Health Coordinator

Country: Central African Republic

Responsible To: Project Coordinator

Technically To Country Health Director

Location: TBC

Start Date: ASAP

Duration: 6 months

Salary: £27,530 to £28,280 per annum (dependant on relevant experience) inclusive of annual Cost of Living allowance.

Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, annual leave entitlement of

24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of

continuous employment with Merlin.

Please note that this is an unaccompanied position

Merlin International Profile

Merlin is an international health charity, saving lives in the world's toughest places. Merlin responds with healthcare, when people are overwhelmed by natural disaster, conflict or disease and in need of immediate help. We focus on treating those who are beyond the reach of existing health services. After the immediate crisis, Merlin stays on to assist recovery. Using our expertise, we support health workers and strengthen existing health services. We build resilience by helping those at risk of future health disasters, to be better prepared.

We think everyone should have access to lasting healthcare. We believe good health is fundamental to transforming people's lives, that's why Merlin is A Force for Health

Merlin in the Central African Republic

The UN has described the situation in CAR as "the world's most silent crisis." Following a decade of coups and mutinies which have destroyed infrastructure and shattered the economy, the resurgence of armed conflict in October 2005 between the government and rebel forces in

the north of CAR sparked a humanitarian crisis. The most affected areas were the prefectures of Bamingui-Bangoran,Mbomou,HautMbomou,Vakaga,Nana-Gribizi, Ouham, Ouham-Pende and Nana-Mambere.

Continuing violence in CAR has resulted in wide-scale displacement and severe disruption in access to health services. Since 2008, Merlin has been providing emergency healthcare and nutrition for displaced persons, refugees and other conflict-affected populations in Nana Mambere, Lobaye and most recently in the South-East region of Mbomou, where communities affected by rebel attacks suffer from poor access to healthcare services due to insecurity.

In the South-West of CAR Merlin is supporting the refugee camp of Batalimo and is providing health system strengthening as well as community case mangement support in Bouar.

In March of 2013 the Seleka coalition ousted president Bozize leading to widespread insecurity, looting and violence across the country. The full extent of the subsequent humanitarian needs is as yet unknown yet Merlin is preparing to scale up in areas of operation to respond to growing needs.

Main purpose of the role

The post holder will be based in one of Merlin's field sites – Bangassou, Obo, Batalimo or Bouar, where he/she will be responsible for both operational and technical health aspects of Merlin's operations in the area.

The post holder will generally be responsible for overall program management including the technical, administrative supervision of Merlin's health staff. Further responsibilities include the participation/involvement in coordination of all security and PHC/RH issues arising from implementation of Merlin CAR programming within Mbomou.

In particular, he/she will ensure that any required scale-up of activities, assesed in conjunction with the country health director, is accompanied by the necessary PHC/RH structure as well as enforcing operational and technical systems for adequate supervision.

Overall Objectives (scope)

Will be to:

• Lead the expansion and development of Merlin's activities.
• Conduct full oversight of project activities in the assigned area of operation
• Coordinate and manage Merlin's complete primary health care package and emergency response needs.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting and monitoring

Responsibilities

Technical and Medical Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to the health team in setting up and implementing activities, including installation of monitoring and evaluation indicators and mechanisms as per the Merlin Health Information System (HIS)
• Monitor the complete primary health care/RH needs in the project area and propose appropriate action, in collaboration with the MoH health management teams, to the PC and the Country Health Director.
• Ensure appropriate drugs and medical equipment are ordered in a timely fashion
• Ensure that all health staff implementing primary health care/RH package receive appropriate training in primary health care principles and practice to ensure the maximum use of their skills and their full and effective participation in health promotion and disease prevention activities
• Responsible for ensuring community engagement in mobilisation, health promotion and referral activities to ensure the long term ownership and effectiveness of the program
• Ensure that the complete primary health care/SRH package is implemented in accordance with Merlin policy and internationally recognised standards and guidelines in addition to the CAR ministry of health policies
• Ensure that medical supplies needed by programs under his/her supervision are properly managed in collaboration with medical storekeeper and logistics staff
• Undertake/ assist in needs assessment and surveys as necessary.
• Ensure that supplies needed by the projects are properly managed in collaboration with medical storekeeper
• Support the process of joint assessment and planning between the local health authorities and Merlin
• Provide adequate analysis of program indicators on a monthly basis
• Participate in the writing of timely and accurate donor proposals and reports in collaboration with the Project Cordinator and support from the Country Health Director.
• Prepare and write timely and accurate monthly activity reports for inclusion in the monthly situation report submitted to the office in Bangui
• Identify, in collaboration with Project Coordinator, missed opportunities for improving community outreach activities
• Actively participate in technical PHC/RH working groups and contribute to the execution of national and international initiatives and campaigns concerning SGBV and health cluster

Staff Management / HR

• Responsible for training of all medical staff to ensure the maximum use of their skills and their full and effective participation in medical activities whilst conforming to Merlin and MoH protocols.
• Line manage the medical supervisors effectively, using appropriate delegation
• Monitor health staff performance through regular appraisals
• Actively participate in HR identification needs and recruitement, and in defining health staff job description,

Programme Evaluation and Reporting

• Provide assistance to the Project Coordinator in overseeing achievement of project targets in collaboration with the Country Health Director on a monthly basis
• Follow up persons trained to ensure capacity is built and maintained
• Develop a project implementation work plan and monitor benchmarks for all project activities
• Ensure appropriate data collection systems are maintained for all program areas, collating PHC/RH/SGBV data for analysis and dissemination to all stakeholders and government departments.
• Contribute to project proposals, interim reports and final reports according to donor requirements and internal Merlin monitoring systems
• Monitor and manage programme budget, and be responsible for purchasing local and international orders and coordinating appropriate distribution of all resources along with the field site staff.

Representation

• Participate to the decentralized health cluster meeting as per the Country Health Director directive
• Represent Merlin to local health authorities at project level (and national level when requested) to ensure all project activities are carried out with their collaboration and participation in order to achieve project objectives
• Co-ordinate and represent Merlin in regards to primary health care as well as emergency and outbreak planning to all appropriate co-ordination mechanisms at both local and national level when requested.
• Ensure key stakeholders receive regular activity reports and statistics related to the implementation of programs in collaboration with the Country Health Director

Person Specification

Essential

Qualifications, experience and competences

• Qualified doctor or nurse with extensive post qualification experience in the delivery of primary health care and communicable disease prevention and control services
• Qualification in public health and/or tropical medicine.
• Experience in epidemiological and primary health care data representation and basic survey techniques
• Experience in rapid needs assessment.
• Experience in community based health programmes
• Previous work experience with a humanitarian aid organisation.
• Management and inter personnel skills
• Ability and flexibility to understand different cultural and political environments
• Ability to work in a team
• Capacity building skills
• Ability to be diplomatic
• Experience in working in insecure environment under security guidelines.
• Excellent communication skills, with good spoken and written French and English
• Good computer skills – ability to use data analysis software including Excel and Epi Info.
• Commitment to Merlin's Values

Desirable

Qualifications, experience and competences

• Experience and/or qualification in one or more of the following settings: working with IDPs in host community settings, reproductive health, child health, nutrition.
• Previous experience within the Central African Region