HIV Care and Support Officer at Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation (WACHEF)

Job Description

• The purpose of this position is to provide technical guidance to the organization in the implementation of technical program activities for community-based HIV Care and Support in the Program.
• Under the supervision/direction of the Program Manager, s/he will collaborate closely with the team to roll out and implement an integrated and holistic community-based response to HIV/AIDS towards scaling up access to HIV prevention and care services for vulnerable children and their caregivers.

General function

• The Prevention, Care and support specialist will be responsible for working closely with the ICHSSA4 HIV prevention care and support Programme Management specialist as well as other ICHSSA 4 technical teams to achieve the strategic objectives of the program
• Focusing primarily on HIV prevention, Care and support but also supporting cross-cutting themes and integration efforts across the project with other areas of OVC programming including Household Economic Strengthening, gender, and Nutrition.

Major Responsibilities

• S/he will provide technical support primarily in the area of community-based HIV Care and support for project beneficiaries affected by HIV.
• S/he will be responsible for strengthening the linkages between the community-based care activities and health facilities providing HIV treatment towards ensuring a continuum of care.
• S/he will also support the strengthening of the capacity of implementing CSOs in the area of HIV prevention awareness creation, community mobilization for HIV counseling and testing, PMTCT and Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), and improving referral and counter-referral systems between communities and facilities. In addition,
• s/he will support the implementation of evidence-based interventions aimed at addressing HIV risk behaviors, HIV transmission, and gender-based violence

Specific Responsibilities

• Link all identified HIV-positive beneficiaries to HIV treatment care and support service
• Administer quarterly HIV care and support, Nutrition and PHDP checklist as applicable to ICHSSA 4 beneficiaries and refer appropriately.
• Development of “care plan” for vulnerable households.
• Completion of referral forms in line with ART and other services in accordance with identified/required services by the beneficiary
• Provide support to community case workers and other stakeholders.
• Refer and provide escort of ICHSSA4 beneficiaries to HIV service points for uptake of HIV-related services
• Mobilize ICHSSA 4 beneficiaries for community outreaches for HTC and conduct follow-up visits to HIV-positive beneficiaries for continuous adherence support.
• Participate in monthly LGA-level referral coordination meetings.
• Participate in the development of an HIV service delivery directory.
• Facilitate at Community case workers' HIV prevention Care and Support step-down trainings.
• Document all HIV prevention care and support activities and report on monthly, quarterly and annually and at other times as may be required by the ICHSSA 4 project

Supervision and Mentoring:

• Support Community Case Workers to fill referral forms appropriately
• Provide regular supportive supervision to the Community Case Worker's Care and Support staff to ensure adherence to HIV treatment care and support for HIV-positive beneficiaries.

Qualifications and Skills

• BSc / BA in a relevant Health Degree, a minimum of 2 years professional experience with community-level HIV prevention, Care and support programs
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with implementing partners, Community Based Organizations, and Community case workers
• Experience in supporting community-based HIV Testing and Counselling programs
• Good knowledge of the Government of Nigeria HIV Care and Treatment Guidelines (Pediatric & Adult)
• Familiarity with OVC programming and principles.
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills required.
• Good c computer skills; skilled in MS Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Internal: ED, Program Manager; Adolescent and gender; Nutrition, HES, M&E and Finance officers.
• External: ICHSSA 4 Technical Advisors, Senior Program Manager; ICHSSA4; Ministry of Women Affairs; OVC desk; Ministry of Health; Other relevant MDAs; LGA Social Development department; Private sector players; volunteers and other stakeholders