Jobs and Employment at Makerere University

Job Title: Psychosocial Officer
Location: Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care
Reporting line: Technical Advisor HIV/AIDS
Operational base: Kampala, Uganda.

The Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care (RCQHC) provides leadership in promoting Quality of Health Care (QOC) in Africa. The RCQHC is based at Makerere University College of Health Sciences School of Public Health in Kampala Uganda. The RCQHC delivers technical assistance to health care workers through a wide range of activities such as training, development of learning materials and conducting research. The RCQHC also hosts the secretariat of the African Network for Care of Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (ANECCA), a regional network of members from sub-Saharan Africa region. RCQHC seeks to recruit for the new post of Psychosocial Officer for the ANECCA secretariat.

Key roles:
1. Anticipate needs and lead the development of the ANECCA psychosocial strategy in Africa.
2. Manage programme funds including participating in work planning, budgeting, regular funds tracking, financial reporting and submission of timely accountabilities in liaison with the finance department.
3. Assess training needs of staffs working with HIV infected children and adolescents within the African region to develop appropriate training plans.
4. Develop, adopt, and adapt appropriate training tools for training and mentoring of psychosocial workers within the region.
5. Organize, coordinate and facilitate child and adolescent psychosocial care and counselling trainings for health care providers within the African region.
6. Facilitate/ conduct training of trainers to build country specific capacity for paediatric HIV psychosocial trainers.
7. Provide supportive supervision to trainees including developing and implementation of post-training work plans and on-site mentoring to enhance utilization of knowledge and skill building in psychosocial care and counselling for children and adolescents.
8. Ensure the implementation of quality psychosocial programs children within the region through direct program oversight as well as training and capacity-building of country staff.
9. Offer Technical Assistance to partners and countries for capacity building in psychosocial care and support for children and adolescents while facilitating a participatory approach with key country stakeholders to identify and plan appropriate activities relevant to child and adolescent psychosocial care and well-being. This task will include participating in the hiring and supervision of suitable consultants to provide technical assistance.
10. Identify and acquire appropriate program materials needs for psychosocial activities
11. Identify fund raising opportunities through creating partnerships with Psychosocial and protection officials, UN agencies, child protection working groups, donor agencies, international humanitarian organizations, local NGOs, and local government authorities.
12. Identify and participate in project proposal writing in response to funding calls for applications and proposal
13. Liaise with the M&E Officer to monitor and evaluate the programme, document success stories and best practices
14. Organise stakeholder meetings, learning sessions and regional forums for sharing/ dissemination of experiences and best practices.
15. Perform other relevant tasks as assigned by the Technical Advisor HIV/AIDS or RCQHC Director.

Requirements –core knowledge & competencies:
• Masters in Psychology, Social Work and Administration, Sociology, Medical Anthropology or equivalent.
• At least five years of proven field experience in a similar position and particularly in capacity building and supporting national staff in providing psychosocial care and counselling for children and adolescents with HIV infection.
A basic degree in social sciences or a related field with knowledge and skills in office
• Experience working with diverse groups of people. Familiarity of working within partnerships will be of added advantage. Excellent interpersonal and problem solving skills.
• Computer literacy including Microsoft Offi ce (Word, Excel and Power Point), ability to use internet, proven website and database maintenance and updating skills.
• Excellent correspondence writing & communication skills in English language (A working knowledge of French is an advantage).

Terms of Employment:
The person appointed to this post will be employed by the RCQHC (Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care) and will follow the rules and regulations of the institution as an employee. S/he will be line managed by the Technical Advisor-HIV/AIDS (Coordinator ANECCA)

Appointment:
The appointment will initially be for 1 year, with possible renewal subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds. A three-month probation period will be lifted upon satisfactory performance.

Remuneration:
Attractive and negotiable remuneration, depending on qualifi cations and experience, Additional benefits including: Housing for non- Ugandan residents, Medical care for self and immediate family, annual leave.

Application procedures:
Interested and qualifi ed persons should send their motivation letters, curriculum vitae, key academic documents by post or email to:

• The Director, Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care, (Application
PO-HIV/AIDS) Makerere University School of Public
Health, P. O. Box 29140, Kampala - Uganda
• E-mail to: mail@rcqhc.org, copy hbarigye@rcqhc.org
Closing date for receiving applications is 24th November 2010.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Those who will not have heard within a month of publication of the advertisement should consider their applications unsuccessful.