Training Modules for HIV Point of Care Testing Counsellors

Each HIV rapid testing site in Ontario is responsible for training the HIV testing counsellors that work at that site. The Ministry of Health worked with the Ontario HIV Treatment Network to update and expand Ontario’s guidance on the delivery of HIV testing and counselling, including the provision of anonymous testing and rapid testing. These training materials were developed to support clear and consistent onboarding of new sites and training of test counsellors in a user-friendly and easily accessible manner. This PDF discussed different ways that these materials can be used, and offers a sample agenda for group trainings.
During their development, these materials were reviewed and revised based on feedback from experienced HIV test counsellors from multiple Ontario sites, and Public Health Ontario. NOTE: These materials replace all previous guidance pertaining to the delivery of HIV testing and counselling, including anonymous and rapid testing.
At rapid point of care testing sites across the province, HIV test counsellors:

  • Learn about the client’s needs and help clients assess their risk of HIV infection
  • Explain the test and ensure that the client consents to HIV testing before it happens
  • Conduct rapid HIV testing and reporting
  • Provide initial emotional, social and medical support when people have a reactive test
  • Offer support and referral to services (including prevention, HIV care and testing for other STIs)

The training modules available here teach counsellors to undertake these tasks. There are currently seven training modules in this series.
We’d love to hear what you think about the training. Please take our evaluation survey!

module1

Module 1: The Role of an HIV Test Counsellor

Trainee – Take Home Materials | Quiz on the content of this module
Additional module 1 materials for facilitators:
Facilitator’s summary | Download training slides as PowerPoint for presentation

module-assessing

Module 2: Assessing HIV Risk

Trainee – Take Home Materials | Quiz on the content of this module
HIV Comprehensive Counselling Checklistto support clients unfamiliar with testing
Express Testing Checklistmay be used to support routine testing
Additional module 2 materials for facilitators:
Facilitator’s summary

module3

Module 3: Delivering Results and Providing Support

Trainee – Take Home Materials
Additional module 3 materials for facilitators:
Facilitator’s summary | Role-play scenarios | Download training slides as PowerPoint for presentation

module4

Module 4: The Science and Practice of HIV testing

Trainee – Take Home Materials
Additional module 4 materials for facilitators:
Facilitator’s summary | Download training slides as PowerPoint for presentation

module5

Module 5: Performing the Rapid Screening Test

Trainee – Take Home Materials | Interpreting HIV Test Results (reference card)
Quiz on the contents of this module
Additional module 5 materials for facilitators:
Facilitator’s summary | Download training slides as PowerPoint for presentation

module6A requisitions

Module 6A: Requisitions and Reporting (Nominal)

Module 6A is for counsellors at POC testing sites doing nominal HIV testing.
Trainee – Take Home Materials
Quiz on the contents of this module
Additional module 6A materials for facilitators:
Facilitator’s summary| Download training slides as PowerPoint for presentation

module6B requisitions

Module 6B: Requisitions and Reporting (Anonymous)

Module 6A is for counsellors at designated Anonymous Testing sites.
Trainee – Take Home Materials
Quiz on the contents of this module
Additional module 6B materials for facilitators:
Facilitator’s summary| Download training slides

module7

Module 7: Quality Assurance and Inventory Management

Tools: Quality Assurance Templates for download | A Quick Reference Guide to Order Supplies
Trainee – Take Home Materials
Quiz on the contents of this module
Additional module 7 materials for facilitators:
Facilitator’s summary | Download training slides as PowerPoint for presentation
Often this brief version of the quality assurance slides is used during a group training when many modules are covered in a day. Trainees are encouraged to review the full unit later.

Thank you for using the Training Modules for HIV Point of Care Testing Counsellors. We hope this resource helps you to be more effective as an HIV POC tester. We would like to learn about your experience to make this resource even more useful. Take the evaluation survey.