Community Health Worker, Metro and Rural Health - Cape Town at TB HIV Care

Purpose of the position:

• To conduct out-reach activities in the sex worker community by providing current accurate health information, mobilisation of SWs to the mobile unit and linkage to care.

Minimum Requirements    

• Grade 10
• Accredited or recognised counselling certificate or feasible opportunity to obtain this during the probation period
• Experience in a key populations field advantageous
• Previous experience as Community Health Worker or HIV tester advantageous

Duties and Responsibilities    
Mobilisation

• Identify relevant key population hotspots for mobilisation (PWUD, FSW, MSM, TG, farm workers)
• Mobilise key population workers to access appropriate mobile and facility health and social services

Community interventions

• Conduct outreach into community hotspots to provide male and female condom demonstration, health education (risk and harm reduction, prevention and treatment options)
• Conduct health screening including HIV (inclusive of assisted self screening), TB and STIs
• Distribute IEC material, male and female condoms, lubricants and other commodities, as required
• Conduct point of care testing e.g. finger prick rapid HIV testing, as required
• Appropriately link client to nurse-led testing/care as required

Follow-up and referral  

• Assist team in follow-up of referral of all new cases – HIV, TB, STIs and other health issues
• Successfully refer key populations workers to mobile and facilities services
• Assist clients with appropriate referrals for other issues related to psychosocial and/or escalated care/intervention (e.g. paralegal, post-violence or substance use supportive care etc.)
• Set up and facilitate peer support groups or community advisory meetings as appropriate

Health education

• Provide accurate and current health information to sex workers using a variety of accepted strategies
• Assist with the development of new health promotion materials

Build and maintain relations

• Maintain relations with health services managers, indoor managers/owners and other gate keepers/stakeholders (including the client network)

Record management

• Use the attendance register for counting number of male and female present during support group or community advisory group meetings
• Utilise appropriate source documents, aligned to WCG requirements, to document outreach efforts and interventions
• Utilise appropriate internal tools for data or performance reporting
• Secure clinical information appropriately and submit timeously

Monitoring & Evaluation and Reporting

• Monitor and evaluate the impact of outreach activities and compile a summary of activities to be submitted to the line manager on a weekly basis
• Report back to the Line Manager any positive or negative feedback from clients and the general community

Skills and Competencies    

• Good communication skills
• Non-judgmental, trustworthy and empathetic personality
• Good interpersonal skills, including being a team player
• Demonstrate strong professional attitude and behaviour at all times
• Ability to work non-traditional hours which may include weekends from time to time
• Good attention to detail and accuracy