Closing date: 31 Dec 2009 -- (CLOSED)
Location: Sudan (the)
Location: Nimule, Eastern Equatoria state, South Sudan
Programmes: South Sudan Health Programme
Contract duration: 12 months
Starting date: ASAP
Responsible for: Medical Officers, Health Promotion Officer, ART Supervisor, VCT supervisor, Primary Health care supervisor
Reporting to: Functional line manager: Project Coordinator,
Technical Line Manager: Country Health Director
Salary: £24,894 - £29,119 per annum (dependant on relevant experience) inclusive of annual Cost of Living allowance.
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, free return flights, annual loyalty bonus, R&R and 24 days annual leave.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short-listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.
Please note: this is an unaccompanied position.
Merlin International Profile
Merlin specialises in health, saving lives in times of crisis and helping to rebuild shattered health services. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.
Context and Background
Merlin currently implements a comprehensive set of health activities for addressing the healthcare needs of the local population and returnees in Magwi County implementing PHC and secondary Health Care in Nimule Hospital. In addition, Merlin manages a HAT programme, comprehensive Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS prevention, care treatment and support program.
The need for an articulate, diplomatic, organised and technically competent health professional a solid understanding and experience in public/community health, including the use of epidemiological and surveillance data for programme management and ability to coach, supervise and train different cadres of healthcare workers is paramount for this position.
Main purpose of the role
To provide technical leadership and management for the effective functioning of:
- a 180 bed hospital which renders curative, promotive and preventive health care services to a population faced with various health problems
- Outreach primary health care programme (preventive, health promotive and curative services).
The incumbent will provide technical support, coaching, mentoring and training to a team of medical and non-medical staff to establish good clinical and public health practice to meet the needs of the population. He/she will work with a team of other professional staff as a member of the project team.
Overall Objective (scope)
The Senior Health Coordinator will be responsible for leading the effective implementation of quality health programmes, grounded in best practice in response to acute and longer-term health needs for the populations in Magwi County. Through this work the selected person will play an important role in consolidating and expanding curative, promotive and preventive health activities within the target area. This role will ensure Primary and Secondary Health care linkage and in integrated programme at all levels.
To achieve this objective the Senior Health Coordinator will be technically supported/guided by the Country Health Director and functionally by the Project Coordinator.
Overall Objectives (scope)
- To contribute to the phased hand over of Health Services to the MoH.
- To build the capacity of the medical staff and non-medical staff through on-job mentoring,
- coaching, supervision and training to effectively perform their duties and responsibilities.
- Oversee and ensure data management as per project requirement including collection, collation, analysis and reporting. Recommend new methods for collection and documentation of data
- To analyze and interpret data on morbidity/mortality on regular basis, propose measures on disease prevention in the catchment areas, and ensure effective functioning of the hospital and rural outreach health management information systems
- To assess health service needs in the project area, determine services which Merlin can provide and advocate for external provision for the gaps which it may not be best placed to provide (e.g. watsan)
- To provide technical support for the planning, implementation and monitoring of community based health activities within the catchment area
- Co-ordinate with State and County MoH services, build solid working relationships and sharing of work activities towards the eventual handover of services to the GoSS in a timely, well planned manner
- Co-ordinate with other NGOs/CBOs in the project area towards the overall enhancement of multi-sectoral service delivery
Responsibilities
Leadership
- Coordinate and functionally manage the planning and direction of Merlin’s primary health care and communicable disease prevention and control activities in Magwi county.
- Develop and maintain a coherent primary health care strategy fulfilling Merlin’s aims in collaboration with the country health director, Project Coordinators and the hospital Medical Superintendents.
- Determine project direction in regards to primary health care programs at field level in consultation with the Country Management team (CMT) and the project coordinators.
Program Support
- Provide technical support to all primary health care and secondary Health care team members in the project area, in fulfilment of their duties according to project objectives.
- Develop, plan and implement project primary health care programs in close collaboration with medical and non-medical personnel, ensuring coherence between activities and contingencies for changes in project direction and priorities related to the humanitarian context.
- Responsible with other senior project personnel for mobilizing community participation for health promotion activities to ensure the long term ownership and effectiveness of the program.
