Health Clinical Officer

Support quality primary health care services in Gwoza LGA.

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IRC - The International Rescue Committee

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Overview

Support quality primary health care services in Gwoza LGA.

You have:

  • Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife with a Bachelor's in Nursing Science is an added advantage.
  • Must be licensed by the Nigerian Nursing and Midwifery Council.
  • Minimum of 2 years post-graduation experience in clinical and humanitarian context.
  • Experience in supervising health staff at the primary health care level.
  • Ability to work with displaced communities with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
  • Proficiency in computer skills, especially in MS Word and Excel.
  • Ability to communicate in Hausa language is preferred.
  • Excellent communication skills, good spoken and written English needed for concise reporting.
  • Ability to independently organize work, prioritize tasks, and respect deadlines.
  • Familiarity with local context and ability to maintain beneficiary confidentiality.

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

UpdateBackground/IRC Summary: The International Rescue Committee has been in Nigeria since October 2012 and came in response to a widespread flood disaster. IRC’s Emergency Response Team, with its local partner, Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication (SCOPE), implemented projects to support food security, livelihoods, nutrition, and WASH in Kogi State. At the beginning of January 2014, IRC shifted its geographical location to the Northeast, in Adamawa state to provide humanitarian response to the conflict-affected populations. In the Northeast, IRC has two operational offices in Adamawa state (Yola and Mubi) and three operational offices in Borno state (Maiduguri, Gwoza and Monguno). In both states, IRC is providing humanitarian support to internally displaced populations hosted in IDP camps, camp-like settings, host communities, and returnee populations.

Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs in Primary Health Care (PHC), Nutrition, Environmental Health (EH), Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Protection, Child protection, Education, Food security & livelihoods. With a background of poor Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) indices, made worse by the ongoing humanitarian crises and advent of COVID-19 pandemic; the RMNCH outcomes in Northeast Nigeria could face a downturn, without intensified intervention. Over the years, the IRC has provided comprehensive Primary Health Care service including SRH services (including; Curative care, Immunization Family Planning (FP), Antenatal Care (ANC), Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC), Post-Natal Care (PNC), treatment and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Post Abortion Care (PAC) and Clinical Care for Sexual Assault Survivors (CCSAS). The IRC seek to engage the service of a Health Officer to support project implementation of quality PHC services in Gwoza LGA.

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Health Outcome Manager, the Health Clinical Officer is responsible for patient care at the mobile clinics and overseeing the mobile clinic activities in Gwoza LGA, Borno State. She/he is also responsible for ensuring adherence to the implementation of program activities at the field according to the detailed implementation plan (DIP) and set out workplan.

Major Responsibilities:

Clinical Supervision:

- Provides accurate diagnosis, treatment and management of patients in a primary health care setting. Using standard national or WHO endorsed protocols, ensure quality of clinical and non-clinical service provision in health sites by assessing and monitoring performance against standards and guiding and motivating staff to meet and maintain standards. Promote behavior change by providing health and nutrition messages in the communities, in collaboration with community volunteers. Ensure adequate infection prevention and control standards are maintained at all times in the IRC facilities. Ensure health basic protocols and other IEC materials are well displayed in the facilities and outreach sites. Establish effective referral mechanism between the mobile clinic and the general hospital which is the referral center for complicated cases. For new location, liaise with local leaders and other partners in identifying new mobile clinic site and sensitize community on the project implementation. Ensure all facilities have standard treatment protocol and guidelines.

Technical Support and Quality of Care Management:

- Ensures health facility staff adherence to universal hygiene standards/precautions, appropriate waste management, bio-hazard prevention, infection prevention and control in the health facilities. Works with cleaning staff to maintain general cleanliness of the health facilities. Liaise with the referral officer to facilitate referral of patients who need emergency or special care. Ensure all Primary Health Care service packages are delivered in line with national/adopted protocols, and WHO policies and guidelines. Ensure all the staff follow the established IPC standards and international standard of infection prevention protocols. Ensure adherence to instrument processing and sterilization protocols. Conduct quarterly clinical skills’ assessment for the Clinicians (incentive clinicians) and follow up on areas that need improvement. Works with community mobilization team to ensure strong linkages between services and communities. Ensure community participation in healthcare delivery services through regular meetings and consultation of the Community Health Committee (CHC) members.

