State Referral Linkage Officer (Kebbi) at Project Hope

• The State Referral Linkage Officer (RLO) is responsible for ensuring the strengthening of community facility linkages and bi-directional referrals to support the ACE projects’ HIV care, treatment, and support services across the focal States. The State Referral Linkage Officer will lead and coordinate the community-based HTS referral and linkage services at the State/LGA level by working closely with CBOs, health facilities and community resource persons. S/He will support the coordination of referral coordination meetings and other community engagement platforms to ensure effective HTS and linkage to care for PLHIVs and OVC beneficiaries.
• In collaboration with the M&E and quality assurance teams of the project, s/he will be engaged in improving data quality and quality improvement interventions related to HTS, referrals and linkages. The Referral Linkage Assistant is expected to work with other project staff to strengthen targeted HTS and improve linkages to care, treatment and support services

Specific Responsibilities

• Actively participate in the capacity building efforts of the project to the state level community structures on HIV service referrals and linkages.
• Provide technical assistance and oversight for the implementation of HIV testing and linkage Services to CBOs and other relevant community resource persons.
• Work with other project staff to develop standard operational procedures, job aids, reference materials for community-based targeted HIV testing (conventional and HIVST), referral and linkage services.
• Support the adaptation of training material for local partners on community-targeted HIV testing, referral, and linkage services.
• Develop/Adapt community-level awareness creation materials for targeted HIV testing services.
• Assist to adapt or develop different screening tools for identifying key and priority population for HIV testing.
• Provide assistance to standardize and re-package community to facility bi-directional referral system and tools to ensure closed-loop referral service.
• Participate in the review and evaluation of existing HIV testing and ART service delivery policies including related service platforms and associated policies.
• Work closely with the state committees established to oversee the testing, referral, and linkage to care support services
• Provide overall guidance and support to CBOs regarding community HIV testing services (conventional and HIVST), referral and linkage to HIV care and treatment Services.
• Develop strategies for delivery of community based targeted HIV testing through conventional and HIVST (both assisted and unassisted) and linkage services.
• Undertake program supervision, monitoring and evaluation on community based targeted HIV testing and linkage services.
• Work with State Community Services Advisor to provide capacity building support for local partners through providing TOT on HTS and Linkage services and supporting them to provide basic trainings for service providers.
• Prepare and submit regular program work plans and reports on community based HTS and linkage services.
• Work with other regular staff of Project HOPE to strengthen the implementation of integrated HTS and linkage services.
• Provide assistance for the integrated implementation of other community-based HIV services.
• Monitor all the relevant Community HTS including quality control activities.
• Collaboration with other relevant stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and monitoring of the 95-95-95 cascade
• Prepare routine progress reports, such as monthly and quarterly reports to submit to the State Community Services Advisor and contribute to donor and internal reporting requirements.
• Together with other technical teams, work to strengthen the facility and community collaboration and provide recommendations to ensure the integration of data-driven and field insights into ongoing planning and program improvement efforts
• Participate in supportive supervision and routine monitoring of HTS and other community-based services to identify challenges and provide documentation for reporting and decision making.
• Support documentation of HTS and Linkage services from the community to ensure timely compilation and reporting of data and monitor progress toward project goals and objectives.
• Support the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, best practices, and success stories.
• Contribute to adaptive learning processes by participating in periodic review and reflection meetings.
• Perform any other duty assigned by the Supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in health or relevant social sciences
• Specialized knowledge: Training in HIV counselling, Adherence Counselling, Couple Counselling and Community HIV testing, and counselling required. Up to date with the latest developments in HIV prevention, care, and treatment programming in Nigeria
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in providing and managing HIV testing, counselling, and referral services.
• Ability to prioritize work according to importance and deadline while meeting conflicting work demands.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team and support others in their work.
   

Other Essetial Requirements

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.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within Project HOPE and among beneficiaries served by Project HOPE

Compliance & Ethics

• Promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout Project HOPE.
• As applicable to the position, maintain a clear understanding of Project HOPE' and donor compliance and ethics standards and adhere to those standards.
• Conduct work with the highest level of integrity

Competency

• Strong writing and presentation skills
• Proven capabilities in leadership
• Strong negotiation, interpersonal and organization skills
• Ability to read, writes, analyze and interpret, technical and non-technical in the English language
• Ability to effectively present information and respond appropriately to questions from senior managers in the field and HQ, counterparts, senior government and rebel leaders and other related regional players