Parish Treatment Care & Support Officer

Parish Treatment Care & Support Officer (GMG SEG 2)

Location: HIV/STI/Tb Unit

The HIV/STI/Tb Unit (HSTU) is responsible for the national response to the HIV epidemic. At the end of 2017 the treatment cascade had an estimated 33,700 of the Jamaican population being PLHIV. The cascade as at the end of 2017 was 78-44-52 with the aim being 90-90-90.

The programme has the dual aim of decreasing the incidence of new HIV infections while limiting the impact of the epidemic. This will be done through improved access for those affected, to quality treatment, care and support services in an environment free of stigma and discrimination with strengthened multi-sectoral partnerships to effectively plan, implement, monitor and evaluate programmes. This will aid in the attainment of the 90-90-90 targets.

In order to achieve these targets, significant effort is required at the treatment site level to address gaps in service delivery. Patient load, combined with competing duties/priorities, and high patient: staff ratios do not allow for timely implementation and/or monitoring of interventions by service providers. The multiple reporting requirements inclusive of donor partner reporting and engagement, also requires oversight for large clinic settings. Dedicated site level staff is required in order to support and monitor the implementation of corrective actions to address the gaps in service delivery; this is particularly needed at treatment sites with a high patient load.

The Officer will report directly to the Medical Officer of Health, Senior Medical Officers at hospital sites and indirectly to the Regional and National Treatment care and Support Officers.

Collaborates with:

✓         Medical Officers at treatment site

✓         Case Managers

✓         Social Workers

✓         Psychologists

✓         Behaviour Change Communication Team

✓         Medical Technologists

✓         Adherence Counsellors

✓         Contact Investigators

✓         Regional HIV Staff

✓         Pharmacy Staff

✓         MOH HSTU staff

✓         Parish Administrator / Regional Administrative Officer/Clinic administrator for admin matters

✓       Civil Society Partners/Non-Governmental Organizations

Supervisory Responsibilities

Data Entry Clerk

PROVISION OF REQUISITE TOOLS AND MATERIALS

The Officer shall have free access to all the facilities that are required for the effective and efficient performance of his/her duties. The Officer will be required to provide his/her own tools and shall not be remunerated outside of the contract value; that is, no other allowance shall accrue or shall be caused to be accrued by the performance of the duties so identified in these TOR except for those agreed in the contract which support the said TOR.

The Regional Health Authorities will provide the relevant office space and furniture.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Public Health or Social Sciences;
• Basic HIV/AIDS knowledge and experience managing HIV/AIDS patients would be an asset;
• Have at least 3 years field experience in HIV or health programme;
• Be computer literate, with the ability to use software applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Excellent data management and research skills;
• Excellent time management skills;
• Excellent communication skills, oral and written;
• Possess excellent oral and written skills;
• Project Management would be an asset;
• Have good interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

Technical Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and implementation of all HIV/STI Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support activities within the assigned treatment site;
• To monitor PITC at the facility as well as coordinating training of staff in PITC;
• Assist with increasing HIV/STI testing among all patients accessing care at the facility as well as the contacts of PLHIV;
• Oversee, implement and monitor all linkage and retention activities inclusive of referrals to/from the site and LTFU initiatives;
• Assist with the management of the treatment site database and utilization of the database to design and implement activities to improve data quality and quality care/adherence to ART guidelines
• Use of database to identify gaps in services/management and to develop strategies to address same;
• To ensure drug resistance testing applications are presented to the drug resistance board and feedback is given to the clinician and MO(H);
• To monitor all activities for pMTCT and provide feedback on improving the programme.to MO(H);
• Participate in audits conducted by the Region to identify gaps in care and recommend/implement/monitor the impact of corrective measures including stocks/supplies;
• Monitor indicators to ensure that the TCS team is improving the management and care of PLHIV linked to the treatment site;
• Responsible for the coordination and implementation of Quality Improvement (QI) activities and the collation/submission of QI reports as per stipulated deadlines;
• Act as a liaison between the parish, site and select partners
• Assist with the development of parish work plans and implementation of regional work plans;
• Weekly lab surveillance to identify new PLHIV;
• Attend workshops & meetings and follow up on actions from same;
• Assist Regional TCS Officer in conducting quarterly pharmacy audits;
• Liaise with other health care providers for support in the coordination of the linkage and retention in care activities;
• Weekly visits to maternity wards to ensure that HEI and Syphilis registers are updated;
• Liaise with Parish pMTCT Coordinator to ensure the timely submission of reports.
  

  Administrative responsibilities

• Collaborate with technical staff and field officers in the collection, collation, and analysis of data from treatment sites, testing sites and HIV databases;
  • Manage data on a daily, weekly, monthly basis data from sites, parishes and the region.
  • Provide monthly status report on progress towards meeting indicator targets.
  • Oversee implementation of various data collection tools and conduct data verification exercises to ensure that data is of the highest quality.
  • Assist with revision of data collection tools and make recommendations based on observations at the field level.
  • Participate in training workshops to build capacity in Monitoring and Evaluation.
  • Conduct data verification and validation exercises regularly using the DHIS - TSIS specific to the assigned site.
• Manage data on a daily, weekly, monthly basis data from sites, parishes and the region;
• Provide monthly status report on progress towards meeting indicator targets;
• Oversee implementation of various data collection tools and conduct data verification exercises to ensure that data is of the highest quality;
• Assist with revision of data collection tools and make recommendations based on observations at the field level;
• Participate in training workshops to build capacity in Monitoring and Evaluation;
• Conduct data verification and validation exercises regularly using the DHIS - TSIS specific to the assigned site.

Note

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Contact

The Director
Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations
South East Regional Health Authority
The Towers, 2nd Floor
25 Dominica Drive
Kingston 5

​Email: employment@serha.gov.jm

Base Salary: Undisclosed