Technical Officer - Retention, Adherence and Linkage at Elizabeth Glaser

Reporting to the Retention, Adherence and Linkage Technical Advisor, the Retention, Adherence and Linkage Technical Officer will support the planning and implementation of Retention, Adherence, Psychosocial support and Linkage interventions required for HIV care and treatment and PMTCT services within LVCT Vukisha95 supported facilities in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Homabay county.

Patient Appointment Management

• Provide leadership and technical assistance to health facilities on Client Appointment Management system.
• Design and develop high quality patient-focused appointment management systems to increase demand creation & Retention for HIV care services at the facility at all Vukisha 95 supported site.

Defaulter Tracing & management (Retention)

• Ensures effective active client follow up systems at each Vukisha 95 supported facility through adoption and use of relevant job aids and data collection tools as per client retention and defaulter tracing SOPs.
• Provides technical assistance to health care facilities for planning, implementation and evaluation of patient tracing and retention systems and related data management, data quality assurance, data summarization and analysis.

Adherence Counseling

In collaboration with the adherence counselors/Peer Educators:-

• Plans and oversees the implementation of high quality patient-focused demand creation, adherence and retention activities including establishment of functional multidisciplinary adherence support teams at each supported site.
• Oversee the implementation and documentation of targeted adherence sessions for clients who are suspected for treatment failure (STF).
• Conducts capacity building of adherence support multidisciplinary teams, which will include HCW, PE, mentor mothers, LSE in provision of stigma free services, which include HIV treatment literacy, adherence monitoring and psychosocial support with emphasis on EGPAF/National specific approach.

Psychosocial Support

• Oversees compliance to facility level adherence and psychosocial support Standard Operating Procedures (National and project specific) for PE work, Mentor mothers, Community linkages and defaulter tracing at within Vukisha 95 sites.
• Ensure the development of structured mechanisms within age- specific patient focused psychosocial support groups to deliver treatment literacy and address psychosocial and environmental barriers to optimal retention & adherence.
• Coordinate the establishment and management of Treatment literacy groups for various categories of clients.
• Support the Peer educators and adherence counselors develop a schedule for Treatment literacy sessions for the various groups.
• Ensure that PHDP interventions and treatment literacy activities are implemented and documented at each supported site.

Referral and linkages

• Guide development and maintenance of updated referral directories to strengthen community-networking activities in collaboration with Community Prevention team in Vukisha 95 supported sites.
• Establish community services inventory and SOPs for community-facility referral and linkages and vice versa.

Recording and Documentation

• Identify best practices, document, recommend, implement and disseminate effective and innovative approaches to adherence, client retention, defaulter tracing, community - facility linkage and stigma reduction at each supported site.

To Be Successful, You Will Have

• Degree in Clinical Psychology, Counselling psychology ,Social sciences or other equivalent qualifications in social sciences and/or Public Health.
• At least three (3) years project management experience working in demand creation, adherence counselling, psychosocial support and community linkages in HIV care and treatment/PMTCT.
• Proficiency in computer packages (Ms Word, Ms Excel, Ms Power Point).
• Familiar with and experience working with Government bodies particularly NASCOP , NACC
• Familiar with HIV community programs and facility retention programs including peer education and other MOH departments.
• Possess adequate facilitation, mentoring and counseling skills.
• Must understand PEPFAR /CDC/NASCOP/NACC Technical guidance requirements
• For HIV Care & Treatment particularly on Adherence.
• Dedicated team player with excellent organizational, interpersonal, communication, report writing and analytical skills details oriented.

Bonus Points If You Have

• A master’s degree will be an added advantage.