Peer Educator

Anova Health; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 50 000 - 200 000; Full time

Job summary

Anova Health is seeking a Peer Educator to support HIV outreach efforts among vulnerable communities in Johannesburg. The role involves engaging clients, providing vital health information, and ensuring confidentiality while offering comprehensive health services. Candidates should have a Grade 12 education and strong communication skills. A background in HIV awareness is preferred, along with a commitment to community service.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 with literacy and numeracy skills.
• Experience in handling sensitive information with confidentiality.
• Ideally possess a recognized HIV counselling certificate.

Responsibilities

• Recruit at least 80 clients monthly and perform risk assessments.
• Provide harm reduction information to clients.
• Identify and map new service sites monthly.

Skills

Numeracy

Literacy

Trust Building

Communication

Confidentiality

Punctuality

Education

Grade 12

Job description

Anova is an NGO that empowers people and changes lives. Good health and quality of life is what motivates us to provide healthcare solutions and provide support to those who needs it most.

Anova’s Jab Smart project was set up in late-2017 to respond to HIV among people who use drugs (PWUD) in City of Johannesburg (COJ). PWUD are at particular risk of HIV and suffer high levels of stigma and prejudice, often being denied access to essential health services. Jab Smart is a peer-led project that provides a range of harm reduction services to PWUD. The project is implemented together with the COJ Health District, and it is supported by Global Fund through its partner NACOSA.

Anova is looking for Peer Educator that are knowledgeable about the drug-using scene and popular sites to promote health services to PWUD clients in COJ. The project is based on the idea that peer-to-peer contact among PWUD increases receptivity of clients.

As a peer educator you will meet with PWUD in private, at all times respecting their confidentiality, to offer them access to comprehensive services including a needle and syringe programme, HIV testing, TB screening and comprehensive sexual health treatment, and, where relevant, refer clients to Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST).

To qualify you will need to successfully complete a short training course on HIV and sexual health and be deemed competent.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Peer Mobilization

• Recruit at least 80 clients each month to introduce the programme and the available services
• Do risk assessment to those 80 clients reached each month
• Refer those 80 clients to Nurses, HTS, Linkage Officers, Advocacy officer, and the Social Auxiliary Worker

Field Support

• Provide harm reduction information and package to at least 80 clients monthly
• Manage your cohort and ensure they are provided with services and report to the coordinator to update your register

Mapping

• Identify at least two new sites monthly
• All the sites must be added to your mapping tool

Debriefing and Counselling Sessions

• Ensure that you attend social debriefing and give monthly feedback to the coordinator
• Ensure that you attend psychosocial counselling and give monthly feedback to the coordinator

Any other tasks as agreed with line manager.

Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Skills Required

• Grade 12
• Must have numeracy and literacy skills
• An ability to establish trust and communicate effectively with active drug users
• Ability to follow strict confidentiality requirements
• An ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Punctual and reliable
• Prior knowledge of HIV/AIDS and a recognized HIV counselling certificate would be an advantage.

In accordance with our Employment Equity goals and plan, preference will be given to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto. Preference will be given to persons with disabilities.

Anova Health Institute is a provider of essential health services and therefore has a mandatory vaccination policy. Should your application be successful, you will be required to submit your proof of vaccination before commencing employment in the role.

Applicants who have not been contacted within 4 weeks of submitting their application should assume that they have not been successful.

Unsolicited CVs from agencies will not be paid agency fees should their candidate be placed at Anova.

For more information on Anova visit our website: www.anovahealth.co.za