• Introduction to CBT
• Behavioural Activation Records
• Recognizing cognitions
• Understanding and managing emotions
• CBT for stress
• CBT for problem-solving
• CBT for managing chronic disease
• CBT for promoting sleep
• Practical and exams

Facilitator: Dr. Neil Fernando (consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer)

This National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) course is a competency-based professional training programme designed to strengthen and standardise community-led HIV/STI service delivery in Sri Lanka. Developed under the Global Fund-supported SKPA-2 Programme of the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka (FPA) and accredited by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), the course provides a nationally recognised pathway for outreach workers and community service providers to gain formal qualifications and advance their careers.

The NVQ course prepares participants to function as Community-Led Outreach Workers (HIV and STI), equipped with the knowledge, practical skills, and ethical grounding required to deliver high-quality, people-centred HIV/STI services.

The programme is aligned with National Competency Standards. It integrates both theoretical knowledge and hands-on training, ensuring that participants can effectively plan, implement, and monitor HIV/STI interventions within community settings.

The course is offered at NVQ Level 3 and Level 4, enabling progressive learning and certification within Sri Lanka’s National Vocational Qualification framework.

This course is ideal for:

• Outreach Workers and Peer Educators engaged in HIV/STI programmes
• Staff of community-based and civil society organisations
• Programme Coordinators and Supervisors working with key populations
• Individuals seeking a Nationally recognised Vocational Qualification in Community Led Outreach - HIV/STI services

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Deliver comprehensive HIV/STI prevention, testing, and linkage-to-care services
• Implement community-led outreach strategies targeting key populations
• Conduct risk profiling, hotspot mapping, and micro-planning
• Support case detection, referral, and retention in care within the HIV service cascade
• Apply ethical principles, including confidentiality, non-discrimination, and informed consent
• Coordinate with healthcare providers and stakeholders to ensure continuity of care
• Manage outreach programmes, including planning, monitoring, reporting, and resource management

The course is structured into competency-based modules combining theory and practical application, including:

Core Technical Areas

• HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
• HIV/STI/Hepatitis Service Cascade (prevention, testing, treatment, care and support)
• Community-Led Service Delivery and Monitoring
• Risk Profiling and Micro-Planning
• Behaviour Change Communication (BCC)
• Education and Awareness Programme Development

Programme Management & Operations

• Action Planning and Implementation of Key Population Interventions
• Inventory and Health Commodity Management
• Administrative, Financial, and Reporting Systems
• Stakeholder Coordination and Team Management

Cross-Cutting Areas

• Gender, Sexuality, and Key Population Dynamics
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Occupational Safety and Ethical Service Delivery

Participants will gain the ability to:

• Conduct outreach, education, and community-based HIV/STI testing
• Promote and distribute prevention commodities (e.g., condoms, lubricants)
• Link clients to clinical services, including ART, PrEP, and STI care
• Provide basic counselling and support for people living with HIV
• Monitor service delivery and contribute to community-led monitoring systems
• Use data and reporting tools for programme improvement

• Competency-Based Training (CBT) aligned with national standards
• Combination of classroom learning and practical field-based training
• Interactive methods including role plays, case studies, demonstrations, and simulations
• Continuous assessment through formative and summative evaluations

Participants who successfully complete the required competency units and assessments will receive:

• National Certificate at NVQ Level 3 and/or Level 4 in Community-Led Outreach Worker (HIV and STI), awarded by TVEC

This certification is nationally recognized and supports career advancement within the public health and community development sectors.

Graduates of this course can pursue roles such as:

• Outreach Worker / Peer Educator
• Outreach Coordinator
• Programme or Project Officer in HIV/STI interventions
• Community Health Worker within governmental and non-governmental sectors

This course contributes to strengthening Sri Lanka's HIV response by building a skilled, professional workforce capable of delivering inclusive, community-led, and evidence-based services, supporting national targets to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030.