Health Outreach Officer - MMC/Jere at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Sector: Health

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damatru of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods

Job Overview/Summary

The Health Outreach Officer is responsible for patient care at the mobile clinics and overseeing the mobile clinic activities in MMC Jere LGA, Borno State. She/he is also responsible for ensuring adherence to the implementation of program activities according to proposal and nationally accepted standards. The Clinical Health Officer reports to the Health Manager.

Major Responsibilities

Program Implementation, Technical Quality, and Strategy

• Provides accurate diagnosis, treatment and management of patients in a primary health care setting. Using  standard national or internationally 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 behaviour 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 facility.
• 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 hospital/IPD.
• For new location: Liaise with local leaders and other partners in identifying new mobile clinic site and sensitize community on project implementation.

Human Resource Management

• Supervise and monitor Community health volunteers in the community.
• Develop and conduct training for the mobile clinic staff and community volunteers on clinical care, infection prevention and control, pillars of safe motherhood, infant and young child feeding practices, general child care and hygiene promotion.

Operations:

• Maintain an updated record and compile and submit monthly reports of all services given.
• Monitor and ensure the proper usage of pharmaceutical and other health program supplies.
• Prepare weekly work plans and ensure timely implementation of the project activities.
• As team lead, maintain vigilance and monitor surroundings for security of the mobile team on site and adhere to IRC’s safety and security protocols.

Communication and Reporting:

• Support Health Manager in compiling statistical reports from the mobile clinics for submission weekly, monthly and annually.
• Ensure adequate flow of information for all supervises 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 mainly maternal mortality ratio, neonatal mortality ratio, and community population coverage.
• 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.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to:  Health Manager
• Indirect/Technical Reporting:  Health Coordinator
• Position directly Supervises: Health assistants, incentive workers, community volunteers

Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program: 
• Region/Global:

Key External Contacts: 

• MOH, other INGO (e.g. referral partners), Community leaders

Qualifications

Education:

• Diploma in Nursing/ clinical health officer
• Must possess the practicing license or qualifying certificate.
• BSc in Nursing, certificate in reproductive health or nutrition is an added advantage.

 Work Experience:

• Two to three years’ experience in clinical medicine or public health.
• Proven experience in community based programming with the ability to motivate and lead community volunteers.
• Ability to work with displaced communities with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Experience in working in a team and able to lead a team.

Demonstrated Technical/Leadership/interpersonal Skills:

• Good knowledge of clinical care especially at the PHC setting.
• Good communication skills.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the social, political and ethical issues surrounding program delivery
• Ability to work well with others and to respect staff, subcontractors, consultants and recipients of assistance.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.
• Good sense of integrity, service and accountability.

Languages: 

• Fluent in written/spoken English and Hausa
• Ability to speak local languages (Kanuri, Shuwa etc.) will be added advantage.

 Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. 

Standards of Professional Conduct The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Working Environment

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.