Location: Grand Bassa, Liberia
Responsible To: Operations Manager, (Technically to CHD)
Responsible For: Field Medical Team including Primary Health Care Coordinator, MCH Supervisor,
Community health Supervisors
Works With: Operations, Logistics, Health, Finance/Admin Teams, Merlin Reproductive Health Coordinator, M, E & Reporting Coordinator and Partners including the County Health Team
Contract Duration: 12 months
Salary: £26,700 – £27,450 per annum (dependant on relevant experience), inclusive of annual Cost of Living Allowance
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.
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 that this is an unaccompanied position –
Merlin
Undaunted and determined, Merlin saves lives. We deliver medical expertise to the toughest places. And we stay to help build lasting health care.
Our mission is to end the needless loss of life in the poorest countries caused by a lack of effective health care. We help communities set up medical services for the long term including hospitals, clinics, surgeries and training for nurses and other health workers.
We do whatever it takes and we stay for as long as it takes.
Context and Background
Merlin has been operational in various counties throughout Liberia since 1997 and has developed a good reputation as a key partner of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH&SW) in Liberia. The main focus of Merlin’s programme in Liberia at present is supporting the (MoH&SW) with the provision of quality primary and secondary level health care services and influencing policy at the national level. In the course of implementing its activities in Liberia, Merlin supports over 800 MoH&SW workers through incentive payments. Merlin actively collaborates with the MoH&SW, UN Agencies, local partner NGOs, and other INGOs and agencies such as Mentor Initiative and International Committee of the Red Cross.
Merlin’s activities include technical, capacity building and logistical support to the County Health and Social Welfare Teams (CH&SWTs) as well as capacity building health facility staff through training, mentoring and/or supervision to ensure improved quality of care in the supported facilities. In 2012, Merlin will be supporting 68 health care facilities in Montserrado, Maryland, Sinoe, Grand Kru and Grand Gedeh counties, including 4 hospitals in Zwedru, Greenville, Barclayville and Harper. Merlin will also implement a reproductive health and capacity building project in grand Bassa County, Also, Merlin has a Reproductive Health/Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) team to mainstream maternal health promotion and HIV/AIDS prevention into all its projects as a cross-cutting theme.
Merlin Liberia will be working with the CH&SWT in Grand Bassa County in implementing a reproductive health project while at the same time provide technical support to the CH&SWT in implementing a ‘contracting in’ Pool Fund project.
Main purpose of the role
Merlin is seeking a Reproductive Health Specialist who can help the Merlin Grand Bassa project office in:
• Implementing a reproductive health project funded by Chevron
• Construction of Community-based Birth Waiting Homes (CBWH)
• Strengthening Health Management Information System, referral systems and Monitoring and Evaluation system. Training of first level service providers and CHT management staff on reproductive health
• Capacity building of the Grand Bassa County health and Social welfare team (CH&SWTs) to effectively manage the provision of Reproductive health services, and Primary and Secondary health care services under the EPHS of MOH&SW Liberia.
Overall Objectives (scope)
The Merlin projects are at an exciting junction as they move from an emergency response to a post recovery and developmental phase of the response. Merlin is seeking experienced professionals that can lead this dynamic team whilst ensuring quality and effective programming.
The current project focuses on comprehensive Reproductive Health (RH) services and strengthening of the capacity of County Health and Social Welfare teams to provide high quality health care to the communities in the County.
Responsibilities
Leadership
• Coordinate and functionally manage the planning and direction of Merlin’s reproductive health activities at project level.
• Develop and maintain a coherent project strategy fulfilling Merlin’s aims in successfully carrying out RH project activities in the Grand Bassa County.
• Determine project direction/strategy in consultation with the project based team, the CH&SWT and the Merlin Country Health Director, and Operations Manager.
