VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) is on a mission to create a world where no mother, child, or family is devastated by HIV and AIDS, and we are making an impact. We are a proven leader in the global fight to end HIV and AIDS, and an advocate for every child to live a full and healthy life into adulthood. For more than 30 years, EGPAF has been a leader in meeting urgent needs in pediatric HIV and AIDS in the world’s most affected regions. We carry out our values of passion, innovation, teamwork, leadership, integrity, excellence and equity every day, while maximizing our impact in the communities we serve. EGPAF currently supports national, district, and local governments, facilities, communities, and non-governmental partners. In 2020, EGPAF’s global footprint spans 15 countries. To date, EGPAF has supported over 15,000 sites to offer HIV counselling, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services alongside high-quality family health care. Join us on our fight for an AIDS-free generation!

EGPAF has worked in Malawi since 2001. Today, EGPAF Malawi implements evidence-based HIV prevention, care and treatment interventions in 177 health facilities in nine districts through EGPAF’s U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief/U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PEPFAR/CDC) – funded Achieving HIV Epidemic Control through Scaling Up Quality Testing, Care and Treatment in Malawi.

EGPAF seeks to fill the following open position:

Title                 :  Psychosocial Counsellor

Location         :  Blantyre

Reports to     :  District Team Lead

How will you fight for an AIDS-free generation?

The Psychosocial Counsellor is responsible for the overall planning and provision of psychosocial support to clients, their families and partners to ensure timely access to psychosocial services in EGPAF supported health facilities. The psychosocial counsellor will conduct health education, treatment literacy, ART adherence counselling and psychosocial support to children, adolescents and adults accessing services in EGPAF supported health facilities.

No two days are alike at EGPAF, but what can you expect in this role?

 Program management

• Co-ordinate all psychosocial support services in all EGPAF supported facilities at district level
• Develop weekly/monthly work plan for psychosocial support activities in the health facilities
• Develop strategies for promotion of psychosocial services provision by EGPAF through stakeholder collaboration and other public contacts
• Work in close collaboration with the clinical team to develop a psychosocial support plan to address the psychosocial needs of each child, adolescent and adult clients accessing services in EGPAF supported facilities
• Provide psychosocial counseling services at the EGPAF supported health facilities within the context of post-test counseling among recipients of care refusing ART to promote linkage, disclosure, adherence and retention in care to help clients to enroll or re-engage in care.
• Make appropriate professional referrals for children, adolescents and adult clients who require psychological, psychiatric or legal assessment/treatment and other psychosocial support services.
• Attend periodic multidisciplinary team meetings and input into the holistic care plan for the clients.
• Provide support to the development of SOPs, training materials on various emerging issues and programs to ensure that components of psychosocial support are incorporated in the client treatment plan.
• Ensure functionality of client-specific monthly psychosocial support group meetings
• Ensure timely budgeting and liquidation of advances in line with the activity plans and EGPAF guidelines

 Service provision

• Ensure that all operations are within the professional standards and legal framework and comply with stipulated national and international practice guidelines
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and provide group/family and individual counselling services to clients accessing services at EGPAF supported health centres and making referrals where necessary
• Keep confidential records of all counselling sessions as well as accurate records of all activities performed
• Provide intake assessment for all adolescents enrolled in teen clubs
• Assist Adolescents enrolled in teen clubs to develop a plan for the future and enable and support them in practical as well as emotional/psycho-social ways to implement their plan.
• Support the formation and management of age appropriate psychosocial support groups (Teen clubs, adult support groups) in close collaboration with health care providers and expert clients
• Conduct intimate partner violence counselling sessions to clients accessing services at EGPAF supported facilities and their significant others
• Support the implementation of ethical index testing in the management of emerging psychosocial issues
• Support case conferences to in liaison with other members of the MDT and other case managers to provide psychological support to cases referred by the team in line with case plan objectives.
• Refer cases and liaise with the district social welfare office and other providers of psychosocial support.
• Develop technical reports on specific cases identified during the individual, group and family psychosocial support sessions.
• Closely monitor and document the psychosocial progress of cases referred by the case workers and other collaborating stakeholders.
• Provide PSS and Intensive adherence counselling for clients failing on second line

To be successful, you will need to have:

• University Certificate/University Diploma in Counselling and/or Psychotherapy
• Bachelor’s Degree in the same field have an added advantage
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in active psychosocial counselling

Bonus Points if you Have:

• Professional understanding of basic counselling skills and approaches
• Knowledge of and experience in HIV testing and ART service provision
• Experience working with individuals  living with and affected by  HIV and AIDS
• Knowledge and experience in gender based violence program management
• Workable skills in community engagement and stakeholder collaboration
• Skills in capacity building and information sharing
• Ability to uphold high degree of confidentiality

As a global, multinational and multicultural organization, EGPAF believes that diversity in the workplace enriches our work and enhances our impact and effectiveness. We believe that employees have the right to work in a climate of mutual respect and integrity that promotes dignity and respect for all, and that enables them to reach their full potential. The Foundation is committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B), and we strongly encourage those with the following identities to apply: BIPOC (black, indigenous, and other people of color), women and non-binary, LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender), individuals with disabilities, and other members of historically underrepresented groups.

EGPAF is an equal opportunity employer and affords equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to country law requirements, EGPAF complies with US laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the Foundation has facilities.

The Foundation does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. If you are asked to pay a fee at any stage of recruitment, please contact fraud@pedaids.org.

To apply log onto EGPAF webpage: https://www.pedaids.org/about/careers

Closing Date:  26^th July, 2024

Apply Now