Job Description

Job Summary

Main purpose of the job:

• To provide HIV rapid testing services, holistic HIV counseling, adherence, and follow-up support to clients receiving services within APACE-supported areas
• To provide support and maintain retention in the care of PLHIV on ART, including supporting tracing of clients lost to follow-up where required

Location:

• Wits RHI - (Welkom) Lejweleputswa District, Free State

Key performance areas:

Conduct HIV rapid testing

• Perform HIV rapid tests in facilities or within the community based on allocation, according to guidelines
• Ensure related quality control and quality assurance procedures are followed
• Ensure results are documented as required on all appropriate registers and patient records
• Screen for TB, STIs, contraceptive needs, and GBV using approved tools and guidelines, and refer as necessary
• Recruit index contacts of newly diagnosed, recently restarted, and unsuppressed patients for index testing in a safe and ethical manner
• Follow-up recruited contacts to offer index testing as per guidelines for safe and ethical index testing, maintaining patient confidentiality, and observing patients' rights at all times
• Distribute HIVSS to patients according to guidelines and SOPs as part of the HTS program
• Trace all clients who were issued with HIVSS within 48/72hrs hours and record feedback appropriately on the provided register
• Link HIV-negative patients to preventive services, including PrEP /VMMC
• Link all HIV-positive patients to ART services and support enrolment in case management where required

Provide client counseling and support

• Provide pre and post-testing counseling
• Provide HIV information to clients that includes but are not limited to risk reduction, ARVs, adherence, nutrition, hygiene, PMTCT, infant feeding, PrEP, and retention in care
• Provide counseling regarding disclosure
• Ensure that confidentiality is maintained
• Conduct in-depth one-on-one counseling sessions as and when required by counseling guidelines
• Provide group counseling/support sessions (both formal and informal) in alignment with guidelines as required
• Provide adherence counseling and enhanced adherence counseling
• Facilitate index case identification and testing
• Support the implementation of self-testing services
• Screen for TB, STIs, contraceptive needs, and GBV using approved tools and guidelines, and refer as necessary
• Support with health promotion activities in the health facility

Provide services to ensure linkage and retention in the care of people living with HIV

• Make contact with clients newly diagnosed with HIV and ensure direct linkage to clinicians either from facility or community testing points
• Share patient's adherence plans with linkage officer, Clinicians
• Liaise with community and clinic staff to ensure all newly diagnosed HIV and TB patients and those with missed visits are linked to care
• Conduct telephonic tracing and physical tracing as required in collaboration with WBPHCOTs or CBOs
• Be available telephonically or through text messaging to support clients or to answer any queries
• Assist clients with making appointments for first or follow-up visits
• Follow up to ensure clients attend their scheduled appointments, particularly those not linked to same-day ART initiation
• Liaise with the clinicians and data clerks to ensure the documentation and capturing of tracing outcomes both on clinical stationery and TIER.Net.
• Note and share with data capture changes in demographic data for updating
• Advice accordingly patients on their local Health care facility as per Municipality demarcations, educate patients on the 'Welcome Back Strategy

Data reporting and administration

• Liaise with the data clerk weekly for generation of late missed appointments, waiting for ART and TB treatment, and uLTFU lists from Tier.net
• Together with the data clerk and admin officer retrieve files of patients appearing on the lists above to confirm missed appointments
• Submit weekly feedback reports on outcomes of tracking and tracing to the manager and data clerks
• Accurately document counseling conducted in patient files and registers (or equivalent)
• Accurately report data on activities conducted, following reporting requirements
• Compile reports according to reporting requirements
• Ensure all QC errors are addressed timeously
• Review, evaluate, and document patient progress

Effective self-management and performance ownership

• Take ownership and accountability for tasks and demonstrate effective self-management
• Follow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of own work are consistently and accurately maintained
• Maintain a positive attitude and respond openly to feedback
• Take ownership of driving your career by participating in ongoing training and development activities

Required minimum education and training:

• Grade 12
• Accredited Certificate/training in performing Finger Pricks & HIV tests
• Accredited Certificate in Basic HIV Counselling or equivalent qualification
• Valid Driver's License

Required minimum work experience:

• 6 months experience in HIV Testing Services (HTS)

Desirable additional education, work experience, and personal abilities:

• Experience with Adherence Counselling and SRH counseling would be advantageous
• Ability to write reports and use Microsoft Office packages
• Fluency in more than one African language (especially isiZulu & Sesotho)
• Experience working for PEPFAR-funded projects or in the NGO environment
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work toward deadlines
• Be a team player
• Good interpersonal, communication, and time management skills
• Working knowledge of patient movement in a facility, and linkage and referral systems within a health system

Demands of the job:

• Confidentiality, tact, and discretion should be maintained at all times
• Ability to work with patients who are HIV positive
• Able to work under pressure,
• Communication with patients by telephone or text on evenings or weekends may be required
• Outreach activities into surrounding communities for testing, tracing, and linkage may be required
• Ability to adjust fast to changes in the environment as rotation between different modalities/streams can require
• Implement without delay/fail all the newly introduced methods, and complete POEs within given deadlines as required to allow authentic practice

Communications and relationships:

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers and stakeholders
• Build relationships with the community tracing team and other organizations that we support, including the Department of Health and Ward based outreach teams (WBOTS)
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team

TO APPLY:

• Only if you do meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV.
• Please Apply Online.
• Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position.
• The closing date for all applications: 26 January 2024.
• Note AJ Personnel is fully POPI compliant.
• Note WHC, in accordance with their Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto.

Please note:

• AJ PERSONNEL is only responsible for the advertising of the advertisement on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium.
• Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates.
• Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful.
• AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position.

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