Anovas Jab Smart project was set up in late-2017 to respond to HIV among people who use drugs (PWUD) in Johannesburg Metro. PWUD are at particular risk of HIV and suffer high levels of stigma and prejudice, often being denied access to essential health services. Jab Smart is a peer-led project that provides a range of harm reduction services to PWUD. The project is implemented together with the COJ Health District, and it is supported by Global Fund through its partner NACOSA.
We are looking for Linkage Officer to link all NACOSA PWUD referred clients to care as guided by the Jab Smart project.
Key Duties And Responsibilities
Linkage to care
- Ensure that all clients tested HIV-positive are followed up and linked into care
- Keep a record and cohort of how many are initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART)
- Link all clients referred for PrEP, TB and STI
- Link clients to other psycho-social services
- Effectively provide health education to clients about HIV, ARVs, Adherence to ART, STI prevention, Prep and Index testing
- Distribution of IEC material and Condoms
- Demonstrate condom and Lubricant use
- Provide HTS counselling and testing
- Contact the negative cohort and facilitate HTS to the Negative cohort
- Contact and facilitate HTS to Index partners
- Promoting and performing HTS to the target group
- Participating in social mobilisation activities to encourage clients for HTS
- Reporting weekly to Site Coordinator.
- Capture and update linkage/Index spreadsheet.
- Ensure that referral slips (tear-off sections) are collected from the facilities and filed at the office.
- Ensure that clients indemnity form is fill in correctly and attached to other necessary documentation where possible.
- Submit weekly plans to the Site Coordinator.
- Liaise with the professional nurse and enrolled nurse and M&E on clients that require to be followed up and give feedback.
- Regular checks on Tier.net for clients that have been linked to care
- Compile weekly, Monthly reports and submit to the Site Coordinator.
Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Skills Required
- Grade 12
- RTCQI Certificate/HTS Counselling Certificate
- Social Auxiliary Worker qualification would be an added advantage
- Experience in working on Human Rights/Sexual Reproductive Health/TB and HIV/AIDS in the NGO or government sector
- Minimum of 2 years working experience in a similar role
- Knowledge and exposure to a range of human rights issues including barriers to accessing legal and health services in Global Fund supported districts
- Proficiency in speaking and writing, in English and any local language
- Organising and negotiation skills
- Ability to work with people of all backgrounds.
- Good interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of the district and community resources in the district.
- Drivers license and the ability to drive
- Very high-level understanding of key populations especially PWUD.
- Significant up-to-date knowledge of HIV and AIDS and TB and STIs and appropriate responses to them.
- Good verbal communication in the provincial languages
- Experience in working with MS Office package (Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet, PowerPoint)
Anova Health Institute is a provider of essential health services and therefore has a mandatory vaccination policy. Should your application be successful, you will be required to submit your proof of vaccination before commencing employment in the role.
Applicants who have not been contacted within 4 weeks of submitting their application should assume that they have not been successful.
Unsolicited CVs from agencies will not be paid agency fees should their candidate be placed at Anova.
For more information on Anova visit our website: www.anovahealth.co.za
