Ccpac Project Patient Navigators

**Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Unit**
- Cervical Cancer Prevention, Access and Control (CCPAC)*

**Project Patient Navigators (x2)**

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PURPOSE*
Health Systems Trust (HST) wishes to appoint two Patient Navigators in the **Zululand District, KwaZulu-Natal Province **to support the District Department of Health in providing direct cervical cancer screening services as part of the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control (CCPAC) Project implementation.

These incumbents will be responsible for supporting the Pap smear screening programme by co-ordinating and mapping outreach services for mobilisation and health education strategies. They will be linking and navigating patients through referral processes to ensure their linkage to care. Acting as community liaison officers for the outreach activities, the Patient Navigators will work closely with the cervical cancer screening structures to target hard-to-reach populations (HIV-positive women, and women of childbearing age), linking clients to treatment and ensuring that their continuity of care.

Working closely with community-based organisations (CBOs) to build trusting relationships with community members for the implementation of this project, the incumbents will actively participate in the campaign programme to facilitate project outcomes and capacity-building. They will also support linkages between facility
- and community-based HTS services, in collaboration with the Outreach Teams.

These are fixed-term contract positions, renewable based on funding.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Strengthen linkages between the community and facilities in collaboration with the Facility Team Leads, Nurse Clinicians and Technical Assistance Co-ordinators
- Community mobilisation for HIV Testing Services (HTS), and the Universal Test and Treat (UTT) and 'Welcome Back' strategies
- Market the CCPAC Project in the community and patients in treatment for care and follow-up, and work collaboratively with community structures, War Rooms and Ward Councillors to promote these services in the communities
- Set up and manage a patient referral system for active linkage to care by the nearest facilities
- Serve as a point of contact and information node between the community and the facility
- Implement case management of patients returning for treatment and follow-up screening
- Ensure linkage to care for all HIV-positive women aged 20 years and older for cervical cancer screening and appropriate referral of patients and through the 'handshake' approach
- Obtain line lists from the facilities to track and trace patient back to care
- Track linkage targets, and prepare and submit monthly reports
- Support quality improvement processes to strengthen linkage approaches and identify and document good linkage practices
- Participate in data analysis (facility targets, tracer indicators, cascades)
- Submit daily, weekly and monthly data reports to the facility
- Participate in the facility's bi-weekly and monthly review meetings.

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EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE*
**Qualifications**
- Certification as an Enrolled Nurse is essential.
- Current registration with South African Nursing Council (SANC) is essential.

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Experience**
- Three to five years' experience in cervical cancer and HIV screening, counselling, diagnosis and linkage to treatment, and implementation of the Welcome Back strategy, with a focus on women aged 20 - 49 years
- A strong background in counselling patients and partners on the importance of remaining in care for better disease outcomes and improving cervical cancer survival rates
- Sound understanding of the importance of the UTT policy, notably for patients' linkage to and continuity of care
- Good communication skills and ability to communicate in English, isiZulu and/or another South African language
- Thorough understanding of South Africa's national and provincial public health policies
- Solid experience in and knowledge of partnering with multiple stakeholders
- Extensive experience with patient tracking (via telephone and in person through home visits)
- Computer literacy and competence in Microsoft software (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Previous work experience in non-governmental organisations or funded programmes will be an advantage.

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Other attributes*
- A strong work ethic and ability to work in a pressurised environment
- Ability to work with mínimal supervision and be deadline-driven
- Ability to work after hours, which may include weekends from time to time.

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REMUNERATION*
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**APPLICATIONS and ENQUIRIES**
- Your CV must be saved with a filename reflecting your name and surname, e.g. SANELE NGUBANE CV.

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PLEASE NOTE: *
- Personal information collected is processed lawfully in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
- Preference will be given to applicants residing in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- HST reserves the right to not fill this position.