Lay Counsellor at BroadReach

Purpose of the position

• The Lay Counsellor’s primary responsibility is to support the implementation of tactical interventions at Department of Health (DoH) facilities and sites through the provision of direct HIV & TB related clinical services to patients and clients, namely pre.post and ongoing HIV/AIDS individual and group counselling, HIV Testing Services, TB Screening, referring HIV-positive persons and ensuring linkage to care .She / he will drive the 90-90-90 HIV and TB agendas for adults and children by ensuring that the NDOH HTS protocol and guideline are being implemented by target facilities. The Lay Counsellor will work in conjunction with a registered nurse/ professional nurse, enrolled nurse and Data Capturer on site and within the community using high yield modalities.

Key Accountabilities (included but not limited to)
In Your Role You Will

• To conduct group information/education sessions with health service users
• To provide HIV test, post-test and ongoing face –to- face counselling for health service users by utilizing high yield modalities of testing within the facility and the community as required
• Provide voluntary and confidential HIV Testing Services
• Maintain and monitor patients’ adherence to treatment regimen in order for counselling to be successful
• Support adherence by educating patients about self-management of HIV/AIDS and/or TB, tailoring instructions to patient’s individuals circumstances
• Refer newly diagnosed HIV positive patients for ART initiation and ensure linkage to care
• Contact patients to return at scheduled intervals for Viral Loads in accordance with treatment guidelines
• Refer LTFU patients to WBOTs, Community Partners or as directed for return to care
• Contact patients who miss appointments within 3 days of missed appointment and reschedule
• Assist in establishment, implementation and sustainability of Adherence Clubs
• Provide health education on health-related issues in patient waiting rooms and appropriate community events (as assigned by line manager
• Participate in organizing and staffing HIV/AIDS awareness events
• Compare tracking list provided to WBOTs, Community Partners, other with appointment system to ensure patients return to care
• Compare phone log for missed appointments against facility daily appointments to ensure patients prompt return after a missed visit
• Ensure that all direct service delivery reported according to BR reporting expectations (using the app, WMS or any other reporting tools provided)
• Ensure that all HIV tests are recorded according to protocols and policies

In Your Role As Lay Counsellor You Will

• Ensure Daily, weekly and monthly HTS standards met
• Provide Standard counselling care and referral executed for advanced care to medical doctors and specialists as recorded and in accordance with treatment protocols
• Demonstrate high quality counselling care evidenced by patient outcomes
• Ensure all newly diagnosed HIV positive patients referred for treatment and linkage to care confirmed and documented
• Ensure LTFU patient numbers are reduced, and patients are brought back into care
• Ensure efficient appointment system implemented at facility with minimal missed visits
• Ensure Adherence Clubs are established and run in accordance with AGL
• Coordinate Weekly HIV/AIDS awareness events, health education and individual risk reduction counselling sessions within and outside facilities
• Ensure Reduced number of patients LTFU
• Ensure Reduced number of missed appointments
• Ensure Increase in patient retention and adherence number
• Ensure All DSD captured on BR reporting tools correctly, consistently and timeously

Qualifications
Essential qualifications

• Senior Certificate (Grade12) or equivalent

Experience & Skills

• Minimum of 2 years relevant work experience and knowledge of public health facilities and H certificate (from an accredited service provider), a 10 Day Adherence Counselling certificate would serve as an advantage. IV programmes. Recommended: A valid 10 Day HIV Information and 20 Day Intensive Counselling

Personal qualities & Behavioural competencies
Personal qualities

• Problem Solving
• Attention to detail
• Ability to connect the dots, make linkages and collaboratively work across the organization to optimize the client experience
• Be solution focused
• Has a customer centric mindset
• Able to connect with clients at different levels
• Maintain confidentiality

Behavioural Competencies

• Empathy
• Results orientation

BroadReach Culture Cornerstones

• We serve a mission greater than ourselves
• We do better everyday
• We are solutions driven not problem focused
• We turn all customers into raving fans