Open Positions – Ashiyana

Since 2012, Ashiyana has been weaving its way through the closed walls of the Umerkhadi Observation and Children’s Home (Dongri) and the David Sassoon Industrial School (Matunga), Mumbai. Ashiyana is an organization that harnesses the energies of volunteers and collaborates with stakeholders to transform the lives of the children within these closed residential homes and once they leave, out in the world.

At Ashiyana, we believe that when children and youth experience inner transformation through safe spaces and positive and deep relationships, they can heal themselves, change their behaviours, become self-reliant and disrupt the cycle of poverty and violence. Ashiyana works with at-risk youth in Mumbai, ages 14-22 years old, most of whom have dropped out of school, lived on streets, are addicted, have been arrested and faced multiple challenges.

At Ashiyana, we believe that when children and youth experience inner transformation through safe spaces and positive and deep relationships, they can heal themselves, change their behaviours, become self-reliant and disrupt the cycle of poverty and violence.

1. Youth Development Coordinator

Position Overview: This position is an invitation for you to join our family as a Youth Development Coordinator.

Youth development coordinators build intentional relationships with youth, engage them in a variety of programming, support in the process of behavior change and enable a smooth transition from institution to the society making them self-reliant, responsible and contributing citizens. YDC will be directly reporting to Project Manager from time to time.

This is a full-time position based in Mumbai and requires sensitive, passionate and committed candidates.

Position Overview:

Key responsibilities:

• Every youth development coordinator will have a cohort of youth and will ensure that each child is driving to outcomes of emotional independence, self-reliance and living out of harm’s way.
• Facilitate and coordinate with stakeholders and help meet the educational needs, vocational training and job requirements for young people.
• Facilitate individual and group sessions as per the designed program with sensitivity to the program intention and group needs.
• Identify and support youth that requires special attention and care.
• Collect data, create reports and document journeys of young people.
• Closely work with other stakeholders – Staff of the institution like Probation officers, housemasters, guards, superintendent, family members and community of the youth.
• Would be responsible for handling supervision work given to Ashiyana from CWC and JJB, doing home visits and submission of timely reports.
• Cater the need of Youth as well as the organization by being part of other initiatives of Ashiyana as and when expected.

Youth Development Coordinator is someone

who:

• Feels called to be part of the healing and transformation of youth in closed institutions and sees them as capable of becoming self-reliant and positive contributors to the world.
• Has good problem solving, decision making and conflict resolution

skills.

• Enjoys challenging and volatile situations and is able to find creative ways to deal with complex problems.
• Is comfortable working with youth individually as well as in groups.
• Is reflective, a good listener and exhibits a strong willingness to learn.
• Is a great team player, resourceful and works with a sense of possibility, is willing and has the ability to work outside of normal business hours and holidays and/or weekends as needed.
• Is willing and keen to develop awareness of one’s own emotional, spiritual and intellectual learning process.

Professional/computer skills: Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel,

Knowledge of Juvenile Justice system. Location: Mumbai Age: preferably 25 & above

Language Skills: Hindi, English, Marathi (optional)

Educational qualification:

Graduate/Postgraduate preferably in Social Work. Appointment: The initial appointment will be offered for a period of one year with probation of four months. The appointment shall be renewed/extended based on the performance and willingness of the employee and employer.

Salary: Subject to the skill-sets and experience

Application Process: Please email a copy of your CV with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the post to career.ashiyana@gmail.com

2. Mental Health Professional

This position is an invitation for you to join our family as a Mental Health Professional. As a mental health professional you will be placed at Umerkhadi Observation and Children’s Home (Dongri) and will be responsible for taking individual counseling sessions, group sessions and administering various psychological assessments for children within the institutions and outside. You will be the building block of Ashiyana’s vision of making these homes a child-friendly place as per the Juvenile Justice Act 2015.

This is a full-time position based in Mumbai and requires sensitive, passionate and committed candidates.

Key responsibilities:

✦ Create the child guidance clinic as a safe place for children

✦ Conduct individual counselling sessions, group sessions and therapy based sessions with children, youth and their families.

✦ Facilitate restorative circles and group sessions as per designed program with sensitivity to the program intention and group needs.

✦ Identify and support children and youth that require special attention and care.

✦ Closely work and Coordinate with key stakeholders – Staff of the institution like Probation

✦ officers, housemasters, guards, superintendent, probation officers, members of the Child Welfare Committee and the Juvenile Justice board, Superintendent and other stake holders in the system and submit reports.

✦ Administer psychological assessments .

✦ Assist the Probation Officers in address tracing.

✦ Coordinate various activities organised by Ashiyana and our partners in the David Sassoon Industrial Home, Matunga.

✦ Coordinate with Ashiyana’s Youth Development Coordinator with regards to the children for support on supervision.

✦ Collect data, create reports, write blogs and document journeys of children and young people on
Ashiyana’s internal data collection system.

We are looking for someone
who :

✦ feels called to be part of the healing and transformation of children and youth in closed
institutions and sees them as capable of becoming self-reliant and positive contributors to the
world.

✦ is patient, calm, non judgemental and willing to understand children’s point of view.

✦ has good problem solving, decision making and conflict resolution skills.

✦ enjoys challenging and volatile situations and is able to find creative ways to deal with complex problems.

✦ is reflective, a good listener and exhibits a strong willingness to learn.

✦ is a great team player, resourceful and works with a sense of possibility.

✦ has good reporting and documentation skills.

✦ has good communication and interpersonal skills.

✦ is willing and has the ability to work outside of normal work hours and holidays and/or weekends as needed.

Professional/computer skills: Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel.
Minimum Experience: 2-5 years.
Language: Proficiency in Hindi and English is a must. Marathi (optional)
Educational qualification: Postgraduate in Psychology (Clinical or Counselling).
Salary: Subject to the skill-sets and experience

Application Process: Please email a copy of your CV with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the post to career.ashiyana@gmail.com. In the subject line please mention
‘Application for Mental Health Professional at DSIS’