Primary Healthcare Coordinator at Save The Children

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

With guidance from the Health and Nutrition Manager, the Primary Healthcare Coordinator will lead the Yobe field office health teams in implementing health programs with a focus on IMCI, SRH, and NCD with a comprehensive community-level health engagement. The technical guidance will be provided in accordance with Nigeria's national guidelines. The Primary Healthcare Coordinator will make frequent field visits to the field sites to ensure the highest standards of service delivery. S/he will ensure high-quality clinical services in all SC-supported health facilities. S/he will monitor service quality, ensure all staff are trained, and well supported, pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies are properly managed, and apply clinical level data to national level quality improvement efforts. This role will also involve representation of the organization in various forums including Health Sector Working Groups, consortium partners, SMOH, SPHCMB, State Hospital Management Board, and LGA authority. 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

This post focuses on emergency/humanitarian programming and is not limited to any project. The position holder will be expected to contribute to SCI’s dual mandate and support as needed.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Program Development

• Establish and build capacity of the field-based health staff in prioritized health interventions within SC programs.
• Work with the Health and Nutrition Manager in strategic planning for future health programs
• Work with the Health and Nutrition Manager, New Business Development, and Program Operations team to draft concepts and proposals for future funding following protocols and formats of each relevant donor
• Work with the Health and Nutrition Manager to ensure that field-based health teams integrate different health-related sectors (mental health, nutrition, and GBV) into the proposed program

Program support

• Manage and coordinate all activities under the health component across the implementation areas 
• Lead the development of project implementation tools e.g DIP, BvA
• Facilitate the implementation of monthly work plans for health programs in liaison with field-based health staff
• Support in organizing and coordinating technical review meetings with field-based staff on a quarterly basis
• Participate in relevant monthly technical working group meetings scheduled by MOH.
• Ensures quality clinical consultations, treatment, referral, and follow-up activities follow the National and WHO protocols
• Work closely with the health team in the field to improve routine EPI in the catchment areas by building their capacities.
• Monitor and promote the integration of health and nutrition activities for maximum impact
• Facilitate collaboration and integration between Health, Nutrition, WASH, and FSL in project development and implementation
• Support health-related operational research as required
• In collaboration with field-based health and MEAL team contribute to documentation and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices
• Work in collaboration with field-based health teams in the development of case studies and success stories on a monthly basis
• Work closely with field-based health teams and ensure quality benchmarks are utilized in service delivery
• Contribute to the achievement of CO health-related KPI

 Advocacy and coordination

• Representation of SCI in relevant platforms as delegated by the Health and Nutrition Manager (Child Health Technical Working Group, Vaccination platforms, COVID-19, Emergency responders, and others)
• Represent the organization to the UN, health cluster, international and national NGOs, and Ministry of Health at health coordination meetings as well as other meetings that are relevant to country programs and enhance the organizations' visibility
• Participate in SC regional and global technical meetings focusing on child survival, maternal newborn health, adolescent health, clinical governance, and all relevant Community of Practice meetings.
• Ensure appropriate and consistent health-related education and advocacy messaging to key actors including donors, Cluster, SCI staff, partners, mothers, and other carers at all programming contact points. 

Training and capacity building

• Provide technical guidance on child health, adolescent health, maternal and newborn health to MOH facility staff, SCI field office clinical staff, and partners
• Participate in training to improve medical performance for SCI staff and/or partners
• Build capacity among SCI and partner staff to accurately compile monthly activity reports and, together with medical logistic staff, assist with stock consumption/distribution plans.
• Provide technical guidance to field-based health staff on clinical governance tools for clinical service delivery
• Work with and liaise with field-based health teams in conducting monthly and quarterly assessments in the facilities utilizing the approved checklists
• Facilitate supportive supervision of field-based health teams in collaboration with relevant government stakeholders
• Facilitate and lead in the quarterly assessments of clinical services using the approved clinical quality scorecard

Quality Assurance, Performance management, and capacity building

• Work with the MEAL team to develop and operationalize quality benchmarks including beneficiary feedback mechanisms and accountability to the communities, being mindful of cultural norms and practices
• Work with the lead clinical supervisor to ensure that there is a Quality Assurance Scorecard system in place to monitor and course correct practices, as needed. ·
• Create and maintain a positive working relationship with the health team as well as partner staff
• Assist in the selection and training of qualified program health staff.
• Ensure professional development for national health staff through assessment of training needs and capacity-building activities. 
• Work closely with the health teams to determine the training needs of the medical staff.
• Overseeing training of all MOH healthcare staff, including Doctors, nurses, midwives, and other technical staff to ensure that the provided training is of acceptable quality and addresses the identified needs and to ensure the sustainability of programs

Health Information Management

• work with field-based HMIS officers in timely reporting of data into the national health management system DHIS2 on a monthly basis
• work with the MEAL team to develop performance trends for key service delivery performance indicators
• facilitate data review meetings with health teams in reviewing periodic progress against prioritized key performance indicators in child health, maternal newborn health, adolescent health, and disease surveillance

Other

• The post holder may be responsible for additional tasks and duties as and when required to support the overall Country Programme, and regional and head office priorities.

Qualification and Experience 

Essential

• Medical doctor or public health specialist (with clinical background)
• At least 5 years experience in primary health care and general practice.
• Previous supervisory experience and experience managing budget
• Work experience in humanitarian emergencies
• Work experience with International Non–Governmental Organization ((INGO)

Desirable

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work as part of a team and demonstrate flexibility, motivation, and maturity
• Ability to work within a tight timeframe,
• Willingness to travel extensively in the field.
• English language skills
• Good knowledge of quality standards and quality controls related to medical practice.
• Experience in nutrition project data management and CMAM programming
• Having an operational experience will be a plus advantage.

Skills 

• Demonstrable experience in M&E 
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proven conceptual skills and an ability to think and plan strategically
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to train and mentor staff
• Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload
• Excellent spoken and written English and local language (Northeast of Nigeria)
• Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word, and databases)