Community Based Maternal And Child Care Nurse – Partners in Health

Job Description

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE:

Partners in Health (PIH) is a non-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. Through service delivery, training, advocacy and research, PIH works globally to bring the benefits of modern science to those most in need and to serve as an antidote to despair. PIH has programs in Haiti, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Kazakhstan and Boston.

PIH began working in Malawi in 2007, where today we support the Ministry of Health (MOH) to serve a catchment area of 165,000 through 12 health centers and two hospitals in partnership with our sister organizations. Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (APZU) has its headquarters in Neno District with operations across the country.

We therefore seek to recruit suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the following position:

Position : COMMUNITY BASED MATERNAL AND CHILD CARE NURSE
Reports to : Maternal & Child Health Program Manager
Commitment: Full Time (Monday-Friday)
Working Hours : Regular Office Hours (40Hrs/Week)
Location: Neno District, Malawi

Position Summary

The Community-Based Maternal and Child Care Nurse (CBMCC) is a key member of the clinical team for APZU with primary responsibilities around delivery of direct nursing care in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in the Neno District.

The Community-Based Maternal and Child Care Nurse will work collaboratively with PIH clinical and community health departments, and the Ministry of Health Nursing/Midwifery and Environmental Health departments in the District. He/she will work in a community setting, providing quality nursing/ midwifery care and health education right in the community. He/ she will be responsible for the health of pregnant and postpartum clients and their babies in the district through home visiting services together with the MOH Community Health Nurses and Community Midwives Assistants. The Nurse will use the standards of practice for community health nurses and assigned program models as guidelines to practice. This role will focus on quality of care, teaching the Community Midwife Assistants and Community Health Nurses, mentorship and coaching with support of all nurses in APZU and MOH in continuous professional development. He/ she will be the focal point for running quality community-based maternal and new-born healthcare services to mothers and neonates in the district. In collaboration with MOH, he/she will be responsible for overseeing immunization coverage, Under-five Outreach and Nutrition programs in the district. He/she will coordinate the APZU nutrition program and also work closely with M&E to digitise program monitoring tools, to bring innovations that will improve PHC program implementation and most importantly, work to improve performance on key MCH and PHC indicators for Neno. He/she will work to create a professional environment, fostering a culture of excellence, performance and professionalism where nurses are positioned to make a solid contribution to APZU’s and MOH’s program outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

A. Community Based Maternal and Child Health Care Delivery Services, Mentorship & Accompaniment 70%

• Work with HSAs and the relevant MOH program coordinators to provide high quality Community Based Maternal and Child health care services right in the communities.
• Mentor Community Midwife Assistants (СМА).
• Use the nursing process to deliver individualized client care by means of home and outreach visits.
• Provide professional Community Health nursing services in areas such as Maternal, Neonatal, Child, Family Health and family planning services in Neno district.
• In collaboration with IDSR MOH focal person, support surveillance and reporting of disease outbreaks of epidemic importance.
• Use the community wheel of assessment model to diagnose community health problems and assist in planning and operating outreach clinics as needed.
• Provide ongoing case management to at-risk clients such as pregnant clients and high-risk infants.
• As part of case management functions, observes family dynamics as well as assesses food, shelter and transportation needs.
• Actively provide leadership oversight on the operations of the village health clinics in communities of Neno District. Regularly review processes and the general implementation of these clinics and devise means of optimizing their performance and integration with other relevant services making sure the clinics are meeting their intended objectives
• In collaboration with MoH EPI focal person, support immunization campaigns and coverage in Neno district Actively monitor all key immunization indicators and ensure that the district is achieving its set targets
• In collaboration with Community Based Distribution Agents (CBDA) and evidence from district performance data, support and strengthen provision and uptake of family planning methods especially long acting methods in communities of Neno District.
• Participate in epidemiological disease surveillance in homes, schools, or other locations in the community; order immunizations and tests as needed and make recommendations to prevent and control the spread of disease.
• Support Screening for Health and Referrals at Community (SHARC) events and organize similar events for APZU staff and Health Centers.
• Set personal/group schedule for outreach clinics, track clients who are often very difficult to find, and perform visits on a drop-in basis if needed.
• Work with Neno District SGBV taskforce and the health centre SGBV task force teams to support and link survivors to appropriate services.
• Oversee the implementation of the plan through treatment, case management, referrals to community partners, collaboration with community resources, health promotion and education.
• Work with the Village health teams, HSAs and APZU nutrition coordinator to ensure timely detection,
  management and referrals of malnutrition clients from community to health facilities.
• Identify training needs for community health staff and plan trainings accordingly.
• Work in collaboration with the communications section to develop and implement social and behavior change initiatives for APZU.

