Adherance Counsellor.pdf
- Nairobi
- Permanent
- Full-time
Medicine and Therapeutics at the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Purpose of the position
The Adherence Lead wil be responsible for coordination of teams offering Adherence Counselling for
NDOVU study using Study Adherence Counsel ing Job Aids. This role is critical for ensuring all study
participants receive adherence counsel ing in a standardized manner, as adherence is critical in
supporting individuals living with HIV on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) who are
experiencing sustained viraemia. The lead adherence counselor wil work closely with full-time study
adherence staff and site clinic adherence staff to offer adherence counsel ing and document
adherence counsel ing sessions to improve treatment adherence, address barriers to care, and ensure
optimal health outcomes. S/He will also coordinate support services within each county liaising with
county social support services and mental health services for referrals of participants requiring
additional mental health support and social support.
Position Title: Adherence Counsel or
Location: NDOVU Study Sites
Reports to: Study Physician
Job Description
1. Provide training, supportive supervision and mentoring NDOVU study adherence staff and site
staff involved in offering adherence counselling to NDOVU study participants
2. Hold debriefing for NDOVU study adherence staff and study site staff offering adherence
counsel ing in the NDOVU study
3. Coordinate teams offering Adherence counsel ing in the different NDOVU sites in Kenya
4. Perform routine site visits and quality supervision visits to supervise and ensure adherence
counsel ing is offered as per the study protocol.
5. Formulate and coordinate referral pathways for NDOVU participants requiring additional mental
health support and social support within the established county systems.
Page 1 of 36. Provide one-on-one psychotherapy counseling sessions for difficult and complex cases among
study participants, focusing on treatment adherence and management of side effects e.g. patients
with addiction, major depressive disorder and neurocognitive disorders.
7. Assess individual barriers to adherence and develop personalized strategies to overcome these
chal enges and educate participants about the importance of adherence to ART, potential side
effects, and the implications of viral load results. The lead adherence can be called upon to fil in
shortages when necessary.
8. Provide information on available support services, including mental health resources and
community support groups.
9. Ensure adherence counsellors document participant interactions and progress in electronic case
report forms (eCRFs) accurately, assess for completeness and offer additional training where this
does not happen.
10. Participate in NDOVU study multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss complex cases where
adherence of participants is not well established despite interventions made.
11. Collect qualitative data regarding participant experiences with treatment adherence and barriers
faced.
12. Prepare reports on adherence trends, chal enges encountered, and recommendations for
improving participant support.
13. Any other duties assigned by supervisorJob Specification
i.
A Master's degree in Counselling or Psychology
ii.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in counseling or support roles within healthcare settings,
preferably in HIV care.
iii.
Strong understanding of HIV treatment regimens.
iv.
Strong leadership skil s, ability to manage large teams
v.
Prior experience working within HIV clinic set-up in a public hospital
vi.
Excellent communication skil s, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage effectively
with diverse populations.
vii.
Empathy and strong interpersonal skil s to build trustful relationships with participants.
viii.
Proficiency in data entry and management using electronic health records or similar systems.
ix.
Current Certificate of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is a MUST on confirmation of offer
x.
MUST have a current certificate in Human Subject Protection on confirmation of offer
xi.
Additional training in adherence counseling or motivational interviewing techniques is
beneficial.
xii.
Experience in clinical studies is a plusTerms of appointment
The appointment is on contractual terms of one year, renewable on performance and mutual
agreement.Page 2 of 3Notes1. Applicants should email their application letters, certified copies of certificates and curriculum
vitae (CV) giving details of their qualifications, experience and three (3) referees indicating their
telephone contacts and e-mail contacts;
2. Applications and related documents should be forwarded addressed to the Director, Human
Resource, University of Nairobi;
3. Applicants should state their current designations, salaries and other benefits attached to those
designations;
4. The application letter must bear the reference code indicated in the advertisement;