Vacancy Announcement: Health Policy Research Assistant VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT 

BACKGROUND 

Welbodi Partnership is a UK-registered charity working to reduce maternal and child mortality and  morbidity in Sierra Leone. Since 2008, Welbodi Partnership has worked in partnership with hospital  management, health facility staff, and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to improve maternal and  child health outcomes in Sierra Leone.




Our vision is that all women and children in Sierra Leone will have access to effective essential  healthcare services characterized by respect and dignity for all, including patients, communities and  staff. Our mission is to build the capacity of the health system in Sierra Leone to reduce the number of  women and children who are unwell, suffering, or dying unnecessarily.

We are involved in a range of health system strengthening activities, staff training, hospital  improvement projects, and community engagement, including a National Institution of Health Research  (NIHR) Group partnership with King’s College London, University of Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Health  and Sanitation and Lifeline Nehemiah Projects. This is a 3-year programme of work focused on the  development of simple, scalable innovations and research capacity building to improve maternal health.

For further information, please see: www.welbodipartnership.org 

ROLE PURPOSE 

This post holder will join Professor Shennan and Professor Gevao’s NIHR Maternal Health Research  Group, with the primary focus being to assist with development and delivery of a Policy Lab designed to  better understand enablers and barriers to implementation and uptake of the CRADLE Vital Sign’s Alert  device in recognition and management of women with high blood pressure in pregnancy, which is  currently the second leading cause of maternal death worldwide, including in Sierra Leone.

Vacancy Announcement: Health Policy Research Assistant

The NIHR Maternal Health Research Group (CRIBS) is funded by the Global Health Research strand of the  National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and aims to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in  Sierra Leone by developing and implementing life-saving maternal health interventions and building  research capacity. We have a number of experts in the field of maternal and child health and policy  across the UK and Sierra Leone in the group including Dr Harriet Boulding, Maternal & child health policy  specialist & Health Research Lead, King’s Policy Institute, who, along with the KCL research coordinator,  will support the successful applicant in their role.

The Research Assistant will assist in the development of briefing materials to be distributed to  stakeholders at the Policy Lab, as well as supporting logistical preparation and coordination of the Policy  Lab itself which will be a one day event during the week of March 6th 2023. This will involve a range of  activities, including Policy Lab stakeholder workshops, briefing papers, policy landscape mapping  exercises, gaining insight into individual research projects in the NIHR CRIBS Global Health Group, and  scoping and engaging with existing policy communities in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The Research Assistant will be involved in analysis of Policy Lab output and the role will provide  opportunities to apply existing research skills and develop new ones. Researchers in Policy apply a  variety of different qualitative and quantitative research methods, and stakeholder engagement  approaches, which cut across academic disciplines and policy domains. Applicants are not required to  be expert in these areas, but should be interested in and have an awareness of the breadth and range of  policy analysis methods and approaches.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 

Key responsibilities: 

∙ Work closely with the NIHR CRIBS Policy Lab team in design and delivery of the Policy Lab.

∙ Help facilitate and participate in stakeholder (government, policymakers, healthcare staff, and  communities) engagement activities to inform development of policy lab briefing papers. ∙ Assist with Policy Lab logistics (inviting participants, identifying suitable venue, design and  distribution of briefing papers.)

∙ Contribute to and develop skills in research, analysis and dissemination of policy lab output,  through different channels (e.g local meetings, social media blogs, radio broadcasts, websites,  academic meetings)

∙ Be a positive team member, by developing productive working relationships with others in the  NIHR CRIBS Global Maternal Health Group, and committing to the overall aim to improve  maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

Vacancy Announcement: Health Policy Research Assistant

Skills, knowledge, and experience:

Vacancy Announcement: Health Policy Research Assistant

GENERAL POLICIES PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES 

In addition to the key job responsibilities detailed in this job description all employees and volunteers at  Welbodi Partnership are expected to comply with the general duties outlined below and detailed in full  in our policies.

SAFEGUARDING 

Welbodi Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people  and vulnerable adults. All staff and volunteers are therefore expected to behave in such a way that  supports this commitment. Applicants for this position should be aware that if successful, they will be  requested to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, or equivalent in countries other  than the UK. The Welbodi Partnership complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice.

DATA PROTECTION 

Welbodi Partnership complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY 

Welbodi Partnership is committed to a comprehensive policy of Equal Opportunities in volunteering and  employment in which individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and  abilities and are given equal opportunities within the organisation. It is the Welbodi Partnership’s policy  as an employer to treat all people equally irrespective of race, ethnic origin, nationality, sex, marital or  parental status, gender, sexual orientation, creed, disability, age or political belief.

Vacancy Announcement: Health Policy Research Assistant JOB REVISION 

This job description should be viewed as a guide to the duties required and is not definitive or restrictive  in any way. The duties of the post may be varied from time to time in response to changing  circumstances.

SALARY/BENEFITS  

Based on job competency alignment to internal pay scales. The full remuneration package will be  discussed with shortlisted candidates.

APPLICATION PROCESS 

The closing date for applications is the 14th November 2022 – we encourage potential applicants to submit  as soon as possible.

To apply for this position please send your cover letter, CV and contact details of 3 referees in one email to  jobs@welbodipartnership.org using the following subject title: Application – Policy Research Assistant.  For any queries relating to the position, please email jobs@welbodipartnership.org.