Treatments Officer

Treatments Officer

Treatments Officer

Location:Sydney

Project:PeerSupport

Responsibleto:CEO

Classification:Permanent full time –Fixed termContract.76hoursperfortnight,employedagainsttheSocial,Community, HomeCareandDisabilityIndustryaward(2010).Salarypackageisanoption forall employees

PositionObjectives:

1.Contributetoandadvocateforthedevelopmentandimplementationofqualityhealthpoliciesandservicesforpeoplelivingwith HIV (PLHIV)

2.RepresentPLHIV and provideclinical andsocial researchadvicethrough theuseoffeedbackfromthe community;peerledsurvey findings;HIVservicedeliverydata;and in consultationwith PLHIV

3.RepresentPLHIV andPositiveLifeon relevantcommitteesthat alignwith the objectivesof theagency andthe NSWHIV Strategy

4.Delivereducation,trainingand HIVsector/communitycapacitybuildingaimedatincreasingtheknowledgeandcompetencies of PLHIV and HIV servicesinresponse to HIV diagnosis, immediate treatment commencement and partner notification activities

KeyPerformance Measures:

1.numberof peopleliving withHIV, aswellasoccasionsof service,receiving treatmentsadviceandpeersupport

2.Numberof workforcedevelopment andsectorcapacitybuilding sessionsdelivered

3.Levelof satisfaction andqualitycontrolagainstpeersupportservicesand capacitybuildinginterventions

4.Development andmaintenanceofbestpracticepeersupport /patientadvocacymodelforPLHIV inspecialist andmainstream services

5.Evidenceanddatathat qualifies andquantifiesPLHIVaccesstotreatment and care,diagnosis,treatmentcommencementand adherence,and retention incare

Selection Criteria:

1.Tertiaryqualificationsor experience in health and communityservices

2.Demonstrateddetailedknowledgeof current HIV treatmentsandrelatedhealthandsocial issues,including PLHIVpsycho-social concerns

3.An abilitytoidentify,research,interpretand disseminatecomplextechnical/medical information toPLHIV andotheraudiences

4.Knowledgeof HIVcommunitiesand theneedsofPLHIV,with acommitmenttotheempowermentandhuman rightsofPLHIV

5.Demonstratedexperiencein developing anddelivering workshops,seminarsortraining programs

6.Highlydevelopedinterpersonalandcommunication skills, including verbal,written andinternetskillsand theabilitytocommunicateeffectively andcrediblywith a widerangeof people

7.Abilitytoestablish,developandmaintain linksandpartnershipswithpeers,communityorganisationsand healthserviceproviders,including GeneralPractitioners

8.Demonstratedabilityto meettightdeadlines,multipleprojectsandcoordinatetaskstoachieveoutcomesagainstcompeting demands

9.Understanding of HIVdrugtreatmentsapprovalprocessesin Australia

StatementofDuties

Peer Led Partner Notification:

  1. Implement and evaluate partner notification activities aimed at enrolling and engagingpeople diagnosedwith HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs to inform and educate:
  1. Health promotion and harm reduction principles and strategies including risks for other STI’s and other blood borne viruses
  2. Navigating the healthcare system – referral pathways, enhancing access to testing services
  3. How to utilise a range of developed strategies to enable contact tracing using a range of ‘talking heads’ and ‘scripted’ narratives to inform contacts
  4. Evidence based approaches to testing, treatment and peer support
  1. Develop and implement a partner notification toolkit (electronic resources) to assist people recently diagnosed with HIV and HIV service partners, including, checklists, scripts, video diaries and disclosure clips etc.
  2. Provide debriefing, supervision and support for PLHIV and Peers.
  3. Train peers and clinicians delivering testing services (such as aTest and other HIV testing sites) and for people recently diagnosed with HIV.
  4. Resource (in-reach) and train private health service providers to support the person receiving a positive HIV diagnosis, in particular, how to disclose and notify sexual and drug partners that may have been put at risk of infection
  5. Produce stories and deliver community fora and discussion groups aimed at increasing community awareness around the need for partner notification and normalising recently diagnosed disclosure discussions between sexual and drug using partners and contacts
  6. Resource health service providers, with a referral to access peers (PLHIV), to assist the index case to navigate sex (and possibly drug using) parties and networks, as well as hook-ups via mobile devises (apps)
  7. Explore the feasibility of developing and implementing an app or web based notification strategy e.g. Let Them Know
  8. Develop and trial PLHIV capacity building activities to:
  9. Familiarise and revise of maintaining confidentiality, partner notification procedures, role limitations, managing co-dependency and self-care
  10. The value of peer support at time of diagnosis, priorities and other challenges: life after diagnosis, relationships, work and lifestyle balance – remaining engaged
  11. Support the clinical setting, working with doctors and other healthcare professionals
  12. Identify gaps in knowledge of newly diagnosed and how to refer and link to support service e.g. ACON,BGF, Pozhet, Work Ready Program, Housing Support and Treatments Officer

