2 x Community Health Care Workers At Jesuit Refugee Service

Organizational Context

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is a ministry of the Society of Jesus, incorporated as an international non-governmental organization with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. The organization was founded in November 1980 and now has a presence in over 50 countries. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support and guidance of an international office (IO) in Rome. JRS service is human and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term well-being of refugees and displaced people while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs.

The main services provided are in the field of education, emergency assistance, and psychosocial support and livelihood activities. Currently, more than 724,000 individuals are direct beneficiaries of JRS projects.

JRS style of work is that of personal presence to refugees. The service must always be direct and pastoral and thus exposes staff to the sufferings and limitations of refugee life. This sometimes involves arduous physical conditions and work under stress with limited resources. Through our presence, we help to sustain hope in people who live in difficult and dangerous situations and who have every reason to despair.

To implement the goals of the organisation JRS engages people who

• Are ready to share in its mission
• Have the capacity to understand the plight of refugees
• Are committed to service and to justice
• Are willing to offer their talents and skills to support and encourage those who desire to service refugees

Operational Context of the Position

A position falling under the realm of the JRS Health Department based in Johannesburg area, whose main purpose, while 100% field work, is to improve access to healthcare and psycho-social support to sick refugees, migrants, local South Africans, and asylum seekers through the provided limited financial assistance.

Relationships – The Community Health Care Worker report directly to the Health Coordinator. S/he works closely with the Health Team.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing optimal patient care as per the Home-Based Care (HBC) scope of practice –ie providing basic needs to patients who are unable to help themselves, bathing, dressing of wounds, resuscitation of patients, feeding, accompanying terminal ill patients to hospitals for doctors’ appointments, collecting medication for terminal ill patients, cooking, administering medication for terminally ill patients and house[1]cleaning, where required
• Managing a caseload of chronic and terminally ill patients
• Coordinating the initial linkage to healthcare plan with local facilities and specialists
• Assisting with filing-in and acquisition/verification of documentation needed to access healthcare.
• Maintaining diligent efforts to engage/locate clients lost to follow up
• Addressing co-occurring chronic conditions (i.e., chronic, and terminally ill refugees and asylum seekers, past/current traumatic experiences) and refer appropriate professionals.
• Addressing disclosure of HIV status and partner notification
• Encouraging engagement in prevention education and facilitate access to counselling and testing
• Maintaining communication with other members of the health care team by participating in case conferences and meetings
• Maintaining collaboration with healthcare facilities and community-based providers
• Documenting all client encounters on the data forms; and develop and submit weekly and monthly reports.
• Strengthen the capacities of community-based caregivers through psycho-social support and training workshops
• Strengthen community- based strategies for health promotion and disease prevention in non-communicable diseases through health advocacy, health roadshows and health ambassadors.
• Any other duty as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications and Leadership Competencies

• Experience in HBC. Possession of a Qualification in fulfillment of National Certificate: CHCW (proof will be required) is an added advantage.
• Ability to work effectively in the field in a cross – cultural environment with multinational staff and clients
• Demonstrated capacity to create and work as part of a team
• Flexibility, capacity to multi-task and/or effectively prioritize and to work under pressure and work extensively out-of-regular-working hours.
• Managing in a changing and pressured environment

Core values and ethics

• Good understanding of and compatibility with the values of JRS.
• Very good pastoral sense combined with ability to listen and excellent communication/inter-personal skills.
• Demonstrated ability and experience of working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel to the regional and country offices, when appropriate.
• Compassion for vulnerable people including refugees and displaced people, a motivation to serve, and (desirable) experience of working in the context of forced migration.
• A capacity to adapt to basic living and working conditions particularly to operate in a sub[1]optimal working environment, in the designated area
• Demonstrable experience of, and capacity for, working collaboratively as part of a team and putting in practice team building skills.
• Flexibility in work hours as needed.

BEHAVIOURAL AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

• Honest, responsible, and accurate with figures.
• Trustworthy and reliable.
• Ability to work under tremendous pressure.
• Sound knowledge of financial systems.
• Sound knowledge of JRS policies and procedures.
• Sympathy with goals and ethos of JRS and an ability to work within organizational culture.
• Strong administrative skills.
• Analytical, pragmatic, and critical thinking.
• Ability to maintain focus on longer term objectives.
• The ability to map out an informative and effective field reporting system that will enable measurement of progress against stated goals and objectives.
• Provide on-the-job feedback and instigate immediate corrective measures to ensure efficiency of staff in support of the achievement of project goals.
• Good team player.

Conditions

• Contract is for 6 months renewable (depending on funding) with an initial probation of 3 months.
• JRS remuneration policy is in keeping with JRS ethos to offer effective and professional service and at the same time express solidarity with the people served. The salary scale is calculated with the use of a Post Adjustment Multiplier and considers years of relevant experience and degree of responsibility of the role.
• The remuneration for this position is competitive with excellent benefits. Benefits including pension fund, medical aid, and staff professional development. The non- monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is transforming the lives of millions of vulnerable people.