Description

The Health Systems Trust (HST) is committed to an equitable health system that recognises basic socio-economic needs as an important determinant of health outcomes. We are implementing a cervical cancer prevention and screening project to address the challenge of high incidence and mortality due to cervical cancer. The project adopts a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) framework to improve access to early screening, diagnosis, treatment and palliative services in the Zululand District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The project objective is to detect early signs of cancer among HIV-positive women and women of childbearing age (20 years and older) by conducting Pap smear screening for cervical cancer and active linkage to care. HST seeks to engage a Professional Nurse to provide technical assistance in this regard. The incumbent will mentor facility-based Nurses who are conducting screening for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) ? including HIV ? on proper referral for treatment, and linking patients to Primary Health Care clinics in compliance with the project’s profile and reporting requirements. The incumbent will work closely with the Project Manager to implement evidence-based activities, review programme performance, assess and guide project outcomes and outputs, and report to funders and stakeholders. This is a fixed-term contract position.

Key Responsibilities

•  Provide screening services using Pap smears at facilities in line with the National and Provincial Department of Health (DoH) policy, guidelines and standard operating procedures 
•  Manage patients according to their Pap smear results (early detection of abnormalities and referral to the nearest clinic and/or hospital) 
•  Identify patients due for follow-up visits in accordance with the project guidelines 
•  Develop a system for active patient referrals and couples counselling on a weekly and monthly basis in line with the project guidelines 
•  Support the strengthening of patient tracking and referral systems 
•  Actively transfer and/or refer and check the successful transfer of patients to other facilities for treatment 
•  Build and maintain partnerships with all internal and external stakeholders, including the Department of Health (DoH) district structures, community-based organisations and civil society groups 
•  Identify facility staff members’ training needs and support them in analysing their performance data 
•  Submit daily, weekly and monthly data internally and to the facility 
•  Participate in the CCPAC bi-weekly and monthly review meetings 
•  Provide accurate data to the Project Manager to inform stakeholders of project activities.

Key Attributes

•  A strong work ethic and ability to work in a pressurised environment 
•  Skills to build and maintain relationships with multiple stakeholders 
•  Ability to work with minimal supervision and be deadline-driven 
•  Sensitivity to cultural diversity and others’ values, with good interpersonal skills and commitment to equity 
•  A dynamic, courteous and positive attitude.

Education Required

• Diploma

Qualification Required

•  A degree or diploma in Nursing is essential. 
•  Current registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) is essential. 
•  Certified training in Nurse-initiated Management of ART (NIMART) and Maternal Health is essential. 
•  PHC certification with SANC would be advantageous. 
•  A valid drivers’ licence is required, as this position is community-based.

Experience Required

•  Proven knowledge of and ability to entrench a quality improvement approach to healthcare service delivery and providing on-site support to staff at facility and community level 
•  Experience in providing supportive supervision and mentoring to junior staff in the facility 
•  Experience in building facility staff capacity for strengthening cervical cancer screening of HIV-positive women 
•  Capacity to implement a training and mentoring programme in line the CCPAC clinical strategy 
•  Ability to support Facility Managers in tracking performance and using routine data for planning supply chain management and decision-making 
•  Skills to strengthen links between the community, healthcare workers and the facilities 
•  Knowledge of HIV programme management, including the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals and targets, and of TB management 
•  Understanding of Universal Test and Treat (UTT) processes, and demonstrable competence in HIV clinical management (NIMART) 
•  Extensive experience in administering of Pap smears for cervical cancer screening, diagnosis and referral for treatment, and in provider-initiated HIV counselling and testing (PICT) 
•  Sound understanding of the South African public health system, including the national and provincial Department of Health cervical cancer policy and guidelines 
•  Computer literacy and good knowledge of Microsoft Office (MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) is essential 
•  Experience in a research project environment, and particularly in oncology, would be advantageous 
•  Previous work experience in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or funded programmes will be an advantage.