Staff Management:

- Routinely monitor and supervise the clinician’s’ performance according to their job description, conduct performance evaluation and provide written feedback in a timely manner. Provide on-the-job training to the clinicians and Health Assistants, define their training needs, and support the Medical Doctor and health outcome manager to implement them according to project objectives. Provide supervisory support to the clinicians, Health Assistants and drug dispensers to ensure the availability of essential drugs and medical supplies at the facility as per the approved tracer drug list. Liaise with the drug dispensers to prevent stock out of essential drugs, other medical supplies at the health facilities. Monitor staff daily attendance at duty posts and ensure time sheets are correctly filled and submitted monthly. Ensure all Health Assistants submit their timesheets in a timely manner.

Representation, Project Implementation and Reporting:

- Ensure teamwork and maintain relationships with different sectors and government agencies. Responsible for validation of program data and timely submission to M&E on weekly basis. Work with the M&E team to analyze data on a weekly/monthly basis, feeds information back to the program team, and adapts strategies accordingly after discussions with the health outcome manager. Provide weekly/monthly activity reports to the supervisor.

Operations:

- Maintain an updated record and compile and submit monthly reports of all services given. Monitor and ensure the proper usage of health and program supplies. Prepare weekly workplans and ensure timely implementation of the project activities.

Communication and Reporting:

- Work with the clinician and Health Assistant in compiling statistical reports from the mobile clinics for submission weekly, monthly, and annually. Ensure adequate flow of information for all supervisees with constant feedback as may be required. Carry out other relevant or requested duties as may be required.

Key Result Areas:

- Improvement of key health indicators. Increased uptake of health services as a strategy of reducing mortality. Increased uptake of positive practices related to health, nutrition, and hygiene. Timely and quality health care services to displaced persons, refugees, and other vulnerable groups. Community volunteers actively participate in health services within their community.

Qualifications

Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, Bachelor of Nursing Science from a recognized institution is an added advantage.

Most be licensed by the Nigerian Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Competencies

Minimum of 2 years post-graduation experience in clinical and humanitarian context. Experience in supervising health staff at the primary health care level. Ability to work with displaced communities with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Able to work in a location with basic living conditions and with limited communication options. Proficiency in computer skills, especially in MS Word and Excel. Is necessary.

Coordination and representation:

Ensures teamwork and professional relationship between the different sectors and government agencies. Works closely and coordinates with IRC supply chain, finance, and grant staff to ensure activities are conducted within the timeframe and compliance of the grants. Undertake/participate in liaison, coordination, and information sharing activities with national NGOs, international organizations, MoH, donors and community stakeholders. Represent IRC during site visits of external guests and IRC head quarter visitors.

Others:

Prompt reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs. Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Key Working Relationships:

Position directly reports to the Health Outcome Manager.

Position directly supervises the Health Assistants, pharmacy technician, incentive clinicians and CHVs.

Indirect reporting: Nil

Other Internal and/or external contacts: Roving Reproductive managers, Technical Health Coordinator and all other IRC sectors.

External: Other partners- NGO’s, LGA DSNO, LIO and other key stakeholders etc.

Other Internal and / or external contacts:

Internal: All other IRC sectors offering integrated services in Gwoza, SPC, Deputy Director Program, Finance Manager, Supply chain Manager, Field Coordinator, DDO

External: SPHCDA, UNFPA, WHO, HMB, Federal Ministry of Health, other INGOs.

Qualifications

Quality oriented, Self-motivated, resourceful, honest, highly responsible, committed, and punctual. Ability to independently organize work, prioritize tasks, respect and adhere to deadlines. Ability to work as part of a team and lead teams. Familiarity with local context. The ability to maintain beneficiary confidentiality and respect always is essential. Professional skills to provide sensitive and appropriate medical counseling. Clear understanding of gender equality and gender issues for women and girls. Ability to communicate in Hausa language is preferred. Excellent communication skills, good spoken and written English needed for concise reporting. Professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook is preferred

Working environment:

Borno State is categorized as security phase 4 (Red). The Health Clinical Officer is thus expected to work closely with IRC safety and security team (SST) and comply with all security protocols/ guidelines.

Benefits include:

Competitive Monthly salary.

Health Insurance Coverage for staff and family.

Annual earned leave days.

Pension scheme

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. By these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe a time when you had to ensure hygiene standards in a healthcare setting? The interviewer wants to assess your understanding and adherence to health protocols. Provide a specific example and emphasize the steps you took to maintain standards.
How would you handle a situation where a patient's cultural beliefs conflict with medical advice? This question evaluates your cultural sensitivity and interpersonal skills. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies would you use to motivate healthcare staff in a challenging environment? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe an instance when you had to make a quick decision in a medical emergency. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure effective communication between your team and the communities you serve? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: rescue.org