Social Worker

Position Summary

ICAP at Columbia University’s Targeted Programmatic Support Across Countries under the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria under PEPFAR (PSA) is a program that provides technical assistance (TA) and capacity-building support to the Department of Health, in collaboration with key stakeholders and local partners in Central Visayas (VII) and Western Visayas (VI) Regions of the Philippines.

Under the supervision of the Regional Prevention, Care and Treatment Officer, S/he will work with HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment providing centers, AIDS/HIV infected and affected clients and the Regional technical teams to ensure the clients are offered holistic care and can navigate community resources, legal services and government support including health insurance and referrals to higher level of care.

Responsibilities

• Support facilities and their clients with access to and optimal utilization of PhilHealth (the National Health Insurance Program,) including accreditation for PhilHealth, registration, application and reimbursement.
• Support facilities to offer medical, social, educational, nutritional and referral services to destitute clients or clients that struggle to access.
• Offer technical support to facilities and governmental structures to advocate for the comprehensiveness of the National Health Insurance Program
• Plan, coordinate, manage and implement support packages to help clients deal with difficulties and overcome dependencies
• Train and offer ongoing mentorship to facility care workers involved in the provision of social services, with special attention to:
  • Assessing client’s current condition, needs, strengths and weaknesses
  • Monitoring and evaluating clients’ progress and modify treatment plans accordingly by offering information and counseling on the best course of action during sessions
  • Maintaining accurate records and report on clients’ status
  • Coordinating holistic care of clients in close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams both at facility and community level.Referring clients to other agencies and services to help them in recovery
  • Assisting clients in receiving services virtually (e.g. by telephone) and in person.
  • Getting clients involved in beneficial activities while assessing clients and gathering relevant information.
  • Offering information and supporting clients and their families to make informed decisions.
• Participating in training, supervision, and meetings.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social work, or related field.
• Registered as a Social worker in the Philippines, with proven work experience as a licensed medical or Substance Abuse social worker
• Master’s degree is an advantage
• Minimum of three years’ experience working with HIV+ clients and their families and/or related at-risk clients and their families.
• Previous working experience with target population, including IDU and MSM is an asset.
• Excellent knowledge of PhilHealth, the public health system of the Philippines and its referral mechanism.
• Working knowledge of social theories and practices
• Ability to build and maintain professional helping relationships, social perceptiveness, and empathy
• Ability to relate and communicate with diverse populations and groups
• Resilience along with the ability to assess situations
• Experience working with clients that are affected by issues including neglect, child abuse, domestic violence, mental health, and parental substance abuse.
• Ability to give full attention to what social service clients are saying, understand the points being made, ask questions, and not interrupt inappropriately. Ability to stay calm and empathize with clients when they are ups
• Ability to judge the relative costs and benefits of potential social service and health care actions and choose the most appropriate one.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention and ability to develop a treatment plan
• Comfortable using a computer for various tasks.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Filipino national
• Fluent in English and Filipino

Travel Requirements:

• Domestic travels to project sites/partners as needed.