Clinical Officer - Kenya Country Office

Clinical Officer - Kenya Country Office
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programmes	LOCATION:  Kaikor,Turkana
GRADE:  TBC  (Competitive Package)	POST TYPE: National
ChildSafeguarding: Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people
ROLE PURPOSE: The overall objective of the position is to manage and supervise the nutrition stabilization centre in Kaikor Health Centre supported by SC nutrition project in Turkana County. The post holder will manage and organize the centre staff and work in close collaboration with the MoH and SC staff at the county level.
SCOPE OF ROLE: Reports to: Nutrition Officer - Lokitaung Dimensions:Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. On Feb 1st 2014, we completed a second transition, joining forces with the British INGO, Merlin, by merging their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children has an operational presence in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Meru, Wajir, and more recently Turkana – with plans to expand into Bungoma in the course of 2014. We work through partners in many other parts of the country. We have a staff complement of around 300 staff and an operating annual budget of approximately US$25 million Staff directly reporting to this post: SC Nurse - Kaikor
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: To manage and organize the running of the nutrition stabilization center Daily examination, consultation and medical management of all the children admitted in the center as per the national guidelines on in-patient management of children with malnutrition. To supervise the center team in following correct procedures including: Admission Criteria Carrying out correct anthropometric measurements Rehydration of children on admission Following correct nutrition and medical management of centre clients as per the IMAM guidelines Conduct regular weight and height measurements of malnourished children Prepare diet, calculate the amounts of feeds, and distribute and record the amount of food taken by the malnourished child Administer oral medication, assess and record clinical signs, and record all information in the Multi-chart. Support mothers to feed the child. Following correct discharge or transfer procedures(to other hospitals departments) Ordering or supervising pharmacy requests, ensuring correct and rational use of all drugs/medications Ensure data collection and reporting on a daily/weekly/monthly basis, and submitted to health records office. Monitor and supervise the nurses, and patient attendants to ensure correct amounts of milk and plumpynuts are given to the children Assist and mentor the pediatrics department staff in the implementation of the stabilization center activities within the pediatric ward and ensure the management of the commodities(food, drugs and equipment) Train and support the pediatrics department staff in severe acute malnutrition case management according to MOH guidelines Together with the nutrition officers ensure proper communication,coordination and harmonization of tools with the different stakeholders involved in food/nutrition activities(MOH, IRC, WVI, UNICEF) Ensure the establishment of nutrition growth monitoring and train health staff in case detection and referral system Participate in the delivery of training for health staff, capacity building and conduction of studies and surveys Ensure work allocation of roles and responsibilities is delegated according to the organogram to provide effective service in liaison with the facility in-charge.
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice) Accountability: ·         Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values ·         Holds the program team, MOH, and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities ·         Ambition: ·         Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves, and takes responsibility for their own personal development ·         Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others ·         Future orientated, thinks strategically Collaboration: ·         Builds and maintains effective relationships with program team, MOH,and other partners ·         Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength ·         Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to Creativity: ·         Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions ·         Willing to take disciplined risks Integrity: ·         Honest, encourages openness and transparency
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Minimum Job Requirements: ·         Diploma in Clinical Medicine and current registration certificate with Clinical Officers’ professional body in Kenya. ·         At least 3 years’ experience in implementation of IMAM/EPI/PHC Programmes in ASAL areas; experience working in Turkana will be an added advantage ·         Experience in the implementation of nutrition monitoring activities and malnutrition case detection and management ·         Fluent in English and Kiswahili; knowledge of Turkana language will be an added advantage Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required: ·         Ability to engage MOH staff and work with them as a team ·         Previous supervisory experience as a clinician ·         Excellent coordination skills ·         Excellent management, communication, training and analysis skills ·         Proficient in computer packages – Word, Excel, Power Point
Date of issue:12/02/14      Author : Dr. Lutomia Mangala (PHC)