Community Peer Educator (HSC/HS 4)

Objectives:

• To improve the availability and quality of monitoring and diagnostic services for PLWHA of all ages 
• Island wide provision of adherence counselling and psychological support
• Provide Antiretroviral therapy to PLWHA of all ages 
• Increase safer sex practices and improve attitudes and behaviours among vulnerable high-risk groups. 
• Delay sexual initiation, promote abstinence and increase condom use among sexually active young people 
• To increase safer sex practices and improve attitudes and behaviour in the general population, including persons with disabilities. Men will be a special target of this objective 
• Improve the protection of the rights of persons living with or affected by HIV/AIDS by developing a comprehensive policy framework 
• Reduce stigma and discrimination against living with or affected by HIV/AIDS through advocacy and public education 

Scope of Work 

PLACE is a methodology used to identify sites within high STI/HIV transmission areas (HTA’s) where people meet new sexual partners. PLACE seeks to reduce incidences of STI/HIV transmission among those that socialize at these sites and the interventions are targeted at visitors and staff of identified sites. The PLACE objectives are to change and reinforce behaviour to: 

• Increase consistent condoms use 
• Increase use of VCT services 
• Increase use of STD services 
• Reduce sex during symptomatic STD period 
• Increase condom-carrying habit 

The Community Peer Educator – PLACE will work closely with the assigned Parish Coordinator – PLACE to implement interventions in the parish in identified clusters.

Functions will include:

• Visit sites and assist in the process of :
  • Determining venue eligibility 
  • Screening eligible sites for reported willingness 
  • Mapping eligible sites 
• Conduct training as specified at designated sites. 
• Identify and sensitize site influentials in basic HIV/AIDS prevention education and the PLACE intervention. 
• Conduct weekly monitoring of sites within assigned clusters and ensure stocks of condoms and IEC materials are replenished. 
• Assess the uptake of condoms and materials via weekly consultations with contact person at site (influential) 
• Identify and train thirteen peer links (e.g. CSW if applicable) as peer links in condom skills and negotiation 
• Conduct ‘special party events’ at assigned sites (e.g. hype nights) to promote rapid HIV testing and counseling and consistent condom use 
• Conduct special party events/intensive site and assist with rapid HIV test and counseling sessions at events 
• Conduct other interventions as per PLACE work plan 
• Provide biweekly report as per template on sites being monitored 

Specific Outputs: 

The Community Peer Educator shall have specific responsibility for the achievement of the objective, which relates to the reduction of HIV transmission at the PLACE sites by performing such duties as: 

• Sites visited and assist in the following process completed: 
  • Determining venue eligibility 
  • Screening eligible sites for reported willingness 
  • Mapping eligible sites 
• Training conducted as specific at designated sites. 
• Site influential identified and sensitized in basic HIV/AIDS prevention education and the PLACE intervention. 
• Weekly monitoring of sites conducted within assigned cluster and ensures stocks of condoms and IEC materials are replenished 
• Peer links (e.g. CSW if applicable) identified and trained as peer links in condom skills and negotiation. 
• Special partly events’ conducted at assigned sites (e.g. freaky nights) to promote rapid HIV testing and counselling and consistent condom use. 
• Special party events/intensive site and rapid HIV test and counselling sessions per event conducted. 
• Other interventions completed as per PLACE work plan 
• Biweekly report submitted as per template on sites being monitored 

Reporting Relationship 

The Community Peer Educator will report directly to the assigned Targeted Intervention Officer. 

Qualifications:

The successful applicant should possess the following qualifications: 

• Five CXC Subjects 
• Completion of secondary level education. 
• Basic knowledge of HIV/STIs, Behaviour Change, Public Health and Health Promotion
• Able to communicate effectively with peers and with people in authority
• Experience in attending nightclubs, bars and exotic clubs. 

Working Conditions

Incumbents will be expected to work at irregular hours – mostly at nights, can be called on at the last minute and will need to interact and engage with patrons socializing at these PLACE sites.

We thank all applicants for their expressions of interest however, only those shortlisted will be contacted.