WHO is looking for a Consultant who will be embedded within the RCH Directorate to provide technical assistance to the MOHS and health facilities on QoC
Grade: P4
Contractual Arrangement: External consultant
Contract duration: Four months
Closing Date : Jul 16, 2018, 10:59:00 PM
Primary Location : Sierra Leone-Freetown
Organization : AF_SLE Sierra Leone
Schedule : Full-time
Background
The World Health Organization Sierra Leone Country Office (WCO) is responsible for providing technical advice to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) in guiding overall efforts to improve the health and well-being of the population. The WCO works closely with the MOHS to ensure development and implementation of plans aimed at improving coverage of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) indicators and reduction of maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Improvements in the Quality of Care (QoC) provided to women and children is a key component of improving morbidity and mortality in Sierra Leone. Understanding this, Sierra Leone has embarked on an initiative to strengthen QoC as one of the major objectives of the 2017-2021 RMNCAH strategy.
In this regard, the MOHS aims to institutionalize QoC improvement strategies and approaches in the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Directorate, the Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery, and other directorates contributing to QoC in maternal and child health. There is a need for further development of QoC expertise within the RCH directorate to help build QoC capacity through enhanced training, skills transfer, coaching and mentoring. It is against this background that WHO is seeking a Consultant who will be embedded within the RCH Directorate to provide technical assistance to the MOHS and health facilities on QoC, to institutionalize QI standards for improved RMNCAH service delivery. The Consultant will also support the development/adaptation and application of Quality Assurance (QA) / Quality Improvement (QI) data management systems to track implementation of health facility quality improvement plans and other RMNCAH service QI activities.
Purpose of the position
To support MoHS in developing a Quality of Care framework, with structures and processes to enable this.
Description of duties
- Provide technical assistance to the RCH Directorate, the Nursing and Midwifery Directorate, the Directorate of Policy, Planning and Information (DPPI), and other directorates in the MOHS, in developing a National Quality Assurance Policy and Strategy, developing health facility quality teams, and QA/QI plans to ensure quality RMNCAH service delivery;
- Support MOHS in the development of M and E Framework for QOC, Standard Indicators, QI tools and instruction guides to improve monitoring, standard of care, and quality of RMNCAH care practice;
- Support MOHS in the development of QI training programs and materials in coordination with stakeholders to help ensure quality standards for RMNCAH;
- Contribute to the development of a common platform for QA/QI efforts for Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health programs and adaptation of WHO QOC standard.
- Strengthen MOHS capacity to include implementation science (operational research) & learning in QI activities / interventions;
- Support MOHS in overseeing and training of staff on utilization of QA/QI measures;
- Participate in relevant technical working groups in areas of quality management / improvement and information sharing
- Support MOHS in the development of system for monitoring and evaluation of health facility QI plan implementation and ensure it is linked to appropriate national data management systems such as the DHIS2
Deliverable
- To develop a National Quality Assurance Policy and Strategy, develop health facility quality teams, and QA/QI plans at facility level, as documents for MoHS to take forwards by the end of the contract
- To develop an M and E Framework for QOC, Standard Indicators, QI tools and instruction guides to improve quality of RMNCAH care by the end of the contract.
Technical supervision
The postholder will be under the direct supervision of the WHO Country Office Basic Package of Essential Service Coordinator Dr Janet Kayita. They will work directly with MoHS RCH team, and the focal point for M&E QoC. They will be supported by the WHO RMNCAH team, Dr James Bunn, Binyam Hailu and Fatu Forna.
Required qualifications
Education:
Essential:
- Health Related Degree
- Master’s degree in Public Health or equivalent
Desirable:
- Higher degree (PhD)
- Formal training in Quality assurance/Quality Improvement
WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an accredited institution. The list can be accessed through this link: http://www.whed.net/
Experience:
Essential:
- At least 7 years’ experience in the area of RMNCAH or Quality Improvement
- Clear experience in delivering Quality of care improvements at programmatic level
Desirable:
- Experience in developing QI/QA tools or QI/QA monitoring and evaluation systems for health/RMNCAH programs
Functional Knowledge and Skills:
Skills
Essential:
- Training Needs assessment
- Excellent facilitation skills with counterparts and partners
- Training and capacity building of health cadres
- Report writing skills
Desirable:
- Previous experience working in low resource country context
Competencies:
- Teamwork
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- Communication
- Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
- Moving forward in a changing environment
Skills:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Use of Language Skills
Essential:
Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English
Remuneration and additional information
Remuneration
P4- Level (8,490Monthly rate)
Place of Assignment
Freetown, Sierra Leone, with in country field trips to Makeni, Bo, Kenema and Kono.
