Description

Vacancy Announcement

Job title:

Senior Midwife Mentor

Work Location:

Koidu Government Hospital (Kono District)

Department:

Clinical

Reports to:

RMNCAH Clinical Manager

Line Management

Yes/No

Requisition #

4412

Duration of Contract

Twelve (12) Months with the possibility of extension

Application Status

External Advert

Organisation 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 Sierra Leone (PIHSL) 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.

Position Overview

The Midwife Mentor 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 PHU’s supported by PIH. The Midwife will work closely with the Reproductive Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Director & program manager, OBGYN’s; International Midwife Mentor and MoHS sister in charge of the Maternity - to improve the quality of maternal and newborn health services in Kono District, reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. With specific focus on mentoring staff on RMNCAH and Essential New Born Care at KGH and PIH supported sites. Because PIH Sierra Leone is a growing organization and the Maternity Unit at KGH is a busy facility built on teamwork, the Midwife Mentor will also be expected to assist in other clinical areas as needed under the direction of the RMNCAH Director/program manager and Director of Nursing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The responsibilities and Specific Duties of the Midwife Mentor include but are not limited to the following:

• In consultation and in line with the RMNCAH Clinical Lead, Clinical Facilitator, International Midwife Mentor and GAC objectives she will develop/adapt a training curriculum for nurses and midwives at the target facilities, adhering to the Sierra Leone National Protocols and Guidelines for Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care.
• Strengthen the clinical skills of Midwives, Nurses, CHO’s, MCHA’s and students at Koidu Government Hospital and other project sites in the delivery of normal maternal care, BEMONC, CEMONC, RMNCAH best practices, compassionate and respectful maternity care, health and safety, Infection Prevention and Control, PMTCT and Family Planning through theoretical and on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship.
• Facilitate the professional and clinical development of the individual members working within the team as well as ensuring that the resources and skills of all members of the team are used to optimal effect.
• Utilize the full skills of a midwife as laid down in the WHO’s definition of a midwife and the Sierra Leone Nursing and Midwifery Board and provide patient care as needed at KGH and other PIH supported sites.
• Provide clinical maternal and newborn normal and emergency obstetric care both in a mentoring and caregiving capacity, including providing cover for on call and weekend hours as needed.
• Be capable and able to effectively manage the Maternity department and all its staff in the absence of the In-Charge and other leadership personnel.
• Develop and facilitate a conducive training and learning environment for all staff thereby fulfilling the mentorship and preceptorship roles.
• Supervise all maternity staff, ensuring all patients in labor are properly monitored through the use of the partograph and that staff are confident and competent in doing so, as well as able to provide efficient antenatal, postnatal, newborn care and Family Planning.
• Provide quality and timely training on basic emergency obstetric care for obstetric complications, with the requisite on the job training to ensure that all staff can carry out these activities correctly.
• In conjunction with the RMNCAH Lead, Clinical Facilitator, International Midwife Mentor and OBGYN specialists, devise assessment tools to monitor staff competencies and provide practical on the job support as needed to staff who are not achieving said competencies.
• Ensure staff are competently able to complete proper documentation in all maternal and newborn records and health and clinic registers.
• Provide training and other technical support to Community Health Workers and Traditional Birth Attendants on RMNCAH topics as needed.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to targeted health facilities to monitor quality and performance of mentored staff and completion of monitoring tools.
• Work cohesively with the M & E team to collect data, compile and share activity and monthly reports with RMNCAH Lead, GAC Project Manager and designated others.
• Support maternal and newborn health outreach activities in collaboration with the RMNCAH program manager. Working closely with the DHMT in PHU sites.
• Represent PIH within the remits of her role at Conferences/Meetings.
• Provide compassionate care in line with the PIH mission.
• Other responsibilities as designated by the RMNH Lead and GAC Project Lead.

  Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment

  At Partners In Health, we are dedicated to ensuring that those who benefit from our work, including our patients, families, and community members, as well as our employees, are treated with dignity and respect, and are free from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partners In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment during employment or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

  Qualifications/Requirements

  • Bachelor of Science (BSC) in Midwifery.
  • EMONC trainer and proven knowledge of BEMONC, CEMONC, Essential Newborn Care and ETAT.
  • Experience in managing high-risk pregnancies, complicated deliveries and postpartum complications.
  • Minimum five (5) years of experience as a practising midwife in Sierra Leone or another developing country.
  • Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Exchange Email.
  • Fluent in verbal and written English and Krio.
  • Ability to work independently and as an autonomous practitioner.
  • Ability to work well in a team, be dependable, and hardworking.
  • Detail oriented.
  • Ability to be flexible and efficient, with a good sense of humour in a busy work environment.
  • Commitment to social justice and human rights.
  • Willing to live and work fulltime in Kono District, Sierra Leone.

    Social Justice

    We are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the centre of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.

    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 Thursday 29th May, 2025.