VACANCY
Job title: Counsellors - (7 Months Contract) – WRHI – APACE – Free State
Type: Permanent ☐ Fixed Term ☒ Temporary ☐
Main purpose of the job: To provide HIV rapid testing services, holistic HIV counselling, adherence and follow up support to clients receiving services within APACE supported areas. To provide support and maintain retention in care of PLHIV on ART, including supporting tracing of clients lost to follow-up where required.
Location: Wits RHI – Lejweleputswa District, Free State
Closing date: 02 March 2023
Submit detailed CV to: vacancy17@wrhi.ac.za
Advert reference numbers: AM – Lej 004 2023 ; AM – Lej 002 2023; AM – Lej 005 2023
In accordance with our Employment Equity goals and plan, preference will be given to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto.
Our Organisation maintains a Mandatory COVID-19 requirement and as such only COVID-19 Vaccinated incumbents will be considered for positions
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 need 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 counselling
Provide HIV information to clients that includes but is not limited to risk reduction, ARV’s, adherence, nutrition, hygiene, PMTCT, infant feeding, PrEP and retention in care
Provide counselling regarding disclosure
Ensure that confidentiality is maintained
Conduct in depth one on one counselling sessions as and when required in accordance with counselling guidelines
Provide group counselling/support sessions (both formal and informal) in alignment with guidelines as required
Provide adherence counselling and enhanced adherence counselling
Facilitate index case identification and testing
Support the implementation of self-testing services
Screen for TB, STIs, contraceptive need 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 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 documenting and capturing of tracing outcomes both on clinical stationery and TIER.Net. Note and share with data captures 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 report on outcomes of tracking and tracing to the manager and data clerks.
Accurately document counselling conducted in patient files and registers (or equivalent)
Accurately report data on activities conducted, in accordance with 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 demonstrates 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 for driving own 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
Professional body registration
None
Desirable additional education, work experience and personal abilities
Experience with Adherence Counselling and SRH counselling would be advantageous Ability to write reports and to 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 towards 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
Required minimum work experience
6 months’ experience in HIV Testing Services (HTS)
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 change in environment as rotation between different modalities/streams can require. Implement without delay/fail all the newly introduced methods, 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.
Should you be interested in applying for this vacancy, please send an email to vacancy17@wrhi.ac.za. The subject heading of the email must read AM – Lej 004 2023 ; AM – Lej 002 2023; AM – Lej 005 2023 and the job title of position applying for. Please include the following documentation:
A cover letter (maximum one page) that clearly states which vacancy you are applying for
A detailed CV
NB: Kindly note that preference will be given to candidates from Lejweleputswa district.