Recruitment notice: Case Worker position
Job title : Case worker
Under the supervision of :Case Management Coordinator
Duty station : AFSU: YAOUNDE / MBALMAYO
Publication date : October 4, 2023
Deadline for submitting applications : October 9, 2023
Expected start date : October 16, 2023
Contract period : October 2023 – September 30, 2024
Position status : employee
CONTEXT :
Consolidating Systems and Services for the Management of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Cameroon or in English Consolidating Systems and Services for the Management of Orphans and Vulnerable Children(CoSMO) is a project funded by USAID-PEPFAR implemented in 68 health districts of the country through the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (CENC). The CoSMO project aims to improve the overall well-being of children and families infected and affected by human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), through the provision of high-quality health care services. protection, education, health and socio-economic status. Specifically, CoSMO will strengthen the capacity of households to ensure that children are healthy, safe, stable and in school through family case management, to reduce the incidence of HIV infections in children under 18 years of age and to reduce morbidity and mortality among HIV-positive children under 18 years of age and their caregivers. For lasting impact, CoSMO will strengthen the capacities of local institutions and community providers to protect, care and support OVC. CoSMO which is implemented by the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) – a Cameroonian faith-based organization, in partnership with approximately 28 local sub-recipients – implementing partners
CoSMO will use the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLRC) to provide services to individuals and households with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency or transitioning families out of the program (SR-IP). Through the case management process, identified vulnerable children and families will be assessed, including their needs and resources, and work together to establish individualized realistic goals and planning actions to achieve them across the four PEPFAR domains ( stable, safe, educated and healthy).
CoSMO is a family-centered case management approach that provides assistance to families and OVC, in accordance with an assessment of individual needs and the creation of case plans, to increase the resilience of families infected or afflicted by HIV. Implementation of case plans involves the provision of layered services, close monitoring and evaluation of the purpose of the case plan, in order to prepare for graduation (graduation) for a family who has achieved resilience (i.e. the case plan has been successful).
Thus, as part of carrying out its missions as sub-recipient partner for implementing the activities of the CoSMO project, the Association of United Brothers and Sisters (AFSU), located at Terminus Mimboman (Yaoundé) , Descente Madison, 2nd floor CAFOVET veterinary clinic building, is currently recruiting for the need for additional staff, in an accelerated procedure, and on behalf of the fiscal year FY24, three (03) dynamic and competent Case Workers (02 in Yaoundé and 01 in Mbalmayo).
The deadline for submitting application files to the AFSU headquarters or to the email address afsucameroon@yahoo.fr is set for October 9, 2023 at 3 p.m. sharp.
Job summary :
The Case Worker or Social Worker is, within the implementing partner sub-recipient, the frontline worker and an essential element of the CoSMO program in general, and the case management process in particular. He/she constitutes an important element in the case management process. He/she is responsible for establishing good relationships with project participants and, through effective communication, ensuring that all stages of case management are implemented. The Case Workers will work closely with the other actors of the project to ensure that the services provided by the different actors are controlled. These include Youth mentors, adolescent champions, health facility staff, APS,
v Main responsibilities :
The social worker relies on a good relationship with health facilities and caregivers to monitor children and adolescents living with HIV (CLHIV) currently receiving ART, HIV-positive pregnant and lactating adolescent mothers (PBFW Teens Moms), and HIV Exposed Infants (HEI) in HIV Treatment Facilities to achieve the following goals:
- Enroll new CLHIV, HIV-positive PBFW adolescent mothers and HEIs who reside in the assigned health district into the project;
- Enroll caregiver(s) and other children under 18 years of age who reside in the same household as CLHIV, HIV-positive PBFW adolescent mothers, and HEI;
- In consultation with families, develops individualized case plans and ensures their implementation based on priority needs;
- Conduct a needs assessment of all registrants (each child and caregiver in an assigned household) and an HIV risk assessment for those with unknown HIV status;
- Provide direct or indirect services based on individualized case plans;
- Initiate referrals to other service providers and ensure an effective link;
- In consultation with families, implement follow-up and monitor project participants to ensure the case plan is implemented. Monitor progress towards goals either through home visits or check-ins with support groups (e.g. people living with HIV (PLHIV, SRH support groups, SILC groups);
- Carry out the assessment of the readiness to carry out the case plan of all beneficiaries every 6 months;
- Establish individual and household records and properly document all registered project participants;
- Complete case closure checklists for any project participant who leaves the project (e.g. death, transfer, relocation, graduation).
