Jobs at Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (Caritas Nigeria)

Summary of Role:

• Responsible for supporting comprehensive HIV prevention, care and treatment activities in assigned state with a multidisciplinary team. In collaboration with Caritas Nigeria Technical Teams and facility based teams, the incumbent will provide HIV prevention, care and treatment services to patients through technical support to facility based service providers.
• The objective of this position is to enhance service delivery and to strengthen the leadership and the capacity of the supported facilities in the coordination and delivery of quality HIV prevention, care and treatment services.

Description of Roles & Responsibilities:

• Build the capacity of facility-based clinicians through hands-on coaching, supportive supervision, and mentorship across program areas in HIV prevention, care and treatment.
• Provide technical input in the development of an integrated program work plan and contribute towards ensuring the achievement of program deliverables.
• Scale up and monitor continuous quality improvement efforts for maintaining the quality and standards of care for HIV positive patients.
• Ensure facility level conformance to the various National guidelines for HIV management by ensuring on-site availability of hard copy national guidelines, SOP’s and job aides and familiarizing service providers with the contents.
• Carry out facility-based needs assessments and proffer technical advice in line with project goals and priorities as regards quality patient care and program quality.  
• Maintain current knowledge of HIV/AIDS patient’s standard of care at facility level through organization of regular didactic sessions, mortality reviews, case reviews and presentations.
• Follow up on implementation, monitoring and evaluation of quality improvement strategies identified by program area leads, training needs and participation in facility-based multidisciplinary meetings.
• Direct management of complicated HIV cases (such as 2nd line and salvage therapy patients, TB/HIV and other OI’s and pediatric cases) at site level.
• Provide supervision to satellite facilities (spokes) as well as TB and PMTCT sites in catchment areas.
• Ensure monthly reporting of all activities carried out within subregion.
• Represent Caritas Nigeria at state and national TWG meetings and other related activities as designated.
• Participate in all desk time-related activities including making presentations, implementation science and other research activities, abstract writing and other professional developmental endeavors.
• Ensure achievement of program targets for assigned subregion or health facilities.
• Follow-up of all newly identified positives with a view to ensuring 100% linkage to treatment.
• Support Clinical Officers and/or Associates in the coordination of all ART clinic-related activities in assigned health facilities.   
• Support Clinical Officers and/or Associates and Facility Level Physicians in the provision of   clinical assessment and monitoring of patients on ART based on standard guidelines with an emphasis on initial clinical evaluation, treatment preparation, and same-day ART initiation, in addition to the prompt diagnosis of therapeutic failure using virological, immunological and/or clinical parameters as may be applicable. 
• Provide guidance to facility-level focal persons in monitoring adherence to therapy and prompt identification and management of therapeutic toxicities.
• Ensure all patients on ART receive timely viral load tests and documented evidence results used for clinical decisions.
• Ensure all virally unsuppressed patients receive quality and complete Enhanced Adherence Counselling and timely repeat viral load, ensure functional switch committees and appropriate and timely switch for confirmed cases of treatment failure. 
• Support Clinical Officers and/or Associates and facility Level Physician in the Identification, diagnosis and management of opportunistic infection.
• Ensure regular nutritional assessment of the positive patient (adult & pediatric) with a view to instituting appropriate interventions.
• Provide guidance to Facility Level Physicians and Clinical Associates in the diagnosis and management of pediatric HIV/AIDS using laboratory, clinical and nutritional parameters to ensure early and prompt ART initiation.
• Monitoring and follow-up of retro-exposed infants by ensuring post-exposure prophylaxis, early infant diagnosis with DBS, and Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis.
• Ensure prompt initiation of Positive Pregnant women on ART, all current pregnant positive women receive timely documented viral load and results used for clinical decisions for such women.
• Management of TB/HIV co-infection with strict adherence to ISTC guidelines and ensuring CPT for life.
• Use of Continuous Quality Improvement Processes for Improved Program Performance using a scientifically proven method such as a small test of change to increase the quality of service deliveries.
• Strengthen TB /HIV clinic integration.
• Co-ordination of activities around TB infection control and prevention
• Monitoring of implementation of TB infection control plan.
• Ensure functional and coordinated Differentiated Model of Care.
• Achieve 100% regimen optimization with the use of DTG and age & gender appropriate regimen
• Weekly reporting of all activities undertaken to immediate supervisor.
• Prompt flagging of all issues and impediments to target achievement in assigned health facility or subregion.
• Involvement in data quality assurance and ensuring complete and consistent EMR updates.
• Overall oversight of all ART-related activities in the assigned facility or subregion.
• Carry out other activities as assigned from time to time.   

