Description

Job Advertisement

Job title:

SECHN Midwife

Work Location:

Kono district – Wellbody Maternity

Department:

Clinical

Report to:

Midwife Mentors

Line Management

TBD

Organization Profile

Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health center and to referral hospitals.

Maternal Centre of Excellence:

PIH SL is ambitiously setting out to transform Koidu Government Hospital into the leading Maternal & Newborn Health hospital in West Africa, serving as a Center of Excellence in both the delivery of quality clinical care and as a health care teaching institution for the region. The MCOE is a 166-bed health facility, expanding the capacity of Kono Government Hospital and providing advanced maternal and neonatal health care in Kono District. The MCOE campus will serve as clinical site, training and research center, creating a global platform of expertise and innovation that can deliver evidence and resources for improving women’s health worldwide and train the next generation of health care workers in Sierra Leone locally. Construction is well underway and it is due for full completion in 2025 with the first phase comprising of the Birth Centre and South Wards due to open in the last quarter of 2024.

Position Overview

The Midwife is a critical member of the PIH Sierra Leone team and will work collaboratively with the clinical and support services staff to provide high-quality, comprehensive maternal and newborn health services at KGH and in Wellbody (WBC) Maternal Health clinic as required. The Midwife when based at WBA, will be supervised by the Midwife Manager and at KGH by the Midwife Mentors, MOHS Sister in charge of maternity department with oversight by the Reproductive Maternal and Neonatal Health Director and program manager. She will work to improve the quality of maternal and newborn health services in Kono District and reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality with a specific focus on labor and delivery services at KGH and WBC. Because PIH Sierra Leone is a growing organization and the Maternity Unit is a busy facility built on teamwork, the Midwife will also be expected to assist in other clinical areas as needed under the direction of the PIH RMNH program manager/Director and Director of Nursing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Specific Responsibilities:

• Provide high quality antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care to pregnant women, new mothers and their babies, including provision of the full package of antenatal care services as per the Sierra Leone national protocols and guidelines for emergency and obstetric and newborn care.
• Actively participate in the identification and management of antenatal complications requiring treatment, follow-up and clinical management.
• Provide high quality and timely basic emergency care for obstetric complications during antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal periods.
• Provide high quality normal and delivery care including ensuring proper monitoring of labor through the use of the partograph and other monitoring tools in use in the department.
• Ensure all patients are properly cared for and monitored, vital signs checked, medications given as prescribed, partograph’ s completed accurately and acted on as needed.
• Provide daily essential newborn care to all infants born at the Maternity department at KGH and/or Wellbody Delivery Center. Identify, liaise with the neonatal team and transfer sick babies as needed to Pediatric resus for further treatment as needed.
• Provide routine daily postnatal care for women and infants through to 6 weeks postpartum.
• Evaluate postnatal patients prior to discharge and provide discharge counseling to ensure that mothers are able to care for their newborns competently and confidently.
• Ensure proper documentation is maintained in all maternal and newborn records, health registers and clinic registers.
• Collaborate with the RMNH program manager and the rest of the staff to ensure clinical staff can provide CEmONC services in line with MOHS and WHO standards.
• Participate in MDSR monthly reviews, including presentations for KGH and DHMT.
• Provide clinical assessment, and on-going care for patients at the Wellbody Birth Waiting Home if required.
• Provide support for maternity staff to provide quality maternal and newborn health services at KGH and Wellbody Clinic including BEmONC/CEmONC services, ANC, PNC, Delivery Care, Essential Newborn Care, PMTCT, AYFS and Family Planning.
• Apply all health & safety standards, Infection Prevention and Control protocols.
• Maintain daily stock checks for the availability of medicines, consumables, supplies and equipment for the Delivery Department to avoid stock outs, including during nights and weekends.
• Work rotating shifts, including significant night shift coverage, and weekends.
• Provide compassionate and respectful maternity care in line with the PIH mission and values.
• Participate in all quality improvement activities in the department and significantly contribute to successful outcomes and targets being met.
• Other responsibilities as required.

  Education and Work Experience Requirements:

  • SECHN Midwife, with current registration at the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
    • 1 or more years of experience practicing as a midwife
    • Experience in managing high risk pregnancies and complicated deliveries
    • Proven knowledge of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care, including neonatal resuscitation. ETAT certification is advantageous.
    • Fluent in verbal and written English.
    • Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner.
      • Ability to work well in a team, be dependable, flexible, time conscious and hard working.
      • Able to consistently produce high quality work.
      • Ability to be flexible and effective with a good sense of humor in a busy work environment.
      • Commitment to social justice and human rights.
      • Willing to live and work fulltime in Koidu, Sierra Leone.

        Prevention of Sexual Exploitation , Abuse and Harassment

        Partners In Health Sierra Leone is dedicated to preventing unwanted behaviour in the workplace, including sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, financial misconduct, and ensuring the welfare of those we serve. We expect all staff, consultants, contractors, vendors, and volunteers to uphold these values as outlined in our code of conduct.

        The successful candidate will receive appropriate training and must adhere to the organisation’s safeguarding policies. Employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory references and screening checks, which may include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

        As a participant in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, we request information from previous employers about any instances of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment. Additionally, Partners In Health Sierra Leone will share records of such misconduct with other agencies upon staff departure, ensuring transparency and accountability. By applying, candidates acknowledge and agree to these recruitment procedures

        Method of Application

        Interested candidates are required to apply through our website: www.pih.org/employment In your application, please ensure to include names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) referees not later than 12:00pm GMT (Midnight) on Wednesday 6th November