JOB TITLE: Health Programme Officers (x 2)
COUNTRY: Sierra Leone
LOCATION: Koinadugu (1), Falaba (1)
CONTRACT DURATION: 5 months with possibility of extension based on funding and performance
REPORTS TO: DDM/HPM
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Community Mobilizers

General Description of GOAL’s Work in Sierra Leone

GOAL has been present in Sierra Leone since 1999, with an overall aim to contribute to poverty and vulnerability reduction through the implementation of integrated, multi-sectoral interventions, with a primary focus on improving Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent health (RMNCAH) specifically addressing teenage pregnancy. GOAL is also improving rural water supply, urban WASH focusing on faecal sludge management and promoting social inclusion, empowerment and the promotion of decent work through systems-based Programme approaches and community led social and behavioral change. GOAL currently operates in Western Area Urban (Freetown), Kambia, Bombali, Koinadugu, Moyamba and Kenema Districts, with funding from Irish Aid, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Union, Charity: Water and DFID.

 

General Description of the Programme

GOAL is implementing Community health programs to respond to the COVID 19 emergency as part of a consortium of Irish NGOs working in Sierra Leone with funds from the Irish Embassy. As part of this response, GOAL is leveraging other funding to implement Community Led Action Approach, which gives the community the opportunity to do their own analysis and propose local action that will help them to protect and keep their community safe. The CLA is currently being implemented in the Western Area Urban, Kenema, Karene, Koinadugu and Kambia as part of the response for COVID 19 and preparedness for EVD outbreak.

Quite recently with funds from Irish Aid GOAL is implementing an EVD preparedness project in border district as part of response to the EVD outbreak in Guinea.

GOAL with another funding from UNICEF will be leveraging on this initial fund to expand the EVD preparedness project to support community engagement in all chiefdoms in the 5 priority border districts of Kambia, Karene, Koinadugu, Falaba and Kenema.

Overview of the role:

The Health Programme Officer is responsible for supervising the rollout at the district and chiefdom level of the CLA approach supporting Community mobilizers  to facilitate the community Led Action (CLA) in all chiefdoms of  Kambia, Karene, Falaba, Koinadugu  and Kenema to conduct  triggering , follow up on community action planning  sessions and feedback & rumour tracking form from the community

 

Main responsibilities

Responsibility: support the DSMC to supervise the training and deployment of CLA community Mobilizers

Responsible 1:  Training of CLA Mobilizers

• Support the roll-out of the training for CMs.
• Work with the relevant logistic staff to plan and prepared for the training of the CMs.
• Develop and share a training plan with HPM/DDM, Safeguarding Focal person
• Raise the necessary request including floats, PRs etc in line with GOAL internal procedures.
• Support the DSMC to write training report not later than 5 working days after the training of the last cohort of CMS in assigned district and submit to the relevant supervisor.

 

Responsible 2:  Support the deployment of community mobilizers in assign district.

• Supervise the CMs conducting CLA community engagement.
• Work with CMs to conduct community mapping to determine the scope and coverage of each pair of community mobilizers.
• Support linkages between community mobilization and facility services
• Collect weekly report from CMs and work with DSMC to enter the data into comcare
• Prepare and submit CMs monthly stipend request based on the number mobilizers that worked for that month
• Provide emergency support to CMs as needed at community-level
• Help to link communities with services – ensure that referrals are made and services meet community expectations, and where they don’t share this feedback with service providers, response workers, CLA District Manager etc., and help improve services/advocate for improvements
• Work with the district Social Mobilization Coordinators supervise and oversee all aspects of the CLA project in designated district.
• Engage community leadership and key stakeholders to secure permission for the Programme to be implemented.
• Ensure that during the follow up period after the triggering, to integrate the follow up on non- COVID 19 and non-  EVD morbid conditions including ASRH

Reasonability 3:  Support monitoring and supervision of CMs activities in assign district

• • Support the DSMC to ensure that all reports are submitted and entered into comcare
  • Check-in with CMs weekly (minimum) to collect community and data, discuss what is working/not working, help problem-solve, and update skills as necessary.

• Compile community data and submit to district MEAL team as requested

• Foster and share good practices from one community to another and elevate innovative ideas from communities up through the CLA Programme and the national response
• Collect and submit high quality data used to monitor the progress of the project against set objectives and indicators
• Plan and undertake ongoing monitoring of project activities and share data with the MEAL team for analysis.
• Submit weekly, monthly and quarterly reports to the System Strengthening & inclusion Supervisor , Health Programme Managers or equivalent  and or other senior members of the health team as may be deemed necessary.

 

Responsibility 4:  Together with DSMC strengthened coordination of partners working on RCCE  

• Attend all trainings required to build your capacity as Health Program Officer.
• Support the DSMC to organize monthly meetings of partners implementing social mobilization activities in that district.
• Link up with other staff working on other project to organize meetings with Facility Management committees (FMCs) and Village Development Committees (VDCs)
• Properly file all field and project reports, plans and other documents in a well-organized manner that will ensure easy or user-friendly access to document as and when the need arises.
• Attend and actively participate in weekly or biweekly internal program review meetings.
• Establish and maintain excellent and professional working relationships with relevant district and community stakeholders, community groups, school/community authorities, PHU staff and any other body or individual that will be essential for the progress of the project activities.

 

Responsibility 5: Data collection and reporting

• Responsible for collecting and submit community level  project data collection using Android devices
• Responsible for verification of data collected from the field before imputing it into their Android devices.
• Installation of Comm Care into Android devices after training
• Daily update of Android devices when encountering problem of trouble shooting.
• Participate in data review conducted by GOAL MEAL and Health teams.

 

Safeguarding:

• Maintain safe working environment for all staff/beneficiaries.

• Ensure risk mitigation measures are in place and adhered to.
• Ensure staff/beneficiaries fully understand Safeguarding reporting procedures.
• Ensure Safeguarding measures are implemented within areas of responsibilities.
• Share training and other event plans with relevant Safeguarding Focal person
• Ensure do-no-harm to children and vulnerable adult we meet.
• Follow-up, and address, Safeguarding issues appropriately.
• Ensure the highest standards of child protection by abiding to GOAL’s Child Protection Policy and Code of behaviour. Sign and commit to GOAL’s Child Protection Code of behaviour.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the by the Health Programme Manager

 

Requirements (Person Specification)

Essential

Qualifications and Experience

• Diploma in public Health, Community Development studies  Sociology or any other health or development studies with at least 1-2-year experience working with International NGO in community health programmes.

• Experience in community mobilization and community participatory approach
• Experience facilitating community trainings and working with community structures
• Excellent written and communication skills
• Skills using Microsoft packages (word or excel) is essential

• Demonstrated experience in planning and scheduling community-based programmes.
• Willingness to spend most of her or his time in the field and also in remote hard to reach areas
• Ability to work with a diverse team.
• Ability and willingness to ride a motor bike in remote communities

Desirable

• Experience working in emergency programming is essential.
• Experience facilitating sessions with low literate or illiterate people.
• Ability to multi-task effectively. Strong logistics and organizational skills.
• Ability to quickly assess situations on the ground and solve problems creatively with limited resources and time
• Experience working with government institution especially the DHMT

 

OTHER:

•  Able and willing to travel in the field, including at short notice
• Proficiency in local language of the population GOAL serves

 

Accountability within GOAL

Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner

If you have these skills and are interested in joining our committed and dynamic  team, please send your cover letter and up-to-date CV to jobs@sl.goal.ie. on or before 5:30 pm – Tuesday 2nd August, 2022

 

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview.

 

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

 

GOAL provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, colour, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

 

“FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY”

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