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Community Liaison Officer
C3
P365 - TASKPEN
Head Office - Lusaka District, Lusaka Province
23 Apr 2024 00:00
29 Apr 2024 00:00
Project summary 

The TASKPEN project is grounded in current evidence indicating an urgent need to optimize HIV resources within healthcare systems to tackle the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. TASKPEN entails an evidence-based intervention package tailored to the Zambian context. It encompasses a comprehensive implementation strategy focused on reconfiguring service delivery for integrated care, including task shifting, practice facilitation, and enhancing health system capacities for NCD management.

Central to achieving this objective is the need to directly engage patients through trusted members of their communities, both within healthcare facilities and in community settings. This approach facilitates addressing treatment-related issues and ensuring sustained follow-up care.

Job summary 

Reports to implementation Nurse. The incumbent coordinates study peers and facility peers to improve service delivery by enhancing screening of NCDs (Hypertension, Diabetes and Dyslipidemia) and improving/monitoring retention in care for all clients with NCDs.

Main duties
  • Works closely with the health facilities to organise the work of study peers to ensure they meet their targets. 
  • Devises retention strategies and spearheads retention of NCD patients in intervention facilities.
  • Provides brief counselling for patients about substance abuse, adherence to treatment and lifestyle modifications and provides guidance and mentorship to peers for the same.
  • Builds and maintains relationships with health workers in the facility, as well as leaders, organizations, and residents in the community on matters partaining to TASKPEN and its role at the facilities.
  • Identifies community needs and concerns related to TASKPEN  activities and provide feedback to the facility management and TASKPEN team on ideas for initiatives and programs that enhance TASKPEN integration.
  • Helps identify gaps and efficiencies on the community aspect of TASKPEN implementation at different facilities and contribute to improving its implementation and adoption. 
  • Organizes and tracks community engagement workplans, events and activities.
  • Advances patient engagement and patient centred care principles and practices through championing participation and interest in TASKPEN, seeking information from stakeholders/TASKPEN mentors/external sources, peer support through sharing resources and case studies.
  • Brings together expertise and emerging personalised care learning through sharing and learning from peers. Listen to and understand the views and experiences of patients and colleagues.
  • Identifies knowledge and skills gaps among non-physician health workers/ community health workers and those who require orientation and refresher training in TASKPEN intervention activities and recommend for trainings. 
  • Daily interaction with fellow non-physician health workers/ community health workers at different facilities and lead change necessary for improving integration of TASKPEN. 
  • Spearheads community sensitization of NCDs in communities and actively engage in stakeholder engagements that will enhance uptake of TASKPEN in communities.
  • Works with TASKPEN clinical team to organise and lead monthly clinical and biweekly data/dashboard meetings.
  • Supports data entry for NCD performance indicators and practice facilitation
  • Works with the TASKPEN QA/QC nurse to ensure excellent coordination of care at community and facility levels
Qualifications
  • Minimum Diploma in social work or equivalent
  • Certified psychosocial counselor or equivalent.
  • Full Grade 12 certificate.
  • Experience in coordinating and managing community health workers
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Knowledge of the local community and cultural sensitivities.
  • Experience in community engagement or outreach activities.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
  • Proficiency in relevant local languages spoken in the community (Bemba and Nyanja).
  • Experience with Blood pressure measurements
  • Basic knowledge on NCDs (specifically Hypertension, Diabetes and High Cholesterol).
  • Familiarity with equipment used on triage for vitals. 
Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply. However, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.