Description
GOAL is seeking an Infection Control Specialist with expertise in infectious disease specific outbreak response measures to work as part of its Ebola Response team in Sierra Leone. The post holder will in particular provide oversight to ensure that all infection control measures are in place as per protocols in the Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) in port Loko and will also ensure that GOAL is continuing to monitor the outbreak in the surrounding community and ensuring that the GOAL response is linked in to evolving trends in the outbreak in the surrounding community.
Duties and Responsibilities
Epidemiology and Surveillance:
- Apply epidemiologic principles and statistical methods, to analyze trends and risk factors, in the Port Loko community for Ebola transmission.
- Conduct on-going surveillance of the outbreak and report on disease trends and outcomes in the ETC facility and at community level.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the ongoing surveillance plan and modify as necessary.
- Make recommendations on how GOAL can ensure that the ETC is linked in with relevant community response mechanisms around Ebola.
- Document key issues in relation to trends in the outbreak in the surrounding community as well as lessons learnt and or positive practices innovations both within the ETC and at community level.
- Ensure that there is a link between the ETC and community leaders in order to promote acceptance and understanding of the role of the ETC within the community.
Infection Control in the ETC
- Ensure that infection control protocols and SOPs are in place in the ETC and that these are updated regularly.
- Working closely with ETC trainers ensure that trainings are regular and appropriate
- Plan and oversee risk assessments for all cadres of staff working the ETC and in the community
- Provide advice to burial teams on how they can ensure minimal risk of infection in the community and promote community acceptance of their work.
- Participate in quality/performance improvement activities by assessing, monitoring, and measuring infection control standards on an ongoing basis and working with the overall ETC manager to ensure that all staff are familiar with relevant protocols and SOPs.
- Ensure that any near misses or sub-optimal practices are documented as part of ongoing risk management and that identified issues are addressed immediately.
- Ensure that weekly Infection Control Meetings are in place for the senior management team of the ETC, the Infection Control Specialist will also be responsible for ensuring that any agreed improvements are put in place or that protocols are updated as agreed from these meetings.
- Serve as a knowledgeable and available resource on infection control practices and policies to families of patients, clinical staff, community leaders and GOAL support staff.
Ebola Testing Laboratory
- Ensure that laboratory testing and sample transportation procedures are in line with agreed protocols.
- Ensure that Laboratory testing procedures are regularly updated and revised.
- Ensure that the training for laboratory staff on testing techniques and infection control is appropriate and best practice.
- Ensure that appropriate record keeping is in place in the laboratory and that testing reports are in place and being shared with relevant partners as required.
Requirements
- Higher level degree in infection control, public health or epidemiology
- Experience of working with communities on disease surveillance and or outbreak investigation.
- At least 5+ years working in the area of infection control and disease surveillance with ideally some of this time spent overseas in a development country or humanitarian context.
- Experience of staff training in infection control and of development of Infection Control protocols.