Desired Qualifications, Skills & Experience:

• A degree in Medicine plus a postgraduate degree in public health is required.
• At least 5 years’ post NYSC experience
• At least 4 years’ clinical experience in HIV prevention, care and treatment
• Ability to lead teams and promote cross learning
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and make reasoned judgments in a timely fashion. Committing to a course of action without undue delay or prevarication
• Experience of dealing with difficult and sensitive situations in a professional manner.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Ability and willingness to travel when and if required

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Summary of Role:

• The incumbent will be responsible for providing technical leadership for Caritas Nigeria’s OVC HIV prevention, care, and treatment program.
• S/he will be a key representative of Caritas Nigeria in technical and programmatic meetings on OVC issues and provide technical guidance and leadership to Head Office and State OVC teams.
• S/he will provide management oversight and leadership for the ACCESS project OVC program, responsible for states’ performance on assigned targets and deliverables.
• Additionally, the STA will collaborate with other Implementing Partners, GON, and other agencies to advance Caritas Nigeria’s goals for children and adolescents, develop innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results’/he will also be responsible for providing leadership and guidance for the project’s gender program.

Description of Roles & Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership and Oversight:

• Provide overall technical guidance and direction for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s program, ensuring the program meets agency and donor standards and priorities.
• Lead the design and dissemination of Caritas Nigeria’s comprehensive OVC program framework including program implementation toolkits and performance indicator framework.
• Provide high-quality technical assistance in the design and implementation of the OVC program and or interventions across all service areas and priorities.
• Conduct ongoing needs assessment and advice the team on program enhancement and realignment, based on routine analysis of program data and implementation science.
• Lead the development of the OVC sustainability plan, Stigma and discrimination policy, guidelines, and SOPs and ensure dissemination to partners to guide implementation.
• Deepen the use of HIV data by program and partners’ teams to analyze gaps in adherence, and viral load suppression to tailor intervention strategies and rapid course corrections

• Provide guidance and technical oversight to the OVC program to ensure systems are in place for the effective transition of beneficiaries, uninterrupted service provision to existing beneficiaries and enrolment of new beneficiaries to meet targets, based on specific donor requirements.
• Coordinate the development, finalization, updating, and continuous review of project work plans, MEAL plans and reports.
• Assist in Target setting for the OVC program partners and states s in close collaboration with Strategic Information,
• Contribute to the development of systems, processes, procedures, materials and tools to support the implementation of the OVC program.
• Support review, interpretation, and monitoring of monthly and quarterly technical reports.
• Lead and facilitate Annual and Quarterly work planning processes.
• Lead OVC program-related quality improvement activities, provide training and mentorship to implementation teams across target states; this may include developing standard operating procedures, implementation and QA/QI tools that can be adapted by the OVC teams.

Support the project in leveraging resources, identifying, establishing, and building relationships with vulnerable children serving government agencies, CSOs, and national and international organizations.

Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement:

• Coordinate routine Head Office-led monthly/quarterly meetings with states, including documentation, synthesis, and follow-up of action plans with responsible staff.
• Support development and/or adaptation of tools and conduct regular service quality assessments using national and donor-specific tools to ensure effective service delivery at a household level, proper documentation of beneficiary records, ensure SOPs and other tools available at the site level to guide programming and reporting.
• Conduct desk reviews, develop and disseminate best practice reports, including quarterly quality improvement reports, lessons learned and success stories.
• Develop standard operating procedures, implementation guidelines and program tools that can be adapted by state teams.
• Support the review of training materials, job aides and other tools.
• Coordinate and conduct regular check-in meetings for designated activities and projects

Business Development and Fundraising:

• Support the conceptualization of new OVC project proposals as part of Caritas Nigeria’s business development initiatives including technical analysis of requests for funding applications, development of design matters and program logic models in liaison with other technical teams.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding or leverage resources to ensure the growth of the OVC, Gender and Child Protection portfolio in line with Caritas Nigeria’s strategic priorities.
• Provide innovative and responsive technical direction including skills development to increase ACCESS Project OVC portfolio.
• Write and/or contribute to the development of funding proposals, concept notes, PowerPoint presentations and other technical materials as requested by the donors to ensure quality proposals in OVC Programming per agency and donor standards.
• Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals
• Facilitate resource mobilization efforts of supported Community Based Organizations to ensure tangible outcomes.

Desired Qualifications and Experience:

• A postgraduate degree in Medicine or a master’s degree in Social Sciences or Public Health or Sociology or any other related field.
• At least 10 years relevant experience in OVC programming, familiarity with HIV prevention, care and treatment programming at an Implementing Partner’s level and a good understanding OVC treatment collaboration

Desired Knowledge, Skills & Attributes:

• Comprehensive knowledge of the health context and health system in Nigeria
• Understanding of PEPFAR OVC programming priorities, strategies, monitoring and evaluation tools and National OVC Management Information Systems and OVC Case Management.
• Ability to lead teams and promote cross-learning.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and make reasoned judgments in a timely fashion, committing to a course of action without undue delay or prevarication.
• Experience in dealing with difficult and sensitive situations in a professional manner.
• Broad knowledge of Gender integration in HIV and OVC programs.
• Understanding of the PEPFAR OVC _preventive models
• Experience in sexual and reproductive health programming for adolescents.
• Knowledge of global best practices in pediatric HIV prevention and care and treatment.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, considering cultural and language difficulties.
• Willingness to travel regularly and in difficult circumstances.
• Leadership qualities and ability to create synergies where applicable.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated success in multicultural environments is required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated expertise in building effective relationships with key stakeholders.
• Diplomatic; demonstrated experience in undertaking high-level policy dialogue with different stakeholders.