Kenya: MATERNAL AND NEWBORN HEALTH (MNH) ASSISTANT

Organization: Save the Children

Country: Kenya

Closing date: 19 May 2016

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Signature Programme

GRADE: 5

LOCATION: Bungoma

POST TYPE: National

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: *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 MNH Assistant will work to ensure effective implementation of MNH program in Bungoma County while working closely with County Governments, Department of Health. The role involves working closely with other MNH stakeholders in standardizing quality service deliver at all levels of care.

SCOPE OF ROLE: The MNH assistant has responsibility for working with the Bungoma county MoH to ensure the availability and readiness of health facilities to provide quality maternal and new born health services which are responsive to the needs and expectations of the target.

Reports to: Maternal and Newborn Health Officer

Staff directly reporting to this post: None

Country 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. In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and we work through partners in many other parts of the country. We employ nearly 300 staff and have an operating annual budget in 2016 of approximately US$20million

SCI Kenya is in the process of implementing a signature maternal and new born health (MNH) programme that is expected to significantly contribute to achievement of Kenya’s MDG 4 and 5 targets. The programmatic model will actualize continuum of care approach mixed with an integrated package of quick wins, a minimum community health care package and a strengthened health system approach to maternal and new born health programming across Save the Children’s Theory of Change. Save the Children will work with the government of Kenya at both national and county levels and communities to address the maternal and neonatal health challenges in the country in a way that would deliver significant impacts for women and children by the end of the 5 year period.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programme implementation

· Support the roll-out of the MNH clinical mentorship programme for Bungoma county to improve quality of MNH services at facility level in collaboration with the MNH Officer

· In collaboration with the MNH Officer, organize and roll out training and capacity building initiatives for health workers including the Harmonised EMONC curriculum and MPDSR

· Work with the county and sub county HMTs to institute quality of care mechanisms within the supported health facilities.

· Ensure close collaboration with various professional groups and non-governmental organisations active in MNH to facilitate learning and model best practice in collaboration with the MNH Officer and the Maternal and New born Health Coordinator

· Facilitate dissemination and use of MNH protocols ,guidelines and job Aids in all the targeted facilities

· Ensure that MNH job aids and flow charts are well displayed in all the health facilities

· Facilitate and support continuous medical educationME program in all the supported health facilities

· In collaboration with the MNH Officer, facilitate MNH related trainings including infection prevention, Community Midwives training, Commodity management, Jamii smart, Facility Management Committee

· Perform other reasonable tasks assigned by the MNH Officer and the Maternal and New born Health Coordinator

Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning

· Conduct Technical Support visits to the health facilities together with the county mentorship team to ensure that maternal and child health services are being provided according to national standards and protocol.

· Participate in planning, coordination and execution of M&E activities such as surveys, monthly and quarterly follow up and quality assurance.

· Compile reports as per programme schedule and participate in documentation of activities within stipulated deadlines.

· Ensure proper documentation of achievements, lessons learnt, and best practises throughout the program implementation.

· Support the development of work plans, reporting, monitoring and evaluation plans.

Representation

Participates and represents SCI in various health coordination forums and at working meetings with partners at field level when necessary.

Child Safeguarding:

• All staff have an obligation to ensure they fully understand the provisions of the Child Safeguarding Policy, the Code of Conduct and related policies. They must conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the Child Safeguarding Policy, in their personal and professional lives – which includes reporting suspicions of child abuse.

· All staff must ensure the way they are carrying out their work is not putting children at risk (or further risk).

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 team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

· Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same

· Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others

· Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

· Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters

· 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

Essential:

· A registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing or Diploma in a related field (Nursing, Midwifery) with experience in maternal and New born health

· At least 5 years’ experience supporting MNH programmes including experience working with the MoH

· Up-to-date knowledge on maternal and new born health including EmONC, essential new born care, IMCI, focused ANC, malaria, immunization, supervision and quality improvement systems

· Training and support supervision experience in MNH programmes strongly preferred

· Previous experience working in the region is strongly preferred

· Computer literacy, particularly in Microsoft Office Word, Excel Outlook and PowerPoint

· Strong representational and communication skills

· Understanding of child rights programming.

· Commitment to Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding and other global policies, and to Save the Children’s vision, mission and values.

Competencies

Leading

· Developing self and others: Invests time and energy to actively develop self and others to help realize their full potential and to build the organizations capability for the future.

Thinking

· Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practice within and outside the organization

Engaging

Communicating with impact: Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust

Other Competencies:

· Has high-level communication skills’, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.

· Fluent in English and Kiswahili (both spoken and written). Working knowledge of local language strongly preferred

· Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

· Sets high standards for quality and consistently achieves project goals.

· Maintains and extends an effective network of individuals within the organisation and with government and development partners

· Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.

· Demonstrates and shares detailed technical knowledge and expertise.

· Proven ability to work as a team.

CHILD SAFEGUARING POLICY:

Any employee, consultant, contractor or the supplier undertaking an activity on behalf of SCI must sign the Child Safeguarding – **Declaration of Acceptance Form*] and comply with the SCI’s Child Safeguarding Policy which is a statement of SCI’s commitment to preventing abuse and protecting children with whom it comes into contact.* This extends not only to children with whom SCI and its partners work directly, but also includes children whom staff are responsible for. SCI believes that the situation of children must be improved through the promotion of their rights supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children International"s Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to

How to apply:

Interested candidates should submit their CV and Cover letter as one document to Bungoma.jobapplications@savethechildren.org with the Job title as the Subject heading.