Job Vacancies @ Partners in Health (PIH) – 2 Positions (Sierra Leone)

Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health center and to referral hospitals.

Partners In Health (PIH) is recruiting to fill the following positions:

1.) Health Statistics Manager
2.) Community Health Worker

See job details and how to apply below.

1.) Health Statistics Manager

Position Overview

The Health Statistics Manager will be reporting to the Senior Grant Reporting Analyst. S/he  will be responsible for the operationalization of the organization strategic vision for reinforcing its health information system comprises of health statistics, data management and programs’ design, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning (DMERL). In this position, the HS Manager will be in charge to supervise a composite team of archivists, data clerk, data officers, data managers, M&E officers, M&E coordinators. To be efficient in this work, the HS Manager will work closely with the programs’ managers and the SHIS Lead, to receive strategic guidance to better align the annual operational plan. The HSM will develop strong collaboration with relevant entities at MoHS and DMHTs to ensure internal compliance with national requirements and provide strong support in improving the data management in Kono District.Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Team Management

• Promote wellness-informed environment to ease and improve staff productivity and performance
• Organize teamwork in a way to provide opportunities for individual growth,
• Manage with efficacy all allocated resources (human, logistics, financial,…)  to the health statistics team
• Provide performance management support and professional development plans for each staff member to increase team’s motivation, capacity, and performance
• Prepare an annual workplan, at the end of each fiscal year aligned with PIH SL strategic plan.
• Submit monthly SIP report.

Strengthening Health Information System

• Oversee and control the data management cycle: From form design to reporting and dissemination.
• At all PIH Supported facilities, ensure the data management system is aligned with clinical and patient workflows and design quality improvement interventions if necessary.
• Create and Lead the Form Committee to strengthening data governance and management along with quality assurance across PIH SL-supported sites
• Ensure consistent and continuous compliance with national, and international standards (M&E, Health Statistics, data management …)
• Develop and maintain strong and sustainable inter-service collaboration by gathering regular feedback and assessing their needs (forms alteration or KPI updates,…) along with performing internal data/information quality audits
• Plan and Coordinate capacity building sessions in health information systems’ essential elements for our internal stakeholders.
• Develop, on an annual basis, activities and interventions based on the SHIS’ Health Information System Strengthening Plan (Pix2Pic), its strategic plan and PIH SL overall strategic plan
• Manage PIH SL design, monitoring and evaluation, reporting and learning system with the support of other SHIS key stakeholders
• Develop and maintain policies and procedures which enable optimal privacy and security for  paper-based and electronic patients records
• Develop and maintain routine data quality control plan for each PIH-SL supported-health facilities for continuously improve their data management system
• Collaborate with other managers at SHIS and other identified stakeholders to strengthening the health information system at PIH SL.
• Receive regular feedback from the SHIS Lead and proceed accordingly.

Data Governance and Use

• • Serve as active member of PIH SL Data and Information Governance Committee (DIGC) Committee, serves as key data analytics resources for quality improvement projects
  • Serve as active member of PIH SL Form Committee.
  • Compulsory participation in 3-5 research projects and/or quality improvements initiatives led by the clinical team within a calendar year.
  • Coordination and submission of at least two (2) health statistics-related research or data quality improvement initiative during one calendar year to the SHIS Lead
  • Collaborate strongly with the eHealth team in the data warehouse design and implementation
• Represent the Health Statistics team at internal, national, regional and international conferences, summits.
• Lead ad hoc data analysis (originated from data requests) and special projects as determined by the SHIS Lead or the SMT
• Develop and maintain communication plan along with a  data/information dissemination plan
• Participate in national technical forums, working groups, and meetings at a national level that foster health information system conversation
• Develop activities/interventions based on the SHIS Data Use Improvement framework.

The HSM will also

• With the support of key stakeholders, develop and upatedMCOE’s health information systems considering their reporting requirements and their connection with the existing HIS.
• Use the eHealth mapping model to translate stakeholders reporting requirement into software requirements for our digital health system
• Develop and sustain a usable and comprehensive Health statistics dashboard (PowerBI preferred) for these audiences: SHIS, SMT, Clinical teams.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and HarassmentAt Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partners In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.  By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures

