Community HIV Care and Support Specialist

POSITION:         Community HIV Care and Support Specialist

REPORTS TO:     Director of Programs Implementation 

DUTY STATION: Addis Ababa 

MINIMUM HOURS OF WORK:     40 hours per week

DUTIES AND RESPONSILBILITIES

JOB SUMMARY 

The Community HIV Care and Support Specialist coordinates and leads the national level delivery of technical assistance services to partner LIPs in community-based HIV Care and Support to PLHIV and their families. The position holder, together with the care and support officer and other relevant national and regional staff of the project, will develop necessary guidelines and implementation tools for the technical area and participate in coordination platforms for the development, and implementation monitoring of technical strategies & guidelines relevant to his/her technical area of HIV Care and Support programming. 

As the project mainly focus on tailored community-based care and support by enrolling clients from health facilities and in their communities, the position holder is expected to advise the project management Team (PMT) and LIPs on strategies and means of enrolling clients for tailored care and support packages at community level. She/he will actively participate in the capacity building efforts of the project to community structures of GoE and LIPs in community-based HIV care and support with particular focus on new initiatives and establishment of capacity for smooth transition. 

In collaboration with the M&E and quality assurance team of the project, she/he will be engaged in improving data quality, operational research and quality improvement interventions related to HIV care and support activities. All in all, the specialist is expected to strengthen tailored community-based care and support by differentiating the services based on the need and interest of the client. Overall, this position will play a role in achieving the “90-90-90” targets.

The position holder is expected to work 40 hours per week. The task requires closely working with the Ministry of Health, Federal HAPCO, Regional Health Bureaus, directly funded and sub-partner LIPs and other governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide technical advice and oversight for implementation of community-based HIV Care & Support activities including Economic strengthening activities to the local implementing partners (LIPS) and relevant community structures 

• In collaboration with PHE/CHCT technical team, design LIP need assessment tools and jointly conduct the technical capacity assessment, analyse the gaps and prioritize the technical capacity issues to be addressed, and develop need-based CB plans and implement them accordingly.

• Develop Standard operational procedures, job aids, reference materials for community-based HIV Care & Support services delivery for PLHIV, OVCs and their families.

• Develop /adapt training material for LIPs on community-based HIV Care & Support activities for PLHIV, OVC and their families

• Develop community level awareness creation materials for adherence, retention and viral load testing, GBV prevention and case management, cervical cancer screening services, mental health and MHPSS etc. in collaboration with other team members

•  Guide and support local implementing partners on the implementation of group and individualized case management services based on standards

• Provide overall guidance and support to LIPs regarding community HIV care and support, referral and linkage, adherence and viral load suppression.

• Ensure delivery of community to facility bi-directional referral system particularly of the digital system to ensure closed-loop referral 

• Provide TA to LIPs to strengthen the capacity of local community structures (PLHIV Associations, CCCs/CCs, Idir and Idir Networks, Child Protection Units, and other CBOs) to provide health and social services in continuous manner. TA areas may include service mapping, referral linkages, local resource mobilization, continuous quality improvement, monitoring and supportive supervision, identification of existing coordination of care at community and system level. 

• Work closely with the national and regional expert panel/TWGs established to oversee the HIV/AIDS care and support programs 

• Ensue the application of standards and tools for implementation of integrated NCD, MHPSS and other services into routine community-based care and support packages. 

• Undertake program supervision, monitoring and evaluation on HIV Care & Support activities 

• Provide Trainings, technical guidance, onsite mentorship and facilitate support to strengthen established VSLAs and Including the conduct of HEVA assessments for VSLA members at entry and reassessment at six months after entry 

• Provide mentorship and regularly update to community-based HIV Care & Support service providers on relevant guidelines and support them to adhere to standard protocols

• Prepare and submit regular program work plans and reports on USAID CHCT activity

• Ensuring coordination with other ES providers, government or non-government to improve access to loans and market linkage opportunities to VSLAs members and clients who have started businesses

• Prepare monthly and quarterly reports of all activities & forward the same to Community Service Delivery Director.

• Liaise with the facility and community teams to strengthen tailored/differentiated community-based services in the community.

• Monitor all the relevant community care and support services including quality control of care and support services

• Develop innovative approaches and systems for adherence and retention in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and monitoring of the second and third “90”

• Participate in support supervision of HIV care and support services.

• Contribute to the documentation, evaluation and reporting activities of the project

• Perform any other duty assigned by the Supervisor

1. Education: master’s degree in public health or social sciences

2. Experience: Minimum of 8 years’ experience in providing and managing community HIV Services particularly working experience with local NGOs, TA 

3. Specialized knowledge: Training in Adherence Counselling, Couple Counselling and Community HIV counselling, VSLA methodology training of trainers, U=U, GBV and MHPSS, and other relevant program components including in HIV mentoring.  

4. Up to date with latest developments in HIV Differentiated Service Delivery Models.

5. Ability to prioritize work according to importance and deadline while meeting conflicting work demands

6. Good interpersonal and communication skills

7. Ability to work effectively in a team and support others in their work.

8. Ethiopian nationality is requirement. 

How To Apply

CODE OF CONDUCT 

• It is our shared responsibility and obligation to treat each other with respect, take affirmative steps to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse and Trafficking in Persons, and to disclose all potential and actual violations of our Code of Conduct, which may include Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption, Discrimination or Harassment. Together we can reinforce a culture of respect, integrity, accountability, and transparency. 

Interested applicants can send their CV and a cover letter through ethiojobs Community HIV Care and Support Specialist | Ethiojobs on or before 06 September 2024 by 5:00 PM.