Reproductive & Child Health Job Vacancy, Wednesday 1, February 2012

DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION American Refugee Committee (ARC) maintains and strengthens a healthy and safe environment for refugee women, children, and families. Services provided include: access to comprehensive, quality primary health care and to gender based violence (GBV) prevention/response services, training, and refugee/community capacity building and integration. The project focuses on: health and nutritional needs for pregnant women and children under 5; increasing community awareness, treatment and prevention of disease; strengthening GBV prevention; and income generation capacity to meet community and individual needs.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION To reduce—or, where appropriate, maintain current levels of--morbidity and mortality among refugees in recipient-serviced camps in Thailand. To strengthen the health of the refugees, particularly of women and children. This position exists because women and children are vulnerable groups and need focused services. The strategy is to achieve this by training refugee staff, who provide the actual services and take care of their own community.

MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Conduct initial and in-service training: • RCH-CHE assistant coordinator • RCH-CHE managers/supervisors • coordinate the training for integration of RCH and CHE, CHE training, CHE activities, and community liaison • training to replace staff who resettle or resign • RCH staff (theoretical, practical, and clinical skills) • midwives and traditional birth attendants (TBA) • technical health and capacity-building skills • supervise other staff in planning and conducting training • develop system of ongoing apprentices to transfer and develop supervisor skills • supervision, leadership, management, problem solving, coordination, decision making, community development, meeting skills, training skills • use Primary Health Care Management Advancement Program (PHCMAP) modules for staff training wherever appropriate

Develop, implement, and evaluate maternal health services, including: • ante-natal services • community care, home visits, and follow-up • attended delivery by trained birth attendants/midwives • post-natal care • family planning • nutrition

Develop, implement, and evaluate child health services, including: • screening and growth monitoring • examination • immunizations • supplementary feeding and nutrition counseling • use of “Road to Health” cards • follow-up and home visits • registers and records

Develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive family planning services, including: • community education and counseling • referral for bilateral tubal ligation and vasectomy

Develop, implement, and evaluate reproductive health services, including: • sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, recognition, and referral • prevention and management of sexual violence • maternal care and assessment • care or referral of obstetric emergencies

Develop, document, and implement written protocols and standard operating procedures for: • maternal health • reproductive health • sexually transmitted infection (STI) • safety regarding HIV/AIDS in RCH procedures • Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) • child health • standard supply lists, inventory, program administration, etc. • community health education

Develop, implement, and evaluate community health education: • endemic health problems & disease outbreak surveillance/management • hygiene • nutrition • education to support other programs • demographics • assessments and surveys • screening of new arrivals

Collect statistics and complete reports promptly: • develop, use, and incorporate logical frameworks into project activities and reporting

Coordinate planning, resources, and activities with other ARC staff: • standard supply lists • standard operating procedures • training curriculum development • program integration • share technical and training resources with the other RCH-CHE coordinator • microenterprise development, e.g. in weaving and sewing • miscellaneous program or administrative activities

Miscellaneous: • Maintain an inventory of project supplies. • Adhere to established safety/security policies and procedures. • Adhere to prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation code of conduct, sexual misconduct policy, and consensual relationships policy. • Other tasks as assigned by the field coordinator.

EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED • Minimum 2 years international experience implementing programs in emergency and post conflict environments (e.g., community development experience; volunteer organization experience; refugee experience). • Minimum 3 years experience as certified nurse/midwife, with midwifery training. • Nursing certification (RN). • MPH or public health experience preferable (2 years). • Immunization experience (2 years). • Fluency in English.

KEY BEHAVIORS & ABILITIES • Ability to train refugees with little education and no health experience to be midwives. • Ability to supervise refugee midwives to improve their competency and skills continually. • Ability to develop leadership skills in refugee supervisory staff. • Ability to provide leadership in improving/organizing resources and programs. • Ability to work with low technology health care and public health. • Ability to work in a team: coordination, communication, and interpersonal skills. • Ability to work and live in uncomfortable conditions. • Ability to create programs and work independently.

How to apply: 

For full job description and the online application form, please visit our website at http://www.arcrelief.org and click on Careers. All positions open until filled.