Description

Vacancy Announcement

Job title:

Community Health Worker ( 1 )

Work Location:

Gbense Chiefdom

Department:

Community Based Program

Reports to:

HIV/AIDS Community Health Worker Supervisor

Line Management

No

Application Status

External Advert

Organisation Profile

Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health center and to referral hospitals.

Position Overview

The home based care community health worker has a big role to play in supporting patients and communities, including: educating patients and community members, providing psychological and social support, serving as the link between the clinic and the community, and performing home visits. He/she works as part of a large clinical team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers. A CHW should seek information from other team members when necessary. He/she notices the needs of his/her patients, patients’ families, and other community members and makes referrals to appropriate clinic staff when necessary. It is important to record information accurately on the CHW’s Form

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Increase level of awareness about TB/HIV and available services with the aim of addressing stigma through the community sensitization activities to leaders, community members, etc.

• Contact tracing (social and household contacts), screening and referral of presumptive TB cases to DOT sites for diagnosis and communicate test results to patients with in three days.

• Follow up patients in their respective homes, through home visits and ensure patients education on side effects, TB and HIV issues, adherence counselling and prevention including community ART refills

• Tracing of patients who have interrupted treatment, defaulters and bringing them back into care in collaboration with in-charges at DOT/ART sites

• Refer / Escort TB and HIV patients on treatment for follow - up medical appointments including sputum smears, Gene x-pert, collection of medication, viral load testing and CD4 count tests and adverse side effects

• Collect and label all specimen alongside with traditional healers and transport specimen to DOT Sites with support from field supervisors.

• Use Commcare and forms for data collection when doing home visit, sync Commcare data and submit forms (Referral Tickets, Contact Tracing Forms and Treatment Calendar) at any giving time.

• Update patient’s information into Commcare when there are changes with Age, medication, Pregnancy status etc for quality data collection.

• Work closely with EHealth team and CHW Operation and Training Coordinator.

• Work closely with HIV/ TB Clinicians, facility officers, in- charges at DOT /ART sites for quality care of all HIV and TB patients.

• Maintain patient’s confidentiality and be empathetic toward patients and families. .

• Work closely with Acute Need Program staff to address the social needs of vulnerable HIV/TB Patients.

• Attend all meetings and trainings organized by the Community Based Program and HIV/TB clinical team.

• Abide by all policies and protocols set forth by the National Leprosy and TB Control Program, National Aids Control Program and Partners In Health (PIH).

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment

At Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partners In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Education and Work Experience Requirements

• Preferably must have completed BECE or high school certificate (WASSCE).
  • Commitment to social justice and human right.
  • Should be an exemplary, honest, trustworthy, and respectful.
  • Must be able to read and write in English as well as add and subtract using basic maths.
  • Should be willing, able, and motivated to serve his/her community and dedicated to caring and supporting TB and HIV patients, family members and the community at large.
  • Must be a permanent resident of the community and willing to work in it.
  • Should be able to perform specified CHW tasks as outlined in the scope of work
  • Should be interested in community health and development
  • Should be a good mobilizer and communicator
  • Should be involved in community projects in the past
  • Must be at least 18 years’ old

    Must be residing in the community in which they are serving

    Social Justice

    We are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.

    Method of application

    Interested candidates are required to apply through our website: www.pih.org/employment. In your application, please ensure to include names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) referees not later than Friday 29th March 2024