Job Description

The Psychosocial Support Coordinator is responsible for the overall planning and coordinating provision of high quality psychosocial services and related therapeutic functions to clients living with HIV, their partners, families and caregivers and others affected by HIV infections. It is obligatory that he/she should possess mental health expertise, such as; health promotion, prevention, treatment; peer support and self- help that can support a client living with HIV. He or she will coordinate health education, treatment literacy, ART adherence counselling and psychosocial support to children, adolescents and adults accessing services in RTC supported health facilities. He will lead the implementation of Psychosocial support in all the districts and support Retention officers to provide Psychosocial services to clients in all the facilities

Responsibilities

• Coordinate all psychosocial support services in all RTC supported facilities
• Work in close collaboration with the District Program managers and Clinical teams to develop a psychosocial support plan to address the psychosocial needs of children, adolescents and adult clients accessing services in RTC supported facilities
• Support districts in developing strategies for promotion of psychosocial services provision by RTC , MOHP and other stakeholders such as social welfare.
• Identify capacity building needs and implement capacity building activities to strengthen psychosocial services provision by other care providers at facility and district level.
• Support districts and facilities in developing weekly/monthly work plan for psychosocial support activities in liaison with the District Program Managers and Retention Supervisors.
• Support facilities in providinge conducive environment, which will aid client’s free expression through application of welcome services model
• Support and facilitate provision of health talks in designated areas (HF) to create demand for HIV testing, viral load uptake, cervical cancer, TB screening and other services.
• Collaborate and support HTS providers at facility and community level in provision of index case testing and HIV self-testing
• Support clients with referrals, to HIV testing services, ART clinic and reproductive health services within the health facilities
• Work with facility team to facilitate generation of the list of HIV+ clients and Infant with DNA+ not linked to care for follow up and linkage to care
• Collaborate with other professionals to assess client’s other needs and plan their treatments such community support.
• Identify clients who need psychosocial support services in the facility (Low level Viraemia and Viraemia 1000+, New+, missed appointments, status disclosure, and those classified as high-risk clients)
• Conduct bookings of clients who need psychosocial counselling basing on booking protocol
• Carry out routine psychological assessments on patients and clients through interviews, observations and tests including assessment for risk of depression.
• Support districts to Develop and provide appropriate individualized health services using comprehensive psychosocial case management and document in the Patient support services progress notes, and register.
• Support facilities to conduct risk stratification to clients and ensure they are assigned to appropriate interventions
• Manage risk stratification model interventions at facility and district level ensuring all data is captured using appropriate tool and shared with district and central office
• Implementation of Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention (PHDP) activities with fidelity thereby improving the dignity and quality of life of people living with HIV.
• Manage and track all new positive and client who interrupted in care (28 days IIT) and are continuing in treatment using case management model
• Manage and follow up all clients enrolled for psychosocial support services, ensuring all clients attend their appointments and commence tracing within 48 hours if booked client misses appointment.
• Refer clients to other services within the facility that are due such as viral load testing, and mental health services
• Assist in running intensive HIV care Clinic (IHCC) through provision of welcome services.
• Proactively identify gaps and communicate with supervisors for interventions/further instructions.
• Collaborate with other professionals to assess clients’ other needs and plan their treatment.
• Regularly evaluate the impact of psychotherapeutic interventions through operational research and other related development that are appropriate and relevant to the client and service needs.
• Provide relevant consultation counselling services to the facility staff whenever necessary
• Discharge clients based on psychosocial support discharge criteria
• Ensure all M&E tools used in psychosocial support are available and well documented.
• Provide relevant feedback to health care providers who referred the clients for Psychosocial support in an appropriate and timely manner
• Regularly represent organization on matters of psychosocial support.
• Supervise other counsellors such as patient supporters assigned in the facility.
• Maintain clients’ privacy and confidentiality of records concerning their treatment and general matters related to work.
• In-depth knowledge of HIV program and Ministry of Health service delivery system is preferred

Qualifications and Experience Required

• Degree in Psychosocial Counselling, Psychology, Psychotherapy, or Diploma in Psychical Counselling and/or Psychotherapy with at least two years of work experience.
• Those with experience in working with adolescent and children living with HIV will have an added advantage..