SUMMARY: CID-LINK
In March 2017 PSI Lesotho launched the Scaling-up Targeted Community Based HTS and Linkage to Treatment in Lesotho Project funded by Centre for Disease Control (CDC). This project contributes directly to Lesotho’s National Multi-Sectoral HIV Prevention Strategy, by reducing the impact of HIV and AIDS in Lesotho by deploying evidenced-based sexual and
biomedical prevention programs. CID-LINK uses innovative strategies to provide confidential, community-based HIV testing and services (HTS) to men and women aged 15-49 years as the major target group.
The purpose of this position is to ensure that the services and processes at the Point of care (HTS sites i.e. Mobile, static and door to door) are of good quality and safety of both staff and clients is optimal.
This position is based at PSI Head Office in Maseru and reports to the Senior Quality Assurance Officer.
Duties
Develop/review SOPs and safety manuals to guide the HIV testing processes.
Inform the training needs assessment after gap identification as a corrective measure either at site level, with senior counsellors and supervisors or during refresher trainings.
Ensuring that records and documents are well maintained and up to date at all times and are well kept and accessible to the concerned personnel.
Availing adequate job aids, signage and relevant IEC material is available to clients.
To liaise with Central Quality assurance unit and district laboratories to ensure that quality is adhered to by all testers (counsellors).
Giving a feedback to the team after each evaluation or quality assurance/quality control activity.
Stock inventory and management-by ensuring that all medical consumables and other resources required are available and to minimize waste of medical consumables.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Ensuring that the storage conditions of the medical consumables are appropriate for optimum performance.
Ensure that samples are transported at suitable temperature and other external conditions.
To ensure that client satisfaction is assessed periodically.
Quality Assurance: 1. External Quality Control
- External Quality Assessment
- External Quality Control —
To ensure that Dried Tube Specimens (DTS) are available for external quality control (EQC) of HIV testing Kits.
To ensure that all PSI HTS Counsellors participate in the EQC and are provided with all relevant technical support.
Facilitate all corrective actions for EQC failures. - External Quality Assessment –
To ensure that blind Proficiency Panel Testing DTS are available for the external quality assurance (EQA).
To ensure that all PSI sites participate in the PPT activity twice a year Client satisfaction and mystery client surveys
To ensure that client satisfaction is conducted for rendered HIV testing services.
To ensure that a mystery client survey and/or QA client survey is conducted at least once a year and a feedback is shared with the team.
Observations and audits:
To conduct individual sit-in observations with PSI counsellors during a HTS session and addressing testing and quality gaps individually afterwards
To conduct internal site audits to inform all site gaps requiring addressing Safety
To ensure all counsellors are trained on safety especially Universal Safety Precautions of biological testing
To ensure that best practices are adopted at testing sites to ensure safety of clients and staff members.
To ensure that testing surfaces are disinfected with 10% bleach (hypochlorite)solution before and after working as an infection control measure.
Use of 3-bin principles to ensure proper disposal of waste i.e. Yellow for sharps, Red for blood soiled material and Black for general waste and to ensure that they are incinerated appropriately.
Protective clothing:
To ensure that all personnel responsible for testing and handling hazardous material wear protective clothing while working. Examinations gloves, Plastic aprons and masks if necessary.
Post Exposure Prophylaxis:
To make sure that staff members are trained on PEP and have all processes and steps to follow in cases of such emergencies.
EDUCATION QUALIFICATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:
Degree in Laboratory Science with at least 1-2 years’ experience in QA systems.
or
Diploma in Laboratory Science or any other related field plus, 2-3 years’ experience in QA systems.
KEY COMPETENCIES:
Ability to perform according to PSI Prime competencies
Knowledge of reproductive health issues, particularly HIV/AIDS
Knowledge of the Lesotho health and social services sector
Ability and willingness to work outside normal working hours, as required by scheduling
Demonstrate ability to work sensitively and compassionately with a diverse range of people including Key population groups
Strong interpersonal skills, including fluency in English and Sesotho
Personal commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS
Strong local knowledge of MOH hospitals, health centres and clinics
Computer proficient
Interested candidates should hand deliver cover letter, resume/curricula vitae (CV), list of 3- 5 professional references (with contact information, supervisory references preferred), certified copies of passport/ID and all academic degrees to the Human Resource Manager, PSI Lesotho, 138 Moshoeshoe Road, Industrial Area, Maseru, P.O Box 15863. While all
application submissions will be reviewed and considered, only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.
The application submission deadline is 12:30p.m. Local time on Friday, 06th March, 2020.