Technical Officer (Health Care Quality and Patient Safety)

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 137,911 USD and 177,807 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Division Mandate:

For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region outlines a vision for WHO work with Member States and partners in the Western Pacific. Strong, resilient, sustainable health systems are integral to delivering the four thematic priorities. Up to 60% of people living in some countries in the Region do not have access to safe, quality and affordable health services and medicines. One in five families spend 10% of their income on health care. This threatens individuals, families, communities and economies. The Division of Health Systems and Services (DHS) will contribute to taking forward the vision of, and the thematic priorities in For the Future. DHS will support Member States with high quality advice and assistance on health financing, health workforce, medical products, quality and safety, law and governance, women and children, rehabilitation, surgery and health services including primary health care so that they can build resilient, responsive and sustainable health systems.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the guidance and supervision of the Coordinator, Maternal Child Health and Quality Safety and the general guidance of the Director, Health Systems and Services, the incumbent will have the following responsibilities:

1. Lead the development and implementation of regional strategies to improve health care quality and patient safety in the Western Pacific Region, guided by the vision For the Future, and the objectives of this programme and based on contexts and needs of countries;
2. Lead and oversee the organi]ation of the Global Health Learning Centre;
3. Support Member States to develop and implement policies, strategies and programmes to improve health ,care quality and patient safety;
4. Lead the regional development of guidance documents such as an action framework for patient safety and quality service delivery including policy support and technical advice to Member States;
5. Facilitate collaboration between patient safety stakeholders at regional and country levels, including programme managers, hospital staff and other country stakeholders to ensure that actions address local ,priorities and key systems needs, while leveraging available local expertise and resources;
6. Develop and implement quality improvement approaches to support the effective delivery of services including the use of assessment and planning approaches to identify gaps and plan actions;
7. Develop a regional health care quality and patient safety monitoring and evaluation indicator framework and tools and methods for regular collection and use of data, and assist countries to collect, analyse, and use data for programme monitoring and planning;
8. Conduct operational research in collaboration with country stakeholders; draft documents on relevant country quality initiatives; and provide information, data and other information to support stakeholders to introduce evidence-based approaches that are aligned to regional and country strategies;
9. Review and develop accreditation, regulation, licensing and pre-service training systems for health care quality and patient safety;
10. Coordinate Regional Member State consultations to accelerate implementation of patient safety and quality approaches; and
11. Undertake other duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Degree in medicine, nursing or other relevant clinical fields from a recognized university with a master's degree in public health or other related disciplines.

Desirable: Additional qualification related to healthcare quality improvement or patient safety.

Experience

Essential: Minimum of seven (7) years' progressively responsible experience in public health programmes at national and/or international level with a focus on improving the quality of health care or patient safety.

Desirable: A working knowledge of WHO systems. Experience in planning, monitoring, and evaluation of public health programmes, preferably including hospitals or other health facilities. Experience in the collection and use of data for decision-making. Experience in Western Pacific Region or developing or transition economy settings.

Skills

• Familiarity with quality improvement and patient safety frameworks, tools and mechanisms for capacity-building.
• Ability to apply knowledge of health systems and principles of people-centred integrated service delivery.
• Ability to support Member States to evaluate and use data to improve their patient safety and quality agenda.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with international and national staff at all levels.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Creating an empowering and motivating environment Producing results Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN languages

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 77,326 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2958 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion)are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

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