Job Description

Job title:  Pediatric Clinical Officer

Work Location: Sierra Leone (based in Kono District)

Department:  Clinical

Reports to: Medical Director, PIH Sierra Leone

Line Management: No

Duration of Contract: Twelve (12) Months with possibility of extension   

Application Status:  External Advert

Organization Profile:

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.

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.

Position Overview:

PIH is seeking an experienced physician to help manage clinical programs at PIH-supported healthcare facilities in Sierra Leone. The Pediatrician will be based at the Koidu Government Hospital (KGH) in Kono District. He or she will work closely with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation on the development and implementation of work plans, medical education initiatives, and improving the quality of care. This individual will provide support to the Medical Director and other PIH leadership and advance PIH’s core mission of health systems strengthening in Sierra Leone.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical Supervision and Support 

• Serve as Koidu Government Hospital (KGH) Pediatric lead

• Complete daily rounds on general pediatric, pediatric emergency, nutritional center, and neonatology wards at KGH with medical officers, CHO and nursing staff

• Manage pediatric and neonatal cases according to national and international clinical guidelines

• Oversee the inpatient therapeutic feeding center and outpatient therapeutic feeding program

• Perform clinical teaching, mentorship and capacity building of clinicians through participation in district hospitals, outpatient clinics, community health clinics, case review, and other activities.

• Provide general support and supervision throughout the hospital, as needed 

• Pediatric wards, Neonatology, Nutrition Wards for clinical supervision

• Direct supervision for CHO rounding on pediatric and neonatal ward  

• Provide supervision to social workers, in conjunction with nursing department.

• Work in collaboration monthly and as needed with Medical Director/Nursing Director and Director of Operations on guiding KGH strategy.  

• As the KGH Pediatric Lead, serve as the point of contact for the following:

• Pharmacy and procurement: use Open Boxes on an as-needed basis to support interface between clinical and pharmacy teams for pediatric formulary. Attend weekly pharmacy meetings.

• Visitors and other meetings/events at KGH, as needed from senior management

• Referral team – supporting Director of Nursing and Social Work as needed for pediatric patients requiring referral for diagnostic or specialty services

Administration

• Attend weekly Clinical Ops Meetings at KGH 

• Attend KGH morning report

• Approve overtime sheets and vacation request for medical officers, CHOs and SWs

• Work closely with the PIH SL Medical Director, Nursing Director and Kono Leadership team on strategic planning and budgeting for our pediatric and malnutrition work.

• Work with the leadership team to contribute to grant proposals and reports to current and potential donors

Education

• Assist with and collaborate on supervision, mentoring, curriculum building and implementation/scheduling of nursing and CHO 

• Continue ongoing education curriculum for CHOs

• Provide bedside training for all cadres of staff

• Provide clinical accompaniment for KGH/MOHS medical officers

• Engage the general population and other stakeholders in improving and strengthening neonatal and child health 

• Lead by example, embodying the values of PIH, including: doing whatever it takes to provide the highest level of service to our patients; treating every member of our organization and community with equal respect and dignity; fostering a sense of generosity and teamwork; and working patiently, yet persistently, to accompany our government partners to achieve our shared goals.

• Innovation in improving quality of care including but not limited to new initiatives, quality improvement projects, researches, etc.

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.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• MD or equivalent medical training and board certification in a pediatric specialty required
• At least two years of clinical experience in a low-resource health care setting required
• Strong HIV/TB clinical and program management strongly preferred
• Experience in malnutrition management strongly preferred
• Experience in treating malaria and other tropical diseases preferred.
• Experience in neonatal health services
• A strong commitment to social justice and health as a human right is essential in all aspects of the leadership and management
• Ability to be flexible and effective in the face of unexpected challenges.
• Experience in public health is a plus.
• Exemplary interpersonal communication skills, verbal and written, required to effectively engage with senior leadership, partners, and clinicians on sensitive political and confidential issues. Ability to collaborate effectively with culturally diverse staff across departments and country.
• Evidence of providing culturally sensitive and competent quality care in an extremely stressful environment.
• Proven ability to exercise good judgment, demonstrate political astuteness, and tact.
• Prior experience working in resource poor settings.
• Sense of humor and flexible disposition very helpful.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and effective in the face of unexpected challenges as well as the willingness to accept a standard of living that is clean and comfortable but simple.
• Interest in social justice strongly desirable
• Ability to live in Sierra Leone full-time

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 Monday 27th June 2022