Community Linkages Facilitators x14 Infectious Diseases Institute

General Summary
The primary role of the Case workers is to provide support to partner Sub county based Project Officers in respective districts, community development office (CDO) and community structures; Para-Social Workers (PSW), SINOVUYO Facilitators, ECD Facilitators in the areas of linking the community and facilities to guarantee effective referrals and HIV cascade. This position will ensure the technical and methodological soundness of referrals and linkages activities for HIV positive beneficiaries, members of index households, community structures and other platforms that are part of the project implementation. The Case Workers will be based at High Volume Facilities with majority of project beneficiaries to strengthen community-facility-facility-community linkage for OVCs, youth and Caregivers and improve layering of health, HIV&AIDS access and uptake of services to achieve PEPFAR 90-90-90 (Uganda 95-95-95) UNAIDS goals.

Key Responsibilities
• Works with all OVC community structures including District Based Teams, (RHITES) and PSWs during integrated Health outreaches at community level to ensure effective tracking of newly tested positive (Tx_New) and complete linkage into the continuum of care.
• Facilitates monthly referrals and linkages meetings among community and health facility staff to review performance of uptake of services by clients referred from community.

Provides technical assistance to PSWs and other project structures on comprehensive integrated support related to referral and linkages and service provision within the community.

Works in liaison with PSWs to ensure PLHIV beneficiaries are reminded of their clinic appointment.
• Receive new referrals from the community and guides referred clients through the health care system at the facility.

Provides health education as needed for newly diagnosed HIV positive patients.
• Participates in scheduling appointments, responding to provider questions regarding care follow-up, providing appropriate clinical information (e.g. on suppression) and maintains ongoing patient tracking.
• Day-to-day participation in HIV patient screening activities including the entry of data and tracking of HIV testing services
• Follow-up with re-engaged individuals/clients to ensure retention in care, and provide additional supports as needed.
• Strengthen documentation of referrals and linkages for different services to ensure a continuum of care and maintain an up to date file for all referrals made and completed.
• Work with facility-based staff to ensure project beneficiary files are up to date and generate list of beneficiaries due for Viral Load Test for support.
• Compile and share a list of beneficiaries not suppressing viral load for intensive adherence support and counselling at community level.
• Complete a monthly cascade report for sharing with supervisor and collaborate with the Monitoring and Evaluation team to ensure data collected is accurate and valid.
• Attend health facility meetings and provide feedback from field level observations and community structures on referrals and linkages.
• Provide feedback to PSWs and other community structures on referrals made and services received.

Keep an up-to-date referral file and referral register for performance tracking.
• Follow up with community structures (PSWs) on identified positive clients missing clinic appointments for linkages back to care.
• Work with program team and support identified Tx_New for possible assessment and enrollment into the project.
• Link positive beneficiaries to existing psychosocial support platforms (Young positive, Family Support, PSS Groups) both at facility and community level.
• Act as contact person between Health Facility and Community Level Structures for referrals and linkages.
• Participate in monthly case conference meetings with other child protection stakeholders and share updates on referrals status.

Academic Qualification
• Certificate

Person Specification
• A minimum of Ordinary Level certificate or its equivalent.
• Training in Social Work, Community Development, Public Health, Sociology, Project Planning, Community Health or Child Protection would be an added advantage.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in community work within a government institution, health facility setting, NGO or USAID funded programs/projects is necessary.
• Skills in at least two or more of the following technical areas: strengthening service delivery programs, supporting referrals and linkages between and among communities and health facilities or coordinating OVC activities in a project environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication or interpersonal skills is a must.
• Ability and willingness to travel within the supported districts
• Must be ?uent in applicable local Languages and English.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team with frequent travel to the ?eld.
• Possess a high standard of personal and professional integrity