Fixed term position until 30 September 2023

Job summary:

The role of an Expert Client is to provide peer education, ART adherence counselling and psychosocial support to all PLHIV in their catchment area.

Key responsibilities

1. Pre-enrollment support and Linkage

• Health education for demand creation for HIV related services
• Conduct patient ART preparedness
• Pre-enrollment tracing for linkage to ART initiation

2. Defaulter Tracing & management

• In liaison with treatment supporter, compile missed appointments as defined by partner SOP, in the allocated catchment area
• Make phone calls and conduct home visits for clients that miss appointments.
• Conduct at least two tracing attempts for all clients registered as defaulters.
• On a weekly basis, submit the tracing outcome report to the site supervisor for completion of the master tracing register.
• Work with treatment supporter to ensure documentation of true outcomes of clients traced in the patient master cards and EMRS.

3. Psychosocial Support

• Establish PSSGs for various categories of clients.
• Organize psychosocial support group meetings.
• In conjunction with the treatment supporter prepare a monthly schedule for all the support groups activities
• Conduct disclosure sessions with respective clients
• Maintain PSSGs records i.e., PSSG register, Minutes Book, etc.
• Conduct positive living counseling sessions with all clients
• Support referral of clients from community groups to facilities

4. Support Viral Load Monitoring

• Health education for demand creation of viral load testing.
• Screening for VL testing eligibility, and referral of eligible clients to facility for Viral Load testing
• Actively trace ART clients who have not been notified of their High VL results and refer to facility for IAC

5. Monitoring

• Participate in all scheduled meetings and submit their reports; bring all registers to these meetings
• Document all sessions conducted at various service delivery points in appropriate reporting tools
• From time to time liaise with the Health Surveillance Assistant responsible for his/her catchment area on issues related to improving service delivery.
• Participate in all required trainings.

Minimum qualifications

JCE

Required competencies, skills, and experience.

• Ability to read and write in relevant local language Literacy in English is an advantage
• Empathic and passionate for HIV related work.
• Ability and willingness to ride a bicycle.
• Should have stayed within the catchment area for not less than a year.
• Strong interpersonal skills to engage staff and community members.
• First – hand experience in ART and/or treatment support is an advantage