Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA) Available Job Opportunity

Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA) is a national organisation operating in all nine provinces in South Africa with 134 members and affiliated hospices countrywide.

Job Title: Lay Counsellors

Job Location: Nelspruit, Mpumalanga

The purpose of this position is to provide testing and counselling services and become an integral part of the broader comprehensive care and treatment program in a non-Clinical site and/or community that links the community into care.

Responsibilities:

Implement Targeted Community HIV Testing Services

• HIV pre-test, post-test counselling
• Adherence counselling
• Conduct Index Testing and Mobile testing
• Give health education on health-related issues
• Give support to both infected and affected clients
• Provide education on HIV, TB and STIs prevention strategies
• Participate in organizing HIVAIDS awareness events
• Promote HIV counselling, testing and condom use
• Conduct screening for TB and STIs
• Collect data

Implement Active Referral and Linkage to Care

• Refer and link all new HIV, TB STI cases
• Link HIV negative patients to preventative service providers
• Trace defaulters and link them back to the mainstream
• Collect data

Implement Adherence Support 

• Facilitate community-based adherence clubs
• Introduce a risk reduction plan for clients in the post-test counselling and the adherence support

Requirements:

• Matric / Grade 12 Certificate or equivalent
• Accredited training certificates: Basic HIV information course, Intensive Counselling course and Adherence Counselling course
• Finger prick certificate
• Ability to communicate in English and one or more South African language(s) commonly spoken in the Sub-District
• Basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS and TB
• Involvement in some aspect of community work will be an added advantage
• Clear criminal record
• Minimum one to two years’ experience in HIV Counselling, Finger prick and Intensive Adherence counselling
• Interpersonal skills Must be a respected member of the community
• Ability to counsel using the ACTS method
• Attention to detail
• Communication skills
• Integrity
• Counselling skills
• Compassion
• Non-judgmental, trustworthy and empathic
• Committed and motivated to preventing HIV and supporting people living with HIV
• Willing to work flexible hours, including weekends

To apply

Submit a detailed CV, covering letter and names of three contactable references including email contact to [email protected]

Application Deadline: Friday, 19 April, 2019