John Snow Health Zambia, Limited 

USAID Controlling HIV Epidemic for Key and Underserved Populations (CHEKUP II) Activity

 JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Lay Counsellor

Location: Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhi, Kasama, Chipata, Nakonde, Lusaka & Chirundu

Category: Full-Time position

Reports to: Wellness Centre Coordinator

Background:  

John Snow Health Limited (JSH), a public health organization dedicated to improving the provision of public health services in Zambia and the region, is recruiting for a Lay Counsellor for the USAID-funded Controlling HIV Epidemic for Key and Underserved Populations (CHEKUP II). CHEKUP II aims to address the needs of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and those most at risk of acquiring HIV and contribute to HIV mitigation and epidemic control. The program seeks to improve the health outcomes of key populations in the highest HIV-burden provinces of Zambia.

Position Summary:

The successful candidate will provide pre-test and post-test Counseling services to key population individuals and couples to help them have more effective psychological and behavioural adjustments and contribute to averting new HIV infections and to promote access to treatment, care and support in line with the approved national standards at the Wellness Centre and other congregate closed settings.

Responsibilities:

•  Increase Targeted HIV testing among populations at risk
•  Offer index testing services and partner notification services to 95% of all identified PLHIV
•  Ensure all HIV infected clients are linked to HIV care treatment and support services
•  Provide Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) first aid to key populations
•  Provide Key population preventive messages and link clients to preventive services, promote PrEP, and HIVST
•  Conduct targeted HIV counseling and testing including, HIV self -testing and Index testing
•  Follow up for missed appointment clients and re-engage them into care at Wellness Centres
•  Link all HIV infected clients to care treatment and support at the Wellness Centre
• Participate the HIV clinical meetings at the Wellness Centre so that they are up to date with the latest information on HIV services delivery
• Conduct treatment preparation and adherence counseling for KPs on ART
• Entering data in the daily register each patient counselled
• Achieve the weekly targets as assigned by the supervisor
• Submit weekly reports to the supervisor at the Wellness Centre
• Provide HTS at facility and community level and other out-of-facility sites whenever required
• Promote HTS through health talks and by participating in social mobilization activities
• Provide post-test counselling and adherence support to clients
• Link HIV positive clients to facility for ARV initiation or mobile van
• Trace all positive tested clients who were not initiated same day
• Be available to assist all HIV patients in the facility and community with relevant counselling needs
• Ensure that all clients tested HIV positive are linked into care and keep a record of how many are initiated on Antiretroviral treatment
• Report challenges related to the referral system and linkage to care to Wellness Coordinator
• Keep an updated record of number of clients who were offered HTS, tested, tested HIV positive, and linked into care, in line with tools used by CHEKUP II and record it daily in the approved registers
• Attend weekly meetings with the supervisor
• Any other tasks as assigned by the supervisor

Knowledge, abilities, skills required:

• Adherence counselling skills training is vital for this position
• Counselling of patients in their own language
• Assist patients in making informed decisions
• Reassuring patients about the confidentiality when doing pre-and post-counselling
• Problem solving skills
• Counselling skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to show empathy
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate in local language
• Ability to perform HIV counselling

Qualifications: 

• Trained in Psychosocial HIV counseling and testing
• S/he should have a Grade 12 certificate with a certificate in Psychosocial Counseling
• Must have a certificate of competence in Rapid HIV testing
• Must be registered and have a valid practicing license with the Zambia Counseling Council
• Willing to work with the Key Population
• A KP individual will be an added advantage

Supervision and Reporting: 

The Peer Promoter will work under the guidance and supervision of the Wellness Centre Coordinator.