Treatments Advice

1.Providesupport,information andadvocacyon HIVtreatmentstoand forPLHIVand thoseaffectedbyHIV

2.Researchand distributetreatmentsinformationtoPLHIV,HIV/health clinicians and practitioners,and relatedagenciesthrough forums,writtenmaterial,contributionstoHIVpublications andmaintaining up-to-datetreatmentsinformationonthePositiveLifewebsite

3.Influence thePositiveLife treatmentspolicyand advocacyagendarelatingto HIVtreatmentsdevelopment; clinicalresearch,trials andtests;andincluding consultation withclinical researchers,community,pharma andothersectorpartners

4.Providetreatment updatesandinformation on HIVtoPositiveLifestaffand volunteers

5.Liaisewith GeneralPractitioners;communityhealthand hospitalstaff;primaryhealth carepractitionersto enhancea, integrated andsharedcareapproachforPLHIV

6.Provideinformation forums andworkshopsforcommunityagencies and healthproviderstoenhance theirknowledgeof all issuesrelating to treatmentsincluding thepsychosocialand accessissues forPLHIV

7.Identify, plan,implementand evaluate a rangeoftreatmentactivitiesthatacknowledges andrespondsto the range ofPLHIVhealth needs.Theseactivitiesmayinvolveone-to-one,groupengagementsand presentations;aswellasthedevelopmentofwrittenmaterialsandtraining.

8.Regularlyreviewthe PLHIVand HIV /healthsector informationrequirements;based onPLHIVconsultation findings and researchandevaluation,and in considerationof availableresources(bothintra andinterstate),develop and disseminateresources asrequired aimedat improving healthoutcomesandmaintainingPLHIV treatmentadherenceand retention in healthservices

9.Reviewevidenceincludingresearchand consultationwith PLHIV andHIVsectorserviceproviderstoinformrecommendationsregarding PositiveLifepositions andpolicies

10.Consultwith newlydiagnosedPLHIV and PLHIV living longertermand encouragetheir participationin peersupportandhealthactivities

11.Develop programs andresourcestargeting peopleliving with undiagnosedHIVorpeoplewithacuteinfection(seroconverting)

12.Providepeersupportand patientadvocacyservicesto PLHIVexperiencing difficulties withhealthcare providers orwhennavigating thehealthsystem

13.Deliverinterventionsandactivitiesaimedat increasing PLHIV health literacyandnumeracyand tofacilitatetheirparticipation in healthydecisionmaking

14.Partnerwiththe Manager,CommunicationsOfficerandProgram Administratorto effectivelymaintain communicationwith PLHIV throughoutNSW

15.Develop,maintain andevaluatetreatmentresources tosupportPLHIV treatmentnegotiations,decisionmaking andadherence

16.Maintaina datarecordingsystem,in collaborationwith theteam andprovidetheCEOand Boardwith reportsand briefings

17.Workcollaborativelywithotheragenciesandtoparticipate in jointagencyprograms andprojectswhere required

18.Undertakeotheractivities as directedbytheCEO

Professional

1.Maintain professionaleducation andstandards

2.In partnership withthe NAPWHAHealth andTreatmentsportfolio, aswellasotherappropriategroups in thehealth sector,ensureahigh levelof treatmentsknowledge

3.Workcooperativelywithotherstaff,volunteers andBoardmembers

4.Participate inall human resourceactivitiesincluding (but not limitedto)training andperformanceappraisals

5.Supportand maintainprivacy and confidentialityprovisions,especially in relationtoPositiveLifebusinessand clientinformation

6.Participate in regular supervisionwiththeCEO whichincludesworkplanning,debriefing andcriticalincidents

Administration

1.Participate in QualityImprovement activities to promotecontinuousimprovement ofservicedelivery

2.Be familiar withand operateaccording toPositiveLifevision,mission,objectives,policiesandprocedures

3.Ensure allPositiveLifedocumentation and client records arekept secure

4.Attendstaffmeetings,stafftraining andothermeetings as required

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