Education and Work Experience Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, M&E, biostatistics, health information management, or other related fields.
• Proven skills in Data management and in design, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning.
• Minimum 5 years professional experience working in health information system managing multidisciplinary teams developing and using different health information platforms.
• High level of skills in using data management systems and at least one statistical software packages such as Excel, Stata, R Statistics, etc. Familiarity with data aggregation and visualization tools such as Power BI, DHIS2, etc.
• Good understanding and familiarity mHealth or ODK platforms such as CommCare, KoboKollect; and sufficient knowledge about and exposure to projects that have used GIS component…
• Familiarity with Microsoft Visio or any workflow design software.
• Strong experience and skills in both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods
• Experience developing training materials, conducting workshops and other capacity building activities
• Ability to mentor and manage individuals with diverse educational, professional and cultural backgrounds
• Strong written and spoken English skills and ability to communicate clearly with a variety of stakeholders
• Excellent communication and training facilitation skills
• Excellent organizational skills and impeccable attention to details
• Ability to organize daily teamwork with efficacy
• Work experience in resource-limited settings and/or rural areas
• Willingness to live in a remote site and travel regularly within the country

Behavioral Competencies 

• Professional – resourceful problem-solver, adapts well to changing priorities and demands, able to work well with ambiguity
• Interpersonal skills – able to communicate effectively, active listener, highly collaborative, and provides constructive feedback empathic, culturally competent with an adequate awareness of one’s heuristic and cognitive biases.
• Detail oriented – strong attention to detail and commitment to getting it right, delivering polished, high-quality deliverables with minimal oversight
• Ethical – Demonstrated alignment with and commitment to the health information professionals’ code of ethics; data and information governance policies along with a natural passion for strengthening strategic health information system in Sierra Leone.

Social Justice

We are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.

Method of application

Interested candidates are required to apply through our website: www.pih.org/employment.   In your application, please ensure to include names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) referees not later than 12:00pm GMT (Midnight) on Thursday, 13th September, 2022.

2.) Community Health Worker

Position Overview

The home based care community health worker has a big role to play in supporting patients and communities, including: educating patients and community members, providing psychological and social support, serving as the link between the clinic and the community, and performing home visits. He/she works as part of a large clinical team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers. A CHW should seek information from other team members when necessary. He/she notices the needs of his/her patients, patients’ families, and other community members and makes referrals to appropriate clinic staff when necessary.  It is important to record information accurately on the CHW’s Form

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Increase level of awareness about TB/HIV and available services with the aim of addressing stigma through the community sensitization activities to leaders, community members, etc

• Contact tracing (social and household contacts), screening and referral of presumptive TB cases to DOT sites for diagnosis and communicate test results to patients with in three days.

• Follow up patients in their respective homes, through home visits and ensure patients education on side effects, TB and HIV issues, adherence counselling and prevention including community ART refills

• Tracing of patients who have interrupted treatment, defaulters and bringing them back into care in collaboration with in-charges at DOT/ART sites

• Refer / Escort TB and HIV patients on treatment for follow – up medical appointments including sputum smears, Gene x-pert, collection of medication, viral load testing and CD4 count tests and adverse side effects

• Collect and label all specimen alongside with traditional healers and transport specimen to DOT Sites with                 support from field supervisors.

• Collaborate with CISMATs CTAs and Lab technicians for smooth running of the program.

• Receive referrals from traditional healers with proper documentation

• Use Commcare and forms for data collection when doing home visit, sync Commcare data and submit forms (Referral Tickets, Contact Tracing Forms and Treatment Calendar) at any giving time.

• Update patient’s information into Commcare when there are changes with Age, medication, Pregnancy status etc for quality data collection.

• Work closely with EHealth team and CHW Operation and Training Coordinator.

• Work closely with HIV/ TB Clinicians, facility officers, in- charges at DOT /ART sites for quality care of all HIV and TB patients.

• Maintain patient’s confidentiality and be empathetic toward patients and families. .

• Work closely with Acute Need Program staff to address the social needs of vulnerable HIV/TB Patients.

• Attend all meetings and trainings organized by the Community Based Program and HIV/TB clinical team.

• Abide by all policies and protocols set forth by the National Leprosy and TB Control Program, National Aids Control Program and Partners In Health (PIH).

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment

At Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partners In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.  By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Education and Work Experience Requirements 

• Preferably must have completed BECE or high school certificate (WASSCE).

• Commitment to social justice and human right.
• Should be an exemplary, honest, trustworthy, and respectful.
• Must be able to read and write in English as well as add and subtract using basic maths.
• Should be willing, able, and motivated to serve his/her community and dedicated to caring and supporting TB and HIV patients, family members and the community at large.
• Must be a permanent resident of the community and willing to work in it.
• Should be able to perform specified CHW tasks as outlined in the scope of work
• Should be interested in community health and development
• Should be a good mobilizer and communicator
• Should be involved in community projects in the past
• Must be at least 18 years’ old

Must be residing in the community in which they are serving

Social Justice

We are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.Method of application

Interested candidates are required to apply through our website: www.pih.org/employment.   In your application, please ensure to include names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) referees not later than 12:00pm GMT (Midnight) on Thursday, 13th September, 2022.