Psychosocial Mentor

**Main purpose of the job**:
To contribute to the improvement in psychosocial health and adherence to ART of people living with HIV by mentoring counsellors and providing counselling services within the specified geographical area

**Location**:

- Wits RHI - Regional Office - Riverside Office Park, Heuwel Road, Centurion

**Key performance areas**:

- Provide counselling services to patients within supported facilities, with a focus on patients requiring more in-depth counselling or social support
- Facilitate linkages between facilities and DSD, and support access to social grants and social support services in the community
- Facilitate linkages for OVC between facilities and the community (NGOs, CBOs etc.)
- Identify community structures to provide ongoing support to patients, and facilitate linkages to these as required
- Strengthen linkages and referrals between clinics, schools and community structures for children and adolescents
- Train, mentor and support clinics to implement psychosocial support groups for people living with HIV
- Train, mentor and support clinics to implement mental health screening for people living with HIV, in accordance with programme implementation strategies
- Train, mentor and support clinics to implement GBV screening for people living with HIV, in accordance with programme implementation strategies
- Identify gaps in counselling and adherence guideline implementation at the facility level and develop plans to address these
- Identify training needs of internal and external stakeholders
- Refer identified needs to the relevant training department and provide support during training as required
- Support the implementation of in-service training and mentoring to address identified gaps
- Participate in on-going mentorship programmes initiated by other Wits RHI stakeholders
- Provide mentoring to counsellors to support completion of HIV testing POE's
- Provide support to counsellors regarding counselling guidelines, wellness programmes and support groups as and when required
- Support the development and implementation of QI projects in collaboration with DoH to address identified gaps
- Support the mentoring of DoH staff and stakeholders on QI methodologies
- Submit accurate and timeous data on activities undertaken
- Compile reports of the relevant programme activities conducted
- Regularly review facility and sub-district data to identify gaps in programme implementation
- Support the analysis of reports and data to identify gaps in the programme area
- Submit accurate and timeous data on activities undertaken
- Compile reports of the relevant programme activities conducted
- Regularly review facility and sub-district data to identify gaps in programme implementation
- Support the analysis of reports and data to identify gaps in the programme area
- Support regular SIMS audits and develop plans to address identified gaps
- Take ownership and accountability for tasks and demonstrates effective self-management
- Follow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of own work are consistently and accurately maintained
- Maintain a positive attitude and respond openly to feedback
- Take ownership for driving own career development by participating in on-going training and development activities such as forums, conferences, policy setting workshops etc.

**Required minimum education and training**:

- **_Professional qualification in Social Science / Psychology, advanced Counselling Certificate or equivalent_**:

- **_HIV Management Certificate (basic)_**:

- Competent in MS Office

**Required minimum work experience**:

- **_Minimum of 3 years’ experience working within or supporting the public health sector with 2 years’ experience working in HIV counselling or HIV support group facilitation_**:

- **_Experience in therapeutic counselling and group facilitation_**

**Desirable additional education, work experience and personal abilities**:

- Good interpersonal skills and ability to navigate complicated situations
- Excellent levels of written and verbal communication
- **Second SA language preferred appropriate for area**:

- Training and mentoring experience would be advantageous
- Ability to facilitate presentations and training
- Knowledge of the area in which project is being held would be advantageous

**Demands of the job**:

- Able to work in a highly pressurized and challenging environment
- Travel may be required within the district
- Overtime and weekend work may be required from time to time

**Communications and Relationships**:

- Maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders (including internal staff at operational level)

**TO APPLY**:

- Only if you do meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV.
- _AJ Personnel is fully POPIA Compliant._
- Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective posi