A Linkage to Care Officer - Community Team (Fixed Term Contract) vacancy is available at our Client, Wits Health Consortium's Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (RHI) in Tshwane - Gauteng.BackgroundThe Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI) is a renowned African-led research institute that seeks solutions to Africa’s health challenges.It is located within the University of the Witwatersrand and addresses some of the greatest public health concerns affecting our region, including HIV and its related problems, sexual and reproductive health and vaccinology. This is done through pioneering, multi-disciplinary research; responsive technical support and innovation in health services; and evidence-based policy development and advocacy with national, regional and global stakeholders.Main purpose of the jobTo ensure linkage to care of newly diagnosed people living with HIV from the testing point to ART careTo provide support and maintain retention in care of PLHIV on ARTTo manage the CDC inventory of source documents, manage data and coordinate tracking and tracing of patients that are unconfirmed/initial lost to follow up and awaiting treatmentLocationTshwane (Pretoria) - GautengKey performance areasLiaise with community and clinic staff to ensure all newly diagnosed HIV and TB patients are linked to careMake contact with clients newly diagnosed with HIV and ensure direct linkage to cliniciansProvide information to clients and ensure clients have a good understanding of the HIV care pathwayAssess each client’s needs and offer support or link them to specialised support as relevantSupport clients by answering any queries relating to their diagnosis and the next steps in careBe available telephonically or through text messaging to support clients or to answer any queriesAssist clients with making appointments for first or follow up visitsSubmit weekly feedback report on outcomes of tracking and tracing to the manager and data clerksLiaise with the clinicians and data clerks to ensure documenting and capturing of tracing outcomes both on clinical stationery and TIER.NetFollow up to ensure clients attend their scheduled appointmentsAlways maintain patient confidentialitySupport with health promotion activities in the health facilityManage the tracking and tracing data for ART initiation or follow-up visits for HIV/TB patients, including source documents and database updatesDaily data capturing of lost to care patients from relevant paper-based systemsLiaise with the data clerk weekly for the generation of late missed appointments, waiting for ART and TB treatment, and uLTFU lists from Tier.netTogether with the data clerk and admin officer retrieve files of patients appearing on the lists above to confirm missed appointmentsCompile weekly data of patients lost to initiation / follow up and submit data to relevant personnel for telephonic tracingCompile a list of patients traced telephonically and not linked to care, and submit to the community tracing team, WBOTs leader and facility manager for further tracingTake ownership and accountability for tasks and demonstrates effective self-managementFollow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of your own work are consistently and accurately maintainedMaintain a positive attitude and respond openly to feedbackTake ownership for driving own career development by participating in ongoing training and development activitiesRequired minimum education and trainingGrade 12Counselling and Proficiency in Microsoft officeDesirable additional education, work experience and personal abilitiesWorking knowledge of linkage and referral systems within a health systemTIER.Net data capturing training and/or experience will be added as an advantageRequired minimum work experienceTrained counsellor or experience with counselling HIV and TB patientsPrevious demonstrable tracking and tracing experience in a health facility/communityAt least one-year administrative experience in a health facility/community workTO APPLYOnly if you do meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV - Please Apply OnlinePlease take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position.The closing date for all applications is 05 November 2020.Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates.Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful.In accordance with our Employment Equity goals and plan, preference will be given to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto.
