Job Title: Social Worker
Job Description
Sometimes in life there is that moment when it’s possible to make a change for the better. This is one of those moments.”
-Elizabeth Glaser
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is a global leader in the fight against pediatric HIV and AIDS, working in 17 countries and at 4,700 sites around the world to prevent the transmission of HIV to children, and to help those already infected. Today, because of the highly successful work of the Foundation and its partners, pediatric AIDS has been virtually eliminated in the United States. With a growing global staff of nearly 1,300—nine of 10 who work in the field—the Foundation’s global mission is to implement prevention, care, and treatment; further advance innovative research; and to execute strategic and targeted global advocacy activities to bring dramatic change to the lives of millions of women, children, and families worldwide.
The Foundation has received funding from USAID/Uganda for a five-year cooperative agreement in 13 districts in the south-western region of Uganda with the goal of increasing access to, coverage of and utilization of quality comprehensive tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services. The STAR SW project has four main objectives:
1. To strengthen decentralized HIV/TB service delivery system, with emphasis on health center IVs, IIIs and community outreaches.
2. To improve quality and efficiency of HIV/TB services within health facilities and Community Service Organizations /groups.
3. To strengthen networks and referrals systems to improve access to, coverage of and utilization of HIV/TB services.
4. To intensify demand generation activities for HIV/TB prevention, care and treatment service.
The STAR-SW project will provide a comprehensive service package of HIV counseling and testing (HCT), prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT), HIV/AIDS chronic care services, HIV/TB collaborative services, community based directly observed TB treatment-short course (CB-DOTS); and antiretroviral treatment (ART) for both ARV-naïve people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) and the transitioned TREAT supported PLHIV currently receiving ART. This program will foster the development of strong partnerships with other district-based TB and HIV/AIDS programs in each of the regions in order to improve coordination; expand the referral network; and ensure more efficient use of resources.
POSITIONS (2)
JOB TITLE: Social Worker
DEPARTMENT: Community Linkages and Demand Generation
LOCATION: Mbarara
Reporting Relations:
Social Worker reports to the Director Community Linkages and Demand Generation
Job Summary:
The primary responsibility of this position is to support the STAR –SW Project by ensuring that critical services for HIV/AIDS and TB prevention, care and treatment are interconnected through strong referral networks, linkages, client follow up as well as overseeing the demand generation processes for HIV/AIDS and TB services in 13 STAR- SW supported districts. The position holder is to ensure effective co-coordination, linkages between communities and health facilities in order to deliver comprehensive HIV/AIDS and TB services to individuals and families in the STAR-SW Project.
Core Duties and Responsibilities:
• Ensures the technical soundness of STAR SW/EGPAF’s community and HIV prevention strategies by updating STAR SW project staff and implementing partners on technical advances and lessons learned around the world.
• Ensures that STAR SW/EGPAF’s implementation strategies and performance goals are in accordance with national and international standards for HIV prevention, care and treatment.
• Provides technical guidance during the development of STAR SW/ EGPAF’s annual work plan and participates in the planning and budgeting activities, especially in regard to HIV prevention and community services.
• Supports other quality assurance activities in liaison with the Quality Improvement team as required.
• Integrates technical support in the key program areas supported by STAR SW and provides technical guidance to the district teams for work plan development to ensure successful implementation of the project.
• Setting up and running HIV prevention and community services and track progress at individual sites through site visits and district reports, in collaboration with M.O.H and the EGPAF program team. These services include but are not limited to: Home based care, psychosocial support groups, AB, supporting the accelerated enrolment of HIV positive children and members of their families and support their retention in care, and the establishment and strengthening of a referral network model that facilitates linkages between different delivery points to ensure delivery of comprehensive HIV/AIDS and TB services.
• In liaison with DHTs, ensure that MOH structures of VHTs are functional in the districts
• Provides technical leadership for identified CSOs/CBOs/ PLHIV networks, the different cadres of community volunteers and VHTs to ensure effective services at community and health facility levels.
• Coordinates technical reporting according to defined reporting schedule and writes regular monitoring and technical reports as required and contribute to EGPAF’s reports.
• Assists in identifying, documenting, disseminating and scaling up best practices in TB and HIV and writes regular monitoring and technical reports as required and contribute to EGPAF’s reports.
• Represents EGPAF and STAR SW project in the supported districts and at national level as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, Experience, and Abilities Required:
• A bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Social Sciences, Development studies or other relevant discipline and/or a master’s degree in Public Health or other related discipline.
• At least 3 years of professional experience working in HIV/AIDS prevention, care & treatment.
• Hands-on knowledge and skills in designing, planning, implementing and monitoring community activities for HIV prevention, PMTCT, clinical care and Pediatric care programs.
• Sound understanding of current issues and developments in the field of HIV/AIDS and especially PMTCT, ART and HCT.
• Training Skills
• Experience in community participation methodologies
• Knowledge of relevant local languages
• Strong skills in teamwork and networking. Excellent verbal communication and writing skills.
• Willingness to work and travel in rural settings in Uganda.
How to Apply
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified individuals are welcome to apply. Please send cover letter and CV to:
The Country Director/COP
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF)
Plot 18A Kyadondo Road, Nakasero
P.O. Box 21127
Kampala, Uganda
E-mail: UgandaRecruitment@pedaids.org
EGPAF will only contact short-listed applicants. Deadline for submission is June 15th , 2012
www.pedaids.org
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
