Counsellor Tester (PMTCT) at Heartland Alliance

Job Summary

The PMTCT Counsellor Tester will conduct targeted HIV testing and counseling to pregnant and breastfeeding women, support scheduled outreach on site and at various community events throughout the year at ACE-6 supported sites, spoke sites, TBAs and with other collaborative community structures, provide HIV education and linkage of positive clients to ACE-6 HIV comprehensive care centres within the LGAs/State.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide HIV and other testing, counseling, education, and referral services to patients of ACE-6 sites, spoke sites, PHCs, TBAs and to the general public through community events, outreach, and other collaborative agencies.
• Coordinates and provides targeted community outreach and HIV testing and counseling.
• Provide prevention interventions, education, and resources relative to HIV transmission through community events, outreach, and on or off-site presentations.
• Provide non-judgmental client centered counseling to clients and will ensure newly diagnosed HIV positive clients are referred and linked to medical services within the required time frame.
• Provide linkage services to nearest hub sites for ART services through the PMTCT focused case managers.
• Provide accurate HIV/AIDS (and other testing) documentation, data collection, tracking, and reporting.
• Support partner testing, and provision of PrEP to eligible clients/partners.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must be able to work effectively with populations that have experienced vulnerability, trauma, economic poverty, incarceration, substance use, development delays, literacy issues, and/or other conditions or situations that have impacted housing stability.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to be flexible and able to multi-task.
• Must be driven and solution-focused.

Required Qualifications:

• HIV/AIDS Certified Tester (Basics/Prevention of HIV Counseling, Testing, and Linkage to care) preferred with at least one-year experience in HIV related services preferably working with HIV+ population and/or population(s) at high risk for HIV infection.
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and antibody testing, PrEP and PEP, and community mobilization and advocacy
• Skill/Experience in providing individualized and group HIV health education, HIV testing and Counseling.
• Minimum of SSCE; OND/BSc will be an added advantage

Other Competencies:

• Time Management – Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time and complete projects in a fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Cultural Sensitivity – Respects cultural environment in which person is working and does not act in a manner that is outwardly offensive to the local community.
• Non-discriminatory- Does not discriminate persons based on sexual orientation or gender identity, age, preferred jobs, or behavioral habits.

Language Skills:

• Excellent oral and written English communication skills.
• Knowledge of Local Language will be an advantage