JOB PURPOSE
HIV/AIDS is often associated with a range of psychosocial sequelae that must be addressed throughout all stages of the infection. Psychological support is therefore critical for helping individuals, couples, and families affected by HIV to cope with their emotions and psychosocial needs. (Chan and Chung).
The Psychosocial Support Coordinator will work collaboratively with stakeholders in the public health system, non-governmental and civil society to provide training, supervision and mentorship. The officer will play a lead role in supporting the national response by developing recommendations for national standards and guidelines for the provision of psychosocial care, designing evidence-based behavioural interventions, training and supervising the psychosocial component of the national response.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- Key deliverables are produced within agreed time frames to the required standards
- Confidentiality of information obtained on the job is preserved
- Procurement of goods, services or works are done in accordance with current guidelines established by the GoJ and the relevant funding agencies
KEY OUTPUTS
- Review and revise guiding documents (eg. protocols, manuals and job aides) as necessary for the four psychosocial groups to standardize and optimize service delivery to PLHIV.
- Coordinate and conduct trainings) to develop skills for the psychosocial team, inclusive of psychologists, case managers, social workers and adherence counsellors within the national HIV response to support improved well-being among key population groups, adopting HIV prevention behaviors, coping with HIV disease, treatment adherence and retention in care.
- Supervise psychologists, social workers, adherence counsellors, and case managers involved in psychosocial care of PLHIV
- Provide training in motivational interviewing to health care workers and monitor utilization of MI principles
- Provide psychosocial training to agencies involved in implementing the HIV prevention and treatment response including non-governmental and civil society organizations
- Facilitate regular supervision meetings for different categories of psychosocial staff
- Procure food vouchers for PLHIV
- Management of food vouchers for PLHIV, including the procurement and dispatch to the four regional health authorities
KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop behaviour change strategies for prevention and treatment that appropriately address the dynamics of the epidemic in Jamaica
- Develop HIV preventive interventions and interdisciplinary HIV prevention resources and communication mechanisms to rapidly translate research findings to community and public policy arenas
- Utilize psychosocial care to provide innovative solutions to address and improve gaps across the continuum of care
- Propose research to increase understanding of and develop solutions to the problems associated with initiating and maintaining behaviour change
- Develop national standards for the provision of psychosocial care
- Develop guidelines for the role of psychologists, social workers, case managers and adherence counsellors employed to the National HIV response
- Develop guidelines for integrating psychosocial care into other chronic disease clinics
- Develop, review and revise as necessary, the psychosocial modules for online delivery to healthcare workers
- Develop M&E framework for all components of Psychosocial programme
- Monitor implementation of case management guidelines
- Prepare procurement documents for all psychosocial activities
- Develop and deliver power point presentations to various audiences on training material and/or programmatic updates
- Support outcomes research to inform the development of psychosocial interventions to improve HIV treatment and care cascade
- Prepare documents related to psychosocial consultancies, including development of the terms of reference and procurement documents;
- Management of psychosocial consultancies, including review and provision of timely feedback on deliverables
- Participate in treatment site and corrective actions audits (conduction of audit and compilation of audit report), at treatment sites and non-governmental organizations across the island providing care for PLHIV, STIs and TB
- Review and collate psychosocial reports from the four cadres (social workers, adherence counsellors, case managers and psychologists) of the sub-national team, for national and international reports as per required timelines
- Preparation of psychosocial section for the monthly and annual TCS reports; with rostered responsibility to review and submit monthly TCs report
- Serve as the focal point representative from the national treatment care and support team to the Enabling Environment and Human Rights (EEHR) component of the National Family Planning Board
- Perform any other related duties that may be assigned
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
- Knowledge of the national standards for the provision of psychosocial care
- Expertise in the guidelines for the role of psychologists employed to the National HIV response
- Guidelines for integrating psychosocial care in to other chronic disease clinics
- M&E framework for psychosocial programme
- Good oral and written communication skills
- Excellent computer skills, including PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft word
- Organizing and conducting online meetings and presentations
- The ability to work in confidential environment
- Good interpersonal skills
- Good analytical and problem solving skills
- Leadership and team building skills
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize outputs
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
The Officer will report directly to the Director, Treatment Care & Support, HIV/STI/TB Unit, Ministry of Health & Wellness, who has the overall responsibility for ensuring the quality and timeliness of the output of this office.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- MSc or PhD in counseling, Clinical, Health psychology, or social work (clinical emphasis)
- Licensed/Qualified to supervise psychologists and/or social workers
- Minimum, 7 years’ experience for MSc and 5 years’ experience for PhD
- Experience in training and supervising psychologists and/or social workers
- Specialized training and experience working with PLHIV
- Specialized training and experience working with sexual minorities
- Experience working in health care settings
SPECIAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB
- Exposure to highly confidential and sensitive information
- May be required to work beyond normal working hours in order to meet deadlines
- Willingness and ability to travel overnight island wide and internationally
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Interested persons should submit their application along with resume no later than March 23, 2022 via email to jobapplications.moh@gmail.com
Applications must be addressed to:
Director
Human Resource Management & Development
Ministry of Health & Wellness
10a Chelsea Avenue,
Kingston 5
We thank all candidates for responding, however only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.