Ugat ng Kalusugan is seeking a Social Worker to join our youth team for community outreach programming. Working with our educators, the Social Worker will help create and teach workshops and education sessions focused on sexual health education, with a specific emphasis on mental health and HIV support for young people in Puerto Princesa. The Social Worker will be primarily involved in piloting programs aimed at reducing unplanned teen pregnancy and addressing the intersecting challenges of mental health and HIV. 

This is a full-time position with a four-month probation period. The salary is commensurate with experience plus benefits such as PhilHealth, SSS, Pag-IBIG, 10 paid vacation days, 10 days sick leave, insurance coverage after the four-month probation period, 13th month pay, one week paid leave for Holy Week, and two weeks paid leave between Christmas and New Year. Initial commitment of one year with a possibility of extension.

Responsibilities

• Provide motivational counseling & psychotherapy sessions for individuals and families 
• Liaise with community agencies and service providers to refer patients and families to resources
• Be the point person for our mental health work with young people
• Provide psychosocial and reproductive health counseling to youth
• Help develop interventions to support at-risk youth
• Train and support our stakeholder partners including teachers or other government workers
• With our Clinical Team and HIV Team, help assess a patient’s psychological needs
• Work with the MEL team to monitor and evaluate programs, track progress and deliverables
• Work with Youth Team in creating and disseminating workshops and education sessions focused on reproductive health, puberty, SOGIE, and HIV awareness and prevention
• With the Youth Team Director, monitor and manage activity budgets
• Serve as an ambassador of the organization, including for meetings with partners
• Perform other necessary duties as assigned, that are well within the skills and physical capability

Job Qualifications

Required:

• At least 1-2 years experience in counseling in a community, school or other setting
• Passionate about providing high quality, non-judgmental education and information to young people
• Empathetic towards young people/Youth-friendly 
• Ability to work effectively in teams and be sensitive to others’ perspectives
• Highly organized and detail oriented, enthusiastic, flexible and good-humored
• Previous experience in sound judgment during difficult situations 
• Knowledge of when appropriate authorities must be contacted depending on specific situations

Desired:

• A degree in child psychology, license in social work or a similar field is preferred
• Experience working with youth groups or in social work programs focused on young people
• Experience in conducting/handling mental health programs/activities
• With Training/background in mental health

Qualified applicants should send a cover letter, resume and contact information of 3 references to jobs@rootsofhealth.org as soon as possible. 

Type: “Social Worker Position” in the subject line.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews. 

About Roots of Health / Ugat ng Kalusugan

Roots of Health /Ugat ng Kalusugan is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the health of women and girls, and their communities, in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, in the Philippines. We envision self-reliant women, young people and communities living healthy reproductive lives in Palawan. Roots of Health empowers women and girls to secure their right to health and freedom from violence, and to support and protect the health and well-being of their children. Our activities are guided by the international human rights framework, which includes a core belief that health is a human right, and activities are carried out using a community-based approach.