Position: Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Mentor
Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Start Date:January 1st 2015
Duration: 6-12 months
BACKGROUND: Welbodi Partnership (WP) is a UK-registered charitable organisation based at the Ola During Children’s Hospital (ODCH) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. For the past five years, Welbodi has worked towards improved paediatric care in the Western Area of Sierra Leone through hospital system development, infrastructural changes, staff training, provision of equipment and community engagement in partnership with ODCH staff, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) and the Sierra Leone Institute of Child Health (SLICH).
Welbodi Partnership continues to support healthcare in Sierra Leone during the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) by providing coordination support to the holding unit at the Children’s Hospital while at the same time strengthening the safe provision of ‘routine’ health services (non-Ebola care) to children in the hospital. WP is working with the MOHS and other partners to roll out a national programme to strengthen Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in government hospitals and to ensure that hospitals have the water and sanitation infrastructure necessary to adhere to IPC. Welbodi will implement this programme in three hospitals in Freetown.
SCOPE OF WORK:Welbodi Partnership is looking to recruit Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Mentors to join the team in Freetown to work in collaboration with MOHS colleagues to improve IPC practices within government hospitals. The MOHS is establishing Patient Safety committees in each hospital with an appointed IPC focal person. The IPC Mentor will support this structure and provide mentorship to the committee and focal person.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the urgency, applications will be reviewed as they are received and suitable candidates contacted on an on-going basis. This position is for a minimum of 3 months, desirable is 6-12 months. At this time, WP can only accept applications from North America and Europe due to limitations on the complex evacuation process.
ROLE:
To work with the hospital patient safety committee to ensure implementation and strengthening of Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices within the hospital
To facilitate the safe provision of essential health services and support the protection of healthcare workers in the hospital by ensuring that screening and isolation of suspected EVD cases and necessary modifications of routine services are implemented according to the Standard Operating Procedure
RESPONSIBILITIES:
To mentor and support the hospital Patient Safety Committee (PSC) and IPC Focal Person and ensure that regular meetings are established with appropriate reporting structures to district and national level
To support the PSC and IPC focal person with the implementation, including training, of the SOP for “Safe Provision of Hospital Services during an Ebola/Viral Haemorrhagic (Fever)” and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation’s “National Patient Safety Guidelines”
To support the PSC and IPC focal person with the monitoring of staff adherence to the SOP and broader infection prevention and control measures, including the performance of daily and weekly IPC assessments in the facility (e.g. hand hygiene, decontamination, disinfection, sterilization, screening of patients) and addressing incidents or barriers
To support the PSC and IPC focal person in setting up a system for identifying, reporting and investigating sources of infections (e.g. making departmental rounds, reviewing clinical reports, identifying at-risk patients) and healthcare acquired infections (HAIs) and taking appropriate actions.
To support the PSC and IPC focal person to systematically collect, analyze and interpret health data in order to plan, implement, evaluate and disseminate appropriate public health practices
To support the PSC and IPC focal point in planning and delivering ongoing training sessions and holding regular meetings with healthcare staff to disseminate information on infection control practices
To support the PSC and IPC focal point in ensuring that IPC supplies are available in the hospital and advocate for supplies through MOHS/Central Medical Stores (CMS)
To develop a report of IPC activities in the facility on a monthly basis for WP
To support the Project Manager in evaluating the impact of the programme
To perform any other duties deemed necessary to meet the needs of this project
REQUIREMENTS:
Essential:
A recognized qualification in nursing, medicine or epidemiology with additional qualifications or significant experience in infection prevention and control
A minimum of three years recent experience in a hospital setting
Excellent people skills and the ability to work collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds
Ability to self-motivate and work autonomously within the scope of the role
Excellent computer skills particularly in Microsoft Word, Power Point and Excel
A good command of the English language (verbal and written) is required
Flexibility in roles and responsibility is essential
Highly desirable:
Certification in Infection Control (CIC) is preferred
A Masters in Public Health (MPH) is an asset
Experience of working and living in a developing country, preferably in Africa
Experience in IPC training/mentorship/programme development
Krio or other local language ability
SALARY/BENEFITS: Based on qualifications and experience, to be discussed with shortlisted candidates.
HOW TO APPLY:
APPLICATION PROCESS:Interested candidates should email a copy of their CV, cover letter, and a list of three relevant references to jobs@welbodipartnership.org as soon as possible. The job title should be included in the subject line.Your cover letter should include: your country of residence and nationality, your date of birth, dates you are able to commence and duration of availability. Only those applicants shortlisted for an interview will be notified.
Due to the urgency, applications will be reviewed as they are received and suitable candidates contacted on an on-going basis. This position is for a minimum of 3 months, desirable is 6-12 months. At this time, WP can only accept applications from North America and Europe due to limitations on the complex evacuation process.
Equality and Diversity Statement
The Welbodi Partnership confirms its commitment to a comprehensive policy of Equal Opportunities in volunteering and employment in which individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and are given Equal Opportunities within the organisation. It is the Welbodi Partnership’s policy as an employer to treat all people equally irrespective of race, ethnic origin, nationality, sex, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, creed, disability, age or political belief.
Applicants for this position should be aware that if successful, they will be requested to complete a Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check, or equivalent in countries other than the UK. The Welbodi Partnership complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice. The entirety of the Welbodi Equality and Diversity statement is available upon request.
