Jobs at Gold Star Kenya

Position Summary:

The PMTCT Technical Officer is responsible for providing coordination, technical, leadership and management in the implementation of high quality PMTCT among pregnant and breastfeeding women and their HIV exposed Infants with special focus on adolescent girls and young women and their infants across USAID Tujenge Jamii supported counties (Baringo, Laikipia, Nakuru and Samburu). S/he will ensure all technical staffs have capacity/skills to manage, deliver and sustain provision of comprehensive HIV care, treatment and prevention services for pregnant and lactating women, HEI, HII and older children. S/he will support the DCOP and Service Delivery Advisor to standardize quality by taking lead in continuous quality improvement, tracking key performance indicators and strategies to determine progress and innovations across counties, will take lead in the planning of health systems support and health systems strengthening activities designed to increase quality PMTCT services while providing technical mentorship among other technical teams and MOH counterparts s with an aim of building sustainable competencies and skills.

Scope:

Reporting to the DCOP and shall provide tactical direction and mentorship for PMTCT, HEI and AGYW with deliberate effort to link with the OVC program. S/he is responsible for providing day to day contact with each project mentorship teams, providing technical assistance to strengthen implementation of integrated and comprehensive PMTCT, HEI and PrEP among MCH clients especially AGYW services at each supported site, working closely with the Health Systems Strengthening TO and the RMNCAH Team to, support program expansion, improve quality of services and monitor progress towards achievement of UJT goals and objectives. As a key member of the Senior Technical Team (STT), S/he will be UTJ’s Champion for PMTCT, HEI and Pregnant and breastfeeding AGYW S/he will work closely with the other STT members and other technical leads for comprehensive HIV programming across all sites.

Reporting Lines:

The incumbent reports to the Deputy Chief of Party and Service Delivery Advisor (Technical supervision).

Budget Responsibility

Prepare and participate in the development of budget for PMTCT and HEI interventions to ensure activities are implemented in a cost-efficient manner.

Key Responsibilities:

• Participate in the design, development and implementation of integrated PMTCT and HEI work plans and oversee the implementation the key interventions.
• Work with UTJ mentorship teams and STT to provide overall tactical leadership of the PMTCT ensuring effective collaboration and teamwork across sites and counties geared towards the achievement of quality results.
• Oversee the integration of the project’s PMTCT/HEI PrEP in MCH settings technical approaches for successful project implementation using evidence informed, innovative and best practices.
• Provide leadership in creating and strengthening linkages and synergies across various interventions outside UTJ especially with the OVC program, child and social services.
• Take lead in the preparation of monthly, quarterly and other reports as required and submit these to the DCOP for incorporation into broader project reports in a timely manner.
• Participate in the annual work-plan development, development of joint work-plans to incorporate PMTCT/HEI interventions.
• Provide leadership in quality improvement efforts within PMTCT settings, participate and take lead in PMTCT TWG and other meetings as determined from time to time.
• Identify innovations and best practices and mentor the site level staffs on PMTCT and care for the HEI.
• Represent UTJ in technical forums at field/County level, Regional, national level and any other relevant forum. Specifically, represent UTJ in the PMTCT-OVC collaborative forums.
• Provide leadership in identifying relevant changes in PMTCT programming efforts globally and nationally and translate these changes to programmatic efforts at site level.
• Oversee the implementation of indicator-based performance monitoring plan that covers project and patient clinical outcomes.
• Provide leadership in strengthening of psychosocial support platforms for the clients PMTCT including but not limited to creation and maintaining PSSG groups, training of mentor mothers and facilitating retention virological outcomes as a result of these activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirement Standards

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Nursing or Medicine with 3-5 years’ working experience in RMNCAH/PMTCT in a technical capacity, three years of which must be in working with integrated health programs or Diploma in Clinical Medicine, Nursing or Community Health and Development with 5-7 years’ experience. Postgraduate training will be an added advantage.
• Experience in training and supervision of large PMTCT/RMNCAH programs and familiarity with the relevant MOH Policies/Strategy & guidelines and procedures.
• In depth understanding of US Government or other Donor Funded programs
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and excellent computer skills in MS Office Suite.
• Demonstrated leadership in facilitating multi-sectoral alliances and partnerships at local, national, and international levels in RMNCAH/PMTCT.

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POSITION SUMMARY:

The HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Technical Officer (PrEP TO) will work with program regional teams and health facility staff to address PrEP access, scale up of PrEP among all priority populations at risk of HIV infection including but not limited to General population, Pregnant and breastfeeding women, Key populations, Discordant couple, AGYW among others. PrEP is offered as an additional prevention choice for people at substantial risk of HIV infection as part of combination HIV prevention approaches

The PrEP TO will increase the awareness of PrEP to high-risk individuals; expand the directory of culturally competent medical support providers in PrEP, support roll out of PrEP in other entry points besides CCC to include out-patient departments, MCH clinics, Community Outreach activities with clear bi-directional referral between communities and clinics as well as across departments in the hospital settings

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Liaise with the MOH counterpart and UTJ regional teams to increase the awareness of PrEP in Nakuru, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu counties among high-risk individuals.
• Liaise with MOH counterpart and UTJ regional teams to capacity build and mentor health care providers on sensitization, provision and scale up of PrEP among the priority target populations at HIV risk.
• Liaise with MOH counterpart and UTJ regional teams to provide basic non-clinical linkage-to-care and patient navigation for individuals seeking PrEP as a practical prevention tool.
• Liaise with MOH counterpart and UTJ regional teams to organize, facilitate quarterly PrEP meetings.
• Work with HIV Prevention stakeholders to assess needs, develop care plans and coordinate PrEP-related services through advocacy, education, support, empowerment and coaching.
• Analyze, review trends and evaluate reports from health facilities and regions to ensure access to PrEP and follow-through with service providers.
• Organize the planning and deployment of innovative approaches to sensitize and educate the public about HIV risk and PrEP options platforms to raise awareness of PrEP.
• Work with county PrEP key stakeholders in advancing the HIV risk assessment and provision of PrEP
• Facilitate in distributing tool for use in HIV Testing to identify those at high risk for HIV and
• more likely to benefit from a PrEP with effective referral to PrEP service access.
• Ensure use of data driven PrEP strategies at facility, community and county levels.
• Reduce barriers to obtaining clinical PrEP care/services.
• Assist the clinical team with individualized risk-reduction counseling and support as well as adherence strategies for targeted outreach interventions to optimize follow-up.
• Assist in the development of tools that support best practices in PrEP care.
• Plan and follow-up targeted PrEP outreach activities to reach out to at-risk communities.
• Undertake other work-related activities as allocated by the supervisor.
• Participate and initiate in PrEP quality initiatives.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/SKILLS

• Diploma in a clinical health related field with psychological or psychosocial training with at least 3 years of relevant experience in HIV Prevention including PrEP.
• Demonstrates sufficient relevant PrEP knowledge and work experience.
• Seasoned experience in HIV/AIDS prevention, healthcare systems, outreach and health promotion.
• Computer skills using Microsoft software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, social media apps).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.