Linkage Officer - Community (Temp) Wits RHI

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

Main purpose of the job:

• Responsible for HTS and ensuring that proper linkage to care of all HIV infected patients is done according to DoH guidelines
• Reporting to the Community Services and Linkage Coordinator, the Community Service & Linkages Officer will play a fundamental role in ensuring functional bi-directional referral systems between communities, clinical services, and social service providers
• Strengthen linkages and coordination between social service and health workforces, implementation of comprehensive, HIV-inclusive case management
• To support the Community Services and Linkage Manager and Coordinators in the integration of community and clinical service delivery with a focus on improving results towards “90-90-90” in addition to supporting prevention and psychosocial targets

Location:

• Kwazulu Natal - KCD

Key performance areas:

• Daily data capturing of lost to care patients from relevant paper-based systems
• Weekly generation of late missed visiting patients from Tier.net
• Compile of weekly data and submission of data for telephonic tracing to the community and HCHC tracking personnel
• Monitoring of all registers / where indicated before capturing
• Monitor sourcing of HCT/ ART registers and/or stationery for data entry
• Management of submitted databases and receive and manage weekly feedback on outcomes of tracking and tracing
• Keep tracking log of identified errors
• Identify error resolution with MIA before data entry
• Ensure correction of quality checked data
• Training and instructing new counsellors on data entry forms
• Assisting counsellors and/or tracing clerks with data entry questions and error resolution prior to data reporting
• Provide individualised support for patients newly diagnosed with HIV, including follow up contact through phone calls or SMS
• Ensure patients newly diagnosed with HIV are linked to ART services and initiated on ART
• Ensure patients testing negative for HIV are linked to prevention services
• Assist clients with making appointments for first or follow up visits
• Follow up to ensure clients attend their scheduled appointments
• Assist with the identification of clients who require social grants as a result of their personal circumstances
• Facilitate linkages between facilities and DSD, and support access to social grants and social support services in the community
• Facilitate linkages for OVC between facilities and the community (NGOs, CBOs, etc.)
• Identify community structures to provide ongoing support to patients and facilitate linkages to these as required
• Strengthen linkages and referrals between clinics, schools and community structures for children and adolescents
• In collaboration with WBOT teams and outreach team, follow up with patients who have defaulted by missing scheduled visits or non-adherence
• Participate in health promotion campaigns, including holiday programmes and youth events. These will occasionally occur on the weekend
• Distribute condoms and IEC material within the facility and community
• Recruit clients for HIV counselling and testing in the community and at the facility
• Motivate individuals and groups to bring their partners and children for HIV testing
• 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 for driving own career development by participating in ongoing training and development activities

Required minimum education and training:

• Grade 12
• Training in Basic HAST, HIV Counselling, Adherence counselling and understanding of psychosocial needs and services Experience with PEPFAR 3.0 funded project will be an added advantage
• Excellent training skills in working with adult learners, particularly at the community level; experience in an appreciative approach a plus
• Able and willing to work flexible hours as needed and without constant or close supervision

Desirable additional education, work experience and personal abilities/Required minimum work experience:

• Working knowledge of DoH HTS guidelines & protocol, patient movement in a mobile clinic and health facilities, referral system and linkage to care roadmap within a health system

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 and complete your registration on Ditto Hire (our application tracking system) to enable and protect you as a candidate to accept the new POPIA terms and conditions. This will then create your permanent profile with which you can apply for all jobs as advertised by AJ PERSONNEL. However, you may remove your profile from AJ PERSONNEL when you are no longer in the job market.
• AJ Personnel is fully POPIA Compliant.
• 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: 22 November 2021.
• 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.
• 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: Our Client, WHC - RHI, maintains mandatory Covid-19 requirements, and as such only Covid-19 vaccinated incumbents will be considered for positions.

Please note:

• AJ Personnel is only responsible for the advertising of the advertisement on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium.
• AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position.

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NB! This job is now closed. You can apply for other jobs by uploading your CV.