International Rescue Committee Key Populations Counselor & Outreach Worker Job in Lodwar, Kenya

Vacancy: Key Populations Counselor & Outreach Worker - Lodwar
Job Purpose / Objective

The International Rescue Committee – Kenya Program with funding from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implements the Partnership on AIDS (POA Project), a HIV & AIDS Prevention Project in Turkana County in the North - Rift region of Kenya.

The POA Project focuses on the implementation of Evidence based Behavioral Intervention (EBI’s) including RESPECT - K and HIV Testing & Counseling.

IRC wishes to recruit a Key Populations Counselor and Outreach Worker who shall be responsible for delivery of high quality HIV Testing and Counseling services to Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in Lodwar, Lokichoggio, Lokichar and Kalokol as per Key Populations Programs Implementation Guidelines and Community HTC Operational Manual.

The counselor shall be based at the Turkana Wellness Center in Lodwar and will be engaged in outreach activities in Lokichar, Kalokol, Kakuma and Lokichoggio.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

Under the supervision and guidance of the KP & HTC Officer, the Counselor will undertake the tasks identified below.

Community Mobilization
Work with key populations peer leaders, peer educators and community health workers in mobilizing FSWs to access HTC and RESPECT - K services at the MARPs clinic.Offer quality counseling and testing services to clients at the key populations clinic and outreach activities.Compilation of HTC / RESPECT - K registers and reports and timely submission of narrative, programmatic and quantitative weekly and monthly reports.Offer RESPECT - K and other recommended Key Populations HIV risk reduction interventions to FSWs and develop workable risk reduction plans with the clientsSupport peer leaders and educators in planning sensitization or health education meetings for FSWs at community level.Conduct health education sessions and one - on - one session with FSWs clients and peer educators on various HIV topics including home level visits as may be required.Refer FSW’s and follow up to ensure referral completion for other bio - medical servicesWork closely with peer leaders and educators in conducting client support and follow-up.Ensure referrals and linkage of sero - positive clients to care & treatment and other services.Actively participate in condom education and promotion including conducting teaches back condom demonstration exercises to FSWs.Create demand for condom use by conducting condom demonstration sessions, re - filling of condom dispensers and distribution of lubricants in strategically identified locations.Observe the laid down protocols and Standard operating procedures at all times when offering HIV services, RESPECT- K and other key populations interventions.Regularly attend counselor support supervision in accordance with the National Quality Management Framework for HTC service provision.Conduct Quality Assurance / Quality Control activities as per National guidelines in all the testing sites i.e. Proficiency Testing, Dry Blood Sample (DBS) collection, Client Exit Assessment etc.Maintain provider – client confidentiality at all times as per the National Counseling Code of Ethics.Generate authentic and accurate HTC, Client referral and Condom distribution records as directed by Supervisor and other HIV Program Team members.Compile and submit timely and accurate monthly reports to the supervisor as per guidelines and deadlines provided.Actively participate in joint activities with other IRC Program staffs e.g. during IRC monthly meetings and joint activities.Any other duties and responsibilities as may be directed by supervisorTo be reflected in the performance objective setting.Diploma in Social Work, Community Development, Community Health, Counseling Psychology or related course.Must be a NASCOP Certified HTC CounselorMust be trained and certified as a Facilitator for  RESPECT – KTraining or capacity building in other / HIV & AIDS / Gender based violence / key populations training will be an added advantage.Required Experience & Competencies:Willing and ready to work in remote / interior regions of Turkana CountyAt least 1 year experience in HTC service provision preferably in a MARPs Program.Preferably registered under the Proficiency Testing Program and have had a satisfactory result in at least one test Team player.Ability to communicate in English and Swahili.Kenyan nationals are encouraged to apply.  International allowances are not available for this position. Salary and employee benefits are compliant to the Kenyan NGO Sector.

IRC leading the way from harm to home.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.