Senior Specialist, Integrated Health and Support at The Center for Clinical Care and Clinical Research

Project Details

• The project goal is to improve the health and well-being of children living with HIV and reduce HIV-related risk among uninfected children, adolescents, and young people by providing a suite of social welfare and related services that mitigate the multiple, layered vulnerabilities they are subject to and, in so doing, contribute to sustained HIV epidemic control and resilience, also sustaining epidemic control by improving the health and well-being of children living with HIV.

About THRIVE:

• Transforming Health and Resilience for Individuals through Vibrant Empowerment (THRIVE) is a five-year agreement by USAID, commenced on December 19, 2024. THRIVE is implemented by Center for Clinical Care and Research.
• The project will ensure that Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) are cared for, and protected by their households, communities, and local and state government to reduce their vulnerability to HIV.

The project expected results is highlighted as follows:

• Households have increased access to basic services and care for OVC
• Communities ensure that OVC secure their rights
• Local and State Government deliver basic services, detect and respond to child rights violations
• Prioritized targeted services for specific OVC subpopulations delivered

Job Summary

• We require qualified candidates to fill the position of Senior Specialist, Integrated Health and Support for a 5-year USAID award known as Transforming Health and Resilience for Individuals Through Vibrant Empowerment (THRIVE) South Project, implemented in the five states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo and Lagos.

Job Description

• Responsible for HIV care and support services for the OVC and their household
• Coordinate with other stakeholders to ensure enrollment and provision of requisite services to all HIV-related subpopulations enrolled in the OVC project
• Liaise with the treatment implementing partners to ensure all CLHIV are identified and enrolled in the OVC care.
•  She is part of the managing team of enrolled beneficiaries and has the duty to ensure prompt access to care, especially during emergencies
• Ensure HIV Care service provision at the household is designed to demonstrate attribution to the UNAIDS 95 95 95 epidemic control goal
• Build capacity of the Care and Support Team including implementing training programs, workshop and SOP/IECs/Document/Concept notes development

Specific Job Responsibilities

• S/he is to provide technical guidance to THRIVE partner CSOs in the Implementation of technical program activities for community-based HIV Care and Support in THRIVE Program
• Under the direction of the HIV Care and Support Advisor, collaborate closely with the THRIVE South 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
• Provide technical input for the development of strategies, design and implementation of HIV Prevention / Care & Support activities by THRIVE project; ensure activities improve access to HIV prevention and care services amongst project beneficiaries and their caregivers.
• Direct CSOs towards overall technical quality - including adherence to technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines for all HIV Prevention Care & Support activities of the project.
• Support strategies towards ensuring that project activities are built on strong behavior change principles and build the capacity of CSOs and relevant GON staff in effective implementation and monitoring.
• Work with the Treatment partners and coordinate bidirectional patient referral from facility to community and vice versa.
• Obtains patient line list regularly and ensure data synergy with the treatment partners along all custom indicators.
• Lead the process of monitoring of quality HIV care at the household and ensure optimal drug adherence and viral load suppression
• Document OVC project attribution to the care and treatment partners’ overall achievement along the 95 95 95 epidemic control cascades.
• Work closely with the SMOH, SMWASD, SACA and HIV TWGs in the state assigned in identifying and capitalizing on leverage points for improved linkages and referral coordination at the community level and for Integration of HIV Prevention Care & Support elements into other OVC areas project activities and vice versa
• Regularly review Care and Support MIS tool, trackers and other monitoring tools to ensure appropriateness and relevance
• Work closely with the Advisor and THRIVE Research Team to support development of Research Protocols, documents and literatures  
• Other assigned roles by supervisor.

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: This position has no supervisory role
• Internal: HIV Care and Support Advisor, State Program Manager, CSO Partners
• External:  Other Implementing treatment partners, SACA, Ministry of Health, SPHCDA,
• Agency Wide Competences (for all CCCRN staff): These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CCCRN and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. CCCRN core values are; Excellence, Knowledge, Professionalism, Accountability, Diversity and Collaboration

Required Qualifications

• MBBS with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in implementing HIV-TB Treatment and Prevention Program, technical experience with community level HIV prevention, Care & Support programs: Additional Qualification -Master of Science and / or MPH will be an added advantage
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of PEPFAR MER/CUSTOM/OHA Indicators, particularly continuum of care OVC outcomes indicators
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government and civil society partners and communities as well as transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through workshops, training and meetings using participatory methods and adult learning principles
• Experience in supporting HIV Testing and Counselling programs in health facilities, mobile units and community outreaches
• Good knowledge of HIV Care and Treatment guidelines (Pediatric &Adult), PMTCT, TB, other STIs and experience working with Ministry of Health and other relevant entitles
• Familiarity with PEPFAR-OVC programming and principles
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills required,
• Excellent analytic, organizational and computer skills; skilled In MS Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.