- Ensure that all health staff implementing primary and secondary health care programs receive appropriate training in primary and secondary health care principles to ensure the maximum use of their skills and their full and effective participation in health promotion and disease prevention activities.
- Design and implement follow-up after-training plans, including on-the-job support to identify and rectify the gaps in the services provided
- Ensure that primary health care and communicable disease control activities are implemented in accordance with MoH, Merlin policy, and internationally recognised standards.
- Periodically review / prepare hospital based medical/surgical protocols and data collection tools as may be required in collaboration with the Country Health Director and hospital staff and ensure that the team is fully conversant with and trained in the same
- Ensure that there are medical waste management and disposal procedures functioning, including the corresponding infrastructure.
- Assist in the checking of essential hospital and community based data and provide regular updates on health activity status to the project coordinator and the Country Health Director. This includes; feedback on hospital-based health and information system data, epidemiological surveillance, and ensuring that HMIS is used as a management tool for informed and timely decision making
- Assist with the management of hospital assets, equipment, drugs and medical supplies and stock reviews.
- Assist in preparing donor proposals / reports and monthly / quarterly reports for Merlin internal use and / or for other stakeholders in collaboration with the PC
Program Development
- Constantly monitor the primary health and secondary health care needs in the project area and propose appropriate action in collaboration with the CMT and the field teams.
- Undertake/ assist in needs assessment as necessary.
- Participates in the writing of timely and accurate donor proposals and reports in collaboration with the Country Health Director and the field teams
- Participate in preparation of monthly sit-reps
- Represent Merlin to local health authorities at county level to ensure all project activities are carried out with their collaboration and participation in order to achieve project objectives.
- Co-ordinate and represent Merlin in regards to primary health care and communicable disease control programs to MOH, WHO, UNICEF, and other I/NGOs.
- Ensure key stakeholders receive regular activity reports and statistics related to the implementation of programs in collaboration with the Project Coordinator.
Staff Management / HR
- Monitor health staff performance through regular appraisals
- Participate in the recruitment of local health staff that will be assigned to primary health care and communicable disease control programs.
- Enhance technical and health management skills of national health staff under his/her supervision through formal & informal training in collaboration with other senior project personnel.
Emergency response and community health
- To respond to humanitarian emergencies as may be required in the target area
- To coordinate with the relevant local authorities and other sector actors working within the area as may be necessary
- Assist in a rapid needs assessment as well as other operational research that may be conducted in the project area
- Assist in the analysis of health / humanitarian needs and the existing contexts and plan with the key staff and stakeholders on how best to respond appropriately
- Participate is community health programme development, activity implementation and monitoring.
Representation
- Routinely participate in meetings related to health as well as other key issues that are convened at the county / payam level
- Regularly inform and update the county health authorities as well as other state government officials of the on-going and planned activities that Merlin is implementing within the project site
Staff Health
- As necessary take responsibility for the health and well-being of Merlin staff in project areas, through implementation of Merlin Staff Health Policy, including medical evacuation procedures.
- As necessary ensure an up-to-date medical evacuation procedures document is available for the field team in conjunction with the Country Health Director and all staff are familiar with its content.
- As necessary ensure the national staff health policy is implemented.
Other
- Fulfil other roles as per specific terms of reference developed by the Country Management Team (CMT) in line with the general JD terms as above.
Person Specification
Essential
- Qualified doctor or nurse with extensive experience in the delivery of primary health care and communicable disease prevention and control services
- Qualification in public health and/or tropical medicine. A master’s degree in public health desirable
- Competence in basic epidemiological analysis and knowledge of data collection methods and data analysis skills
- Experience in designing and managing HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health programs
- Experience in rapid needs assessment.
- Experience in community based health programmes
- Experience in management of ECHO funded projects
- Strong coordination and problem solving skills in day to day and challenging situations
- Excellent team leadership, team working and relationship building skills with the ability to develop positive working relations across functions and cultures
- Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
- Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
- Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
- Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
- Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
- An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
Desirable
- Knowledge of Southern Sudan / Sub Saharan Africa
- Experience and/or qualification in one or more of the following settings: Sexual and Reproductive Health, infectious disease control, emergency and response to disasters, Health Information management, child health, nutrition and management of tropical diseases.
Reference Code: RW_7Y4L57-21