FIELD OF HEALTH
- Register targeted CLHIV in the project cohort as assigned by the CMC
- Monthly home visits to provide CLHIV adherence counseling and support and whole household counseling and psychosocial support, age-appropriate HIV disclosure and conduct assessment, counseling and support nutritional support;
- Conduct an HIV risk assessment of project participants whose HIV status is unknown and refer people at risk of HIV to HIV testing services;
- Register, track and monitor HIV-exposed infants (HEI) and link eligible HEI to health facilities for PCR services, including return of results;
- Register and monitor HIV-positive pregnant and lactating adolescent mothers, including full referral to PMTCT services for antenatal and postnatal care services;
- Monthly home visits to provide early stimulation and learning; and Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) for caregivers;
- Track developmental milestones for children aged 6, 12, 18 and 24 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3);
- Conduct comprehensive referrals and facilitate access to health facilities for children with developmental challenges ;
- Perform comprehensive referrals and facilitate access to health facilities for project participants requiring HIV testing and tuberculosis diagnosis;
- Perform comprehensive referrals and facilitate access to health facilities for C/ALHIV seeking medical care, including children < 5 years old suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM);
- Conduct completed referrals and support adolescents living with HIV with high viral load to regularly attend counseling sessions on improving adherence;
- Conduct comprehensive referrals and facilitate access to health facilities for C/ALHIV for disclosure counseling sessions;
- Perform comprehensive referrals and facilitate access to health facilities for eligible C/ALHIV for viral load sample collection;
- Screen households for malaria and other common communicable diseases not related to HIV;
- Refer eligible adolescents living with HIV to community peer support groups.
SECURITY FIELD
- Enroll targeted children of sex workers in the project cohort as assigned by the CMC;
- Enroll targeted survivors of sexual violence into the project cohort as assigned by the CMC;
- Conduct an assessment of project participants to identify child protection risk/vulnerability factors in the household;
- Conduct a needs assessment of each child and caregiver in an assigned household, identifying signs related to emotional, physical and sexual abuse;
- Provide first-line psychosocial support after violence to survivors of VAC and SGBV;
- Conduct comprehensive referrals and facilitate access to professional post-violence psychological care, including medical care for VAC and SGBV survivors;
- Make comprehensive referrals and facilitate access to legal support services for children and adolescents related to abuse, VCE/GBV, trafficking and exploitation;
- Conduct an adolescent HIV risk assessment to identify adolescents at risk and facilitate their enrollment in activities in a safe space;
- Work collaboratively with youth mentors to deliver evidence-based interventions on HIV and violence prevention, and sexual risk reduction and prevention among 9-14 year olds, including Teens Moms (sessions of positive parent groups);
- Conduct general awareness raising at household level on positive parenting, SGBV/VAC prevention and deliver key messages;
- Identify children in need of legal support (birth certificate) and establish a list;
- Support the process of obtaining a birth certificate for children who need a birth certificate .
SCHOOL AREA
- Identify among their cohorts those who need educational support (school supplies, scholarships, tuition fees) and establish a list regardless of the budget line;
- Conduct the first visit of the term to provide help/support with homework, class work review and monthly ongoing assessments (sequences);
- Set up educational support for the 2023/2024 school year. This could include the provision of school materials (books, school bags, writing materials), payment of scholarships and examination fees (CoSMO scholarship programme).
DOMAIN OF STABILITY
- Conduct an assessment to identify the need for cash transfers for the most vulnerable households;
- Conduct an assessment to identify the need for job training and business development for older adolescents and caregivers;
- Conduct an assessment to identify the need for financial education training for caregivers and older adolescents;
- Conduct an assessment to identify the need to increase savings opportunities and work with Private Service Providers (PSPs)/Field Agents (FAs) to raise awareness among families and encourage caregivers and adolescents to participate in savings mechanisms. formal and informal savings (SILC);
- Conduct comprehensive referrals and facilitate household participation in other food security and livelihood programs.
Minimum Qualifications :
- Qualification in social work;
- At least 2 years of experience in community development activities;
- Experience with OVC care and support programs operating in the community;
- Must be respected in the community;
- Professional proficiency in English and/or French, including one or more local languages of the operational area
Qualifications and Experience :
– Qualification in social work.
– At least 2 years of experience in community development activities;
– Experience in care and support programs for OVC in general in the community, and monitoring of PLHIV in particular;
– Be respected by the community;
– Have the physical endurance necessary to work as a social worker;
– Verbal and written proficiency in French and/or English, including one or more local languages of the work area. Knowledge of the deployment community is an asset
– Experience or proven ability to work collaboratively with local communities;
– Computer skills (Word, Excel, etc.).
A degree in nursing is an asset.
Abilities :
Good analytical and problem-solving skills;
Spirit of patience;
Ability to work in a team and under high pressure;
Commitment to respecting professional ethics and professional conduct
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COMPOSITION OF THE FILE
- A cover letter addressed to the President of AFSU;
- A detailed curriculum vitae;
HOW TO APPLY
READ CAREFULLY AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN ABOVE TO APPLY, AND NEVER SEND MONEY DURING RECRUITMENT.
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