• Create a shared vision among all Merlin health staff related to project aims and their role in achieving these
Programme Support
• Provide technical and managerial support to all Merlin team members in fulfillment of their duties according to project objectives
• Develop, plan and implement project activities 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
• Lead the project launch and planning process, including the development of work plans, team building, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and launching workshops to orient the CH&SWT teams and the Merlin GB team, in order to ensure coherent implementation of project
• Ensure the production and use of appropriate medical protocols and data collection forms in collaboration with local health representatives and Merlin’s Country Health Director; ensure the team is fully conversant with and trained in the use of the same
• Ensure, in collaboration with the CH&SWT, and the PHC Coordinator that there is encouragement of the community participation in health activities to ensure the long term ownership and effectiveness of the programme
• Identify gaps in skills (Merlin and Governmental health staff), and ensure all medical staffs receive appropriate training to ensure the maximum use of their skills thereby leading to their full and effective participation in project activities
• Ensure health activities are implemented in accordance with Merlin policies, Liberian MoH&SW guidelines and internationally recognised standards
• Ensure that the medical stocks, supplies and other logistic supports for the Reproductive Health resources/services are properly managed in collaboration with logistics staff and the Programme Manager
• Responsible for the timely preparation and approval of Reproductive Health medical orders in collaboration with the CHT, all this to ensure that there are no medical stock outs
• Ensure appropriate follow up on Reproductive Health, particularly Gender-Based Violence, HIV&AIDS activities and appropriate communication with the respective coordinators within Merlin and MOH
• Support to disease outbreak response where necessary
• Support the implementation of the Partnership for Health System Strengthening (formerly Counterpart Approach) of the MOH&SW
Program Development
• Constantly monitor the health and humanitarian situation in the project area and propose appropriate action(s) in collaboration with the Operation Manager and the Country Health Director
• Undertake/ assist needs assessment and survey if necessary
• Prepare and write timely and accurate donor proposals and reports in collaboration with the Operations Manager. These documents should reflect progress against set objectives and/or newly defined needs supported by appropriate data presentation and contextual analysis
• Prepare and write timely and accurate monthly health department monthly sitrep and program sitreps and ensure timely submission to the Country Management Team (Monrovia)
Systems development and implementation
• In collaboration with the Operations Manager , the RH Specialist will organize and provide technical leadership in assessing institutional capacity of the CH&SWT (including hospital managers) and identify priority areas that need strengthening
• Support the implementation of the RH Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other policies developed by the MOH&SW at the central level and facilitate training for the CH&SWT
• Contributing to strengthening of the CH&SWT capacity in areas of Reproductive health commodities and referral systems
• Support CHT teams to develop annual RH plans in line with Liberia Maternal newborn mortality reduction road map, National Maternal and Child Health Strategy and National health policy and plan.
• Take lead in development of evidence based strategies for reduction of maternal mortality in Grand Bassa County, and design operational researches to generate evidence base for the effective implementation of the Reproductive health services in the Grand Bassa County.
• Designing Qualitative and quantitative evaluations including KAP survey, and community based survey for RH activities, and ensure quality control in provision of the RH services
Training and capacity building
• Conduct reproductive health and other training needs assessment in the county and develop a training plan to address the knowledge and skills gaps identified.
• In collaboration with the central MoH&SW, organize and implement activities such as workshops, on the job training and sharing of good practices that provide capacity building opportunities to CH&SWT members thus increasing their organizational effectiveness
• In collaboration with the MoH&SW, support the CH&SWT in developing RH training modules and facilitate the training of health workers on these modules.
• Provide oversight, feedback, and guidance to CH&SWT, with regard to capacity development needs and initiatives related to RH
Co-ordination & Representation
• Co-ordinate and represent Merlin to the CH&SWT, Community Health Committees (CHC) and other counterparts to ensure that all project activities are carried out with their cooperation and participation in order to achieve project objectives
• Support the Operations Manager in any negotiating with the CH&SWT and other counterparts relating to the reproductive health services in the county
• Coordinate with the MoH&SW in the implementation of policies and SOPs
• Support the development of annual RH work plans and budgets for the CH&SWT in close cooperation with the HC and the PM, and all stakeholders
• Represent Merlin’s activities and achievements in the counties, as required by the CMT.
Staff Management / HR
• Managing project staff as per organization protocols
• Undertake staff appraisals for staff under direct line-management and ensure for others to undertake appraisals of medical staff under their management
• Maintain good inter-team communications, engender good team dynamics, and take suitable action when problems occur
• Take an active role in the development of a training plan for the Merlin project
Security
• Adhere to security guidelines and encourage team members to adhere to them
• Pro-actively monitor the health, political, military and security situation in the project area and respond accordingly
• Attend relevant meetings / forums and ensure the Operations Manager and the Country Health Director are informed of the current humanitarian environment
• Actively participate in the updating of security guidelines
Other
• Carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Operations Manager or Country
Health Director
• Produce written handover notes at the end of contract
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
• Medical doctor or Registered Nurse or midwives with strong post graduate qualification experience in Reproductive health, Public health or Epidemiology, or Health system Management
• Good knowledge and strong experience in health systems strengthening at regional or district levels.
• Knowledge of Project Management and strong experience of providing high quality advisory services, on-the-job training and mentoring to local partners of government departments in an international context
• Strong Monitoring and Evaluation experience and knowledge of HMIS systems and also DHIS systems/softwares to monitor the progress against set indicators for RH project
o Demonstrable skills in health programming, health system strengthening, and capacity building of organizations
• Demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to use sound judgement in applying technical expertise to identify and resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems
• Good experience of developing Operational researches and qualitative and quantitative evaluations particularly for RH services
• Strong experience of development of public health strategies, advocacy work and strategic planning in public health project and especially of RH projects
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
• 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
• Willingness and able to live and work under pressure and in remote environment
• Strong experience of representation at all levels, specially, with the government counterparts and public bodies
Desirable
Qualifications, experience and competences
• Previous working experience in sub – Saharan Africa
• Some relevant experience of the programmatic aspects of HIV/AIDS, malaria control, and epidemic management
• Relevant experience working in a transitional environment and supporting/mentoring county health authorities
• Very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines.
• Previous experience of working in West Africa within health care projects/reproductive health will be an added advantage
How to apply
To apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.
If you are unable to apply online please contact: applications@merlin.org.uk.
Please note that we do not accept CVs. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Application deadline: April 2, 2012