Clinical Officer at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary

The Clinical Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation and delivery of quality Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) services in Gwoza LGA. He /She will provide technical support for medical consultation, outreach EPI, health/ nutrition education, sanitation and child health as per standard protocols/ guidelines. He/ She is expected to provide supervision, technical assistance, build the capacity of program staff and all OTP-related reporting

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

• Collaborate with other team members for effective integration between other services like Nutrition and health services
• Collaborate with Local authorities and other partners to harmonize different efforts for better impact and sustainability.
• Able to learn and update his/ her information or knowledge to adapt to the changing situation and context

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Coordinate and facilitate implementation of OTP services, site selection and prepare weekly movement plan.
• Ensure that mobile/ outreach OTP sites have all the nutrition and medical supplies, tools/ items necessary for the management of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition.
• Provide basic health services including consultations for SAM cases, emergency services, referrals, health education, and EPI as per standard guidelines.
• Ensure admitted SAM patients receive necessary routine medication, immunization is up to date, and health and nutrition education given.
• Ensure admission and discharge criteria for SAM patients are respected as per the national CMAM guidelines.
• Ensure referral of children with complicated SAM to SC and those with MAM are referred to TSFP for appropriate nutrition care.
• Facilitate training and closely work with MOH staff at Health centres within the catchment areas.
• Organize daily, weekly and monthly overviews and reports of consultations, EPI and health education.
• Ensure referral system and linkage between SC, OTP and TSFP services at the community and at the health facility level.
• Adherence to medical and nutritional treatment protocols and procedures for children and infants.
• Participate in capacity-building training, health education sessions and IEC/BCC application.
• Follow up absentees/defaulters and keep a current record of both beneficiaries and the staff.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Makes sure that team participate in the daily routine work for sustainability and smooth phase-out strategy.
• Provide on-the-job training and capacity building for OTP staff with support and liaison with the line manager.
• Supports the integration of program activities with those implemented at Health Facilities in the catchment areas, through regular liaison, information sharing and on-the-job training and supervision.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Train and support community nutrition Monitors and make sure they transmit/convey messages clearly to the community.
• Creates and maintain relationships with local health and other authorities to link services with the existing health structure smoothly,
• Upholds the image and values of Mercy Corps at all times,

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Mobile/ Outreach OTP team

Knowledge and Experience

• BSc. in nursing or medicine with a minimum of two years’ work experience in an NGO environment in clinical setups.
• Previous experience treating patients with severe acute malnutrition is a MUST.
• Familiarity with the intervention areas.
• Microsoft Office Skills (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Willing and able to be based within remote areas, where services are limited.
• Fluency in Hausa, Kanuri and English.