunities to those who are from different races, communities, experiences, backgrounds, and sexual orientations. Our employees are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds, who share a passion for improving people's lives.

Benefits