Counsellor (MSC)

The Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) was established in 1980 as the national coordinating body of women’s organisations in Singapore. SCWO has more than 60-member organisations, which represent over 600,000 women, and it serves to unite them to work toward ideals of ‘Equal Space, Equal Voice and Equal Worth’ for women in Singapore.

The Maintenance Support Central (MSC) is an initiative by the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO). MSC empowers financially vulnerable individuals by helping them understand their marital and maintenance rights and providing holistic support through a network of community partners.

MSC is seeking a dedicated and empathetic Counsellor to join its team.

The Counsellor will provide professional counselling and psychosocial support to individuals experiencing financial hardship, family conflict, abuse, trauma, and relationship loss. Through a trauma-informed and client-centred approach, the Counsellor will establish trusting therapeutic relationships and create a safe and supportive environment that empowers clients in their healing and recovery.

In addition to direct client work, the Counsellor will play an integral role in MSC's service delivery and programme operations. The role encompasses case management, client support, community engagement, outreach, research and advocacy initiatives that strengthen access to maintenance support and promote the well-being of vulnerable individuals and families.

Key Responsibilities

Counselling and Case Management

• Provide professional counselling, psychosocial assessments, case management and crisis intervention to clients.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments and develop appropriate intervention and treatment plans.
• Monitor clients' progress and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, adjusting care plans where necessary.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential case documentation, including assessment reports, case notes and other required records.

Client Support and Service Delivery

· Respond promptly and professionally to enquiries received through phone calls, WhatsApp, email, walk-ins, referrals and other service channels.

· Provide information and guidance on maintenance-related matters, including court processes and available support services.

· Assist clients with the filing of Fresh Maintenance and Enforcement of Maintenance applications (training will be provided).

· Facilitate referrals to relevant legal, social and community support services to address clients' holistic needs.

Programme and Partnership Management

· Coordinate and ensure the smooth operations of MSC's legal clinics held twice monthly.

· Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community organisations, government agencies and institutional partners to strengthen service delivery.

· Support the planning, implementation and evaluation of MSC programmes and initiatives.

Outreach, Advocacy and Research

· Conduct talks, workshops and educational sessions for clients, community partners andother stakeholders.

· Represent MSC at outreach, engagement and fundraising events by raising awareness of financial abuse, maintenance issues and MSC's services.

· Participate in research and data collection to evaluate programme effectiveness and identify opportunities for service improvement.

· Contribute to advocacy initiatives that promote equitable access to maintenance support and strengthen support systems for vulnerable individuals.

Other Responsibilities

· Support organizational initiatives and undertake other duties as assigned by SCWO.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s or Degree in Counselling.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant counselling experience, preferably within the social service sector.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing trauma, family violence, abuse, relationship breakdown or other complex psychosocial issues will be an advantage.
• Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents only.

Technical Competencies

• Strong counselling, psychosocial assessment and case management skills.
• Ability to manage crisis situations with professionalism, sound judgement and empathy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency in a second language or dialect will be an advantage.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Competent in documentation, report writing and maintaining accurate client records.

Core Competencies

• Empathy and a client-centred approach.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Sound critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• High level of professionalism, integrity and respect for confidentiality.
• Passion for empowering women and vulnerable individuals, and a commitment to advancing SCWO's mission.

*This is a 12 months contract.