District Community HIV Services Advisor (DCHSA) x5

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identify is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as part of our staff and as partner’s people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and commitment to serving those in need. Since 2000 CRS Zambia has been implementing a number of programmes to support vulnerable communities in Zambian. Recent programming areas include: nutrition, agriculture, food security, HIV/AIDS, WASH, financial inclusion, and early child development.

Background

Epidemic Control 90-90-90 (EpiC 3-90) supports the Ministry of Health (MOH) in targeted faith-based health facilities and selected GRZ institutions to achieve the UNAIDS Fast Track goals for epidemic control: 90% of all PLHIV know their status, 90% of those diagnosed receive sustained ART, 90% of all people receiving ART have viral suppression.

EpiC 3-90 supports comprehensive HIV/AIDS service delivery at supported health facilities while building capacity and systems for sustainability through a three-pronged approach: 1) Support health facilities improve their delivery of HIV prevention, treatment and laboratory services; 2) Improve key health system functions and structures needed to deliver quality HIV services; and 3) Health information is strategically collected and utilized to improve HIV service delivery. Through the course of the project, EpiC 3-90 will gradually decrease its involvement so that District and Provincial Health Offices (DHOs, PHOs) assume oversight of and technical assistance to supported facilities.

EpiC 3-90 is a consortium project of Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), Chreso Ministries and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). As a prime consortium member, CRS brings globally recognized expertise in grants management, health systems strengthening and sustainability, and top-notch HIV/AIDS service delivery.

Job Summary:

The District Community HIV Services Advisor (DCHSA) will provide support to Community Posts and their mother health facilities within the district. S/he will develop and implement activities that provide high quality clinical services in community settings. The DCHSA will work closely with the EpiC 3-90 community and clinical teams in supporting community response strategies including oversight, and monitoring performance. The DCHSA will support scale up of integrated health services and community based DSD models at the community posts for HTS, ART, PMTCT and assist in systems management. S/he will report to Senior Provincial Project Coordinator (SPPC).

Roles and Responsibilities:

The District Community HIV Services Advisor will

• Work closely with the ART in-charge and DHO staff to coordinate HIV/TB preventive and treatment activities in the Community Posts (CP) supported by CRS EPIC 3-90
• Serve as the lead CP/district based clinical mentor and provide technical guidance and mentorship for quality HIV/TB services
• Serve as the focal point person for site level clarifications for EpiC 3-90 and will provide leadership during site visits and demonstrate understanding of the HIV/TB activities for all Community Posts
• In collaboration with the DHO and mother facilities develop CP level budgets and action plans that address the needs at the CPs
  Prevention:
• Liaise with the community post teams to implement prevention activities in keys areas such as TPT, VMMC, Cervical Cancer screening, PMTCT, and health education
• Coordinate CP activities with district client mobilization activitiesHTS:
• Provide TA to all testers to for correct and optimal use of the screening tools and support optimization of index testing of newly and previously not indexed positives patients reported at the CP and outreach facility services including those from the community and affiliated Health Posts
• Develop a system for monitoring daily yields in all the CPs and different entry points and work with the CP teams to devise corrective action to align yields to programme goals
  Treatment:
• Mentor ART providers in the CPs and provide services in the outreach sites on ART management and good customer relations
• Serve as a mentor for other providers who consult on difficult cases
• Facilitate optimal drug regimens as outlined by the Zambia National Consolidated Treatment Guidelines
• Optimize TPT and track coverage for eligible recipients of care (ROC)
• Provide co-treatment for patients infected with Tb and HIV

Patient Monitoring and Retention:

• Oversee timely access of all eligible ROC of viral load testing and EID, support the VL and EID champions
• Review patient records to monitor providers’ adherence to national standards for managing & monitoring patients
• Support the ART in-charge in the day-to-day assignment of tasks for Community Based Volunteers (CBVs) and supervise the active daily tracking of patients with missed appointments to promote continuity of care

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Collaborate closely with the Si and M&E teams at the COs and the mother facilities
• Work to improve harmonization of data for MOH and EpiC 3-90 reporting
• Have good analytical skills
• Able to conduct thorough data reviews and able to infer clinical situations from presented data

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Professional Experience:

• Medical Licentiate, Clinical Officer or HIV Nurse Prescriber
• Minimum of 3 years of work experience in HIV programming
• Demonstrate application of technical principles and concepts in HIV program coordination
• General knowledge of other related disciplines to support proper cross-sectoral approaches
• Skills in mentoring, coaching, facilitation, and training applying adult learning principles and practices
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Personal Skills:

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgement
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented

Required/Desired Foreign Language:

Proficiency in English and any Zambian local language

Within District Travel Required:

70% travel (providing support to at least 3 CPs)

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: Strategic Information Support Officer (SISO)

Internal: Senior Provincial Project Coordinator, Provincial Project Coordinator, HIV Prevention & Comorbidities Advisor, Community HIV services Advisor, Provincial M&E Officer, Program Manager, Provincial Project Coordinator, EpiC 3-90 technical and SI Team

External: Hospital clinical staffs, District Health Director (DHD), District Health Information Officer, District Clinical care specialist, District ART Coordinator, District TB/HIV specialist, Service Champions

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

Disclaimer:

This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Note: By applying for this job, you understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, you understand that if you are a successful candidate, you will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and your personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate your behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

Applicants Instructions

Please email a cover letter, and curriculum vitae which should include three references to: [email protected]. Please include the position you are applying for in the subject line and location of preference.

The closing date for applications 22 January 2021. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.