B. Management and Leadership (10%)

• Participates in strategic planning, and educational activities as assigned for the department.
• Ensure health programs utilize standardized protocols, policies, and guidelines according to the Ministry of Health and other applicable institutions.
• Takes part in budget and Operational planning for nursing department.
• Prepare annual work plans and provide timely program reports
• Work with the clinical team to support, plan, and monitor PHC programs in Neno district
• Support decentralization efforts of APZU innovations and programs to PHC facilities.
• Actively prepare for all meetings. Actively participate in all meetings, capture key action points related to your role/ section and address them.

C. Monitoring and Evaluation and Quality Improvement (20%)

• Attain a deep understanding of the program performance indicators that are related to your role and ensure these are well understood by all your team members under you and ensure that all activities/initiatives implemented have a clear way in which they contribute to the attainment of these indicators.
• Work with M&E and HMIS to ensure timely reporting of data into DHIS 2.
• Participate in the designing of the program’s M&E plans and design/adapt the required tools for program documentation.
• Conduct monthly review of all program’s epidemiological data, including appropriate analysis and develop monthly reports, while ensuring monthly submission of the report.
• Collect comprehensive data related to the health of the population served. Document assessment data in a manner understandable to all involved in the care process
• Participate in and lead quality improvement measures through implementation of specific initiatives or the use of continuous feedback mechanisms. Ensure that all implementation gaps and challenges are identified and addressed in an effective and timely manner
• Conduct PHC facility data review meetings and support health centres to design QI initiatives to improve ANC booking of pregnant women in the first trimester.
• Any other duties as assigned from time to time.

Required Qualifications and Attributes

Technical Competencies

1. Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and Midwifery with at least 5 years’ experience in Maternal and Newborn Health or Community Health Nursing with at least 3 years’ experience in community health nursing.
2. Postgraduate experience in public health or Epidemiology or Health Systems Management is an added advantage
3. If Malawian, active registration with the Nurses & Midwives Council of Malawi by the time of the agreed-to job start date.
4. Fluent in English and demonstrated proficiency in writing in English
5. Computer literate including Microsoft Office Suite

Behavioural Competencies

• Demonstrated passion for strengthening the health system in Malawi
• Proven skills in managing change, achieving results, ensuring quality, and building capacity
• Ability to critically think, analyse data and situations and come up with solutions that are implemented to the end Demonstrates leadership experience and capabilities
• Must have exceptional interpersonal communication skills to interact and provide feedback to senior leaders, fellow clinicians and other health care staff on sensitive and
  confidential issues.
• Ability to work well in a dynamic team environment alongside health workers, support staff and patients from a variety of backgrounds.
• A strong interest in hands on community nursing care delivery and for delivering compassionate nursing care to patients
• Willingness to live in a remote area and travel to the field regularly
• Ability to work beyond office hours with little notice is expected.

Benefits & Remuneration

An attractive remuneration package will be offered to the successful candidates commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Qualified and interested persons should apply strictly to the email address below, enclosing their cover letter; copies of relevant certificates and Curriculum Vitae indicating three names of traceable referees with valid telephone numbers and email addresses not later than Friday, 25th October, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Email: apzuhr@pih.org with the title of the position indicated on the subject of the email addressing;

The Director of Human Resources and Administration
Partners In Health/Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (PIH/APZU)
P.O. Box 56
NENO

NB: Partners In Health/Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (PIH/APZU) is is an equal opportunity employer, so, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, tribe, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment.

Partners In Health/Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (PIH/APZU) is committed to safeguarding staff, children and communities with whom we work with. 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 are protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. Therefore, any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of applicable background checks.

The Organisation does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. If you are asked to make a payment at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact vgondwe@pih.org and speakup@pih.org.