Merlin Field Health Officer Job in Kenya

Position: Field Health Officer - HCT

Department: HIV / TB

Projects: GF R7- HIV Project

Responsible to: Project Officer - HCT

Staff directly supervised: HCT Service Providers

Relationships internally: All programme and support staff

Relationships externally: MoMS/MoPHS personnel, other governmental and non-governmental counterparts, community members

Overall Objective of the Position

The Field Officer HCT will be based in Kisii and will be responsible for providing oversight in the provision of high quality community prevention interventions including HIV testing and counselling in close collaboration and coordination with the Ministries of Health.

The officer will also organise and participate in the delivery of high quality training programs at community level targeting both youth and MARPs.

Responsibilities

• In close coordination with Project officer and MoH counterparts, develop monthly work plans and translate these into weekly and daily activity plans. These should be in harmony with the broader project implementation plan and timelines.
• Plan and undertake provision of mobile/outreach and home-based HCT in accordance with the national guidelines and SoPs.
• Plan and undertake sensitization campaigns/events targeting both MARPs and youth aimed at achieving a high degree of personal perception of risk of HIV infection and thus behaviour change.
• Promote issues of safe sex, abstinence, being faithful, delayed sexual debut among youths/adolescents and correct and consistent condom use.
• Plan and implement the peer education approach to behaviour change.
• In liaison with the MOH counterparts, ensure effective functioning of the referral systems between service delivery points (e.g. CT, PSCs, TB, STI, HBC, PMTCT etc) to ensure tested clients receive comprehensive care.
• Continuously assess capacity gaps among service providers and offer training and mentorship.
• In liaison with the MoH plan and undertake counsellor support supervision as prescribed by the National guidelines
• Correctly collect, record, report and store data of all activities undertaken
• Participate in organization and facilitation of information sharing forums including stakeholders meetings.
• In liaison with the relevant MoH personnel, ensure consistent availability of essential medical and non-medical supplies, ensure proper utilization, recording and reporting of the same.
• In liaison with the IEC/SBCC team strengthen community linkage and participation in the project activities including reducing HIV/AIDS/TB stigma and enhancing demand for services.
• Promote Greater Involvement of People with AIDS (GIPA) in the implementation of Merlin supported activities.
• Ensure gender mainstreaming in all project activities.
• Represent Merlin in various forums as requested and/or approved by the line Manager.
• Write high quality reports of all activities undertaken and submit to supervisor in a timely manner including daily service/activity reports.
• To undertake any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Job and Person Specifications

• Have a Higher Diploma/Diploma in counselling psychology, social sciences, community development
• Have NASCOP/LVCT HCT training and a minimum of 3 years experience in the delivery of HCT services
• Experience in working with the MoH at district level
• Training in counsellor supervision will be an added advantage
• Training and demonstrated experience in TOT for HIV related courses including peer education
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including proficiency in the use of MS Office
• Demonstrated ability in writing high quality reports
• Have demonstrated a high degree of initiative, flexibility, reliability and a team player

Data Protection

Please note, on submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin holding and using the information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment – should an offer be made.

In order to process your job application, it may be necessary for your application to be sent to the Country Director (in the country you are applying for) for consideration. If you do not agree with this, please state so when applying.

How to Apply

All applications should be sent to:

HR Department,
Merlin, Nairobi Office,
P.O Box 3350 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya

or email to: recruitment@merlin-kenya.org

Application deadline is 5:00pm on Monday, 23rd January 2012.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.