Adherence Counsellor at Amref Kenya

SCOPE OF WORK

USAID Imarisha Jamii is a USAID Kenya and East Africa funded Activity that aims to increase the use of quality county-led health and social services in Turkana County, Kenya. It is an integrated health and social services program that focuses in areas of HIV; Family Planning, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (FP/RMNCAH); Nutrition; and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program.

The Adherence Counsellor will report to SCMOH and SCASCO and Technical Lead Care and Treatment. You will provide initial and continuous adherence counselling to Adult, paediatric/Adolescent and PMTCT clients as guided by national guidelines and national/program standard operating procedures in select high volume facilities. Support patients who will have defaulted treatment or failed treatment to improve their adherence. Where need be, the Adherence Officer will be required to support testing of new patients

Key Responsibilities
Technical support to Project Implementation

•  Under the direct supervision of the CCC/MCH in Charge, the Adherence Counsellor will work to provide and improve overall client access to comprehensive and current medical treatment and information.
•  Provide initial and continuous adherence counselling and support for clients
•  Provide individualized client treatment education and coordinate treatment information related seminars.
•  Facilitate communication between other treatment providers and the client.
•  Provide medical and psychosocial support for the ART/PMTCT/TB/HIV clients
•  Deliver the PWP messages to clients
•  Mentor and supervise any support staff or volunteers in the facility and community who participate in adherence messaging to clients
•  Work in liaison with mentor mothers to foster adherence in PMTCT clients
•  Initiate and maintain Adolescent and Pediatric ART specific adherence sessions
•  Follow up clients who have defaulted or failed treatment with a focus on giving appropriate messaging on adherence
•  Organize talk sessions for patients on adherence (where applicable)
•  Refer difficult cases for review in a counsellor network

Capacity Building

•  Work with SCHMT/ SCASCO and community health units to facilitate capacity development for CHVs, patients and clients at the health facility through one-on-one mentorship, counselling
•  Clients, patients information, training and counselling

Monitoring and Evaluation and Documentation

•  Provide accurate and complete data on testing services
•  Adherence monitoring
•  Data capture and monitoring on interruption in treatment and return to care
•  Support documentation of best practices and lessons learnt.

Partnership and Networking

•  Liaise with relevant partners, stakeholders and collaborators at the Sub County and facility level in
• implementation of HIV prevention and identification services.

EDUCATION

•  Diploma Nursing, clinical Psychology, Counselling or Diploma or Degree Social work
•  At least 2 years related experience in adherence counselling and ART community systems
•  Training in HTS testing is an added advantage.
•  Supervisory experience is preferred in a MOH set up
•  Knowledge of Current ART guidelines is required Excellent written, listening and oral communications skills
•  Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks and work well under pressure
•  Excellent use of android application and computer literacy, particularly in the use of MS Office
•  Proficiency in both written and spoken English and Kiswahili
•  Ability to conceptualize and understand program needs

EXPERIENCE

•  At least 2 years related experience in adherence counselling and ART community systems
•  Experience in HIV testing and counselling
•  Experience working with government or donor funded programs will be an advantage.
•  Experience in working both at health facility and community levels.
•  Experience in implementing projects involving diverse partners, consortiums and operations
•  Excellent oral and written communication skills
•  Able to work with a multi-talented project team across cultural diversities
•  Good coordination, problem solving and networking skills
•  Excellent reporting and computer skills and ICT competencies a must
•  Ability to work independently and in isolation
•  Decision making and problem-solving skills