Community Health Quality Improvement Officer

Description

PIH JOB DESCRIPTION ( Community Health Quality Improvement Officer )

Position Title:

Community Health Quality Improvement Officer

Reports to:

Sr. Community Health Program Specialist

Department:

Community Health

Liaises with

Supervises:

Work Location:

Harper, Maryland County

Employment Type:

Fixed -Term

Position Overview:

The Community Health Quality Improvement Officer will be part of the Program Quality Management (PQM) team with the primary responsibility of enhancing the quality and effectiveness of processes, systems and services within the Community Health department.

The position entails supporting and accompanying the MOH with quality implementation and operationalization of the Community Health Promoter (CHP) Program within the catchment communities of his/her assigned health facilities. The Quality Improvement Officer will provide direct oversight of Community engagement activities and will be accountable for the overall success of National Community Health Program (NCHP) Program at community, district and county level, through identifying areas for improvement, implementing changes, and monitoring outcomes to ensure ongoing progress of the CHP Program .S/he will be assigned to specific health facilities, and work at the community, facility, district, and county level by serving as a focal point person to liaise with the Community Health Nurses (CHNs), Community Health Services Supervisors (CHSS), Officers-in-Charge, District Health Officer, District and County Surveillance Officers and County Community Health Focal Person and provide leadership, training coordination, and quality improvement support for the CHP Program. S/he is expected to be an expert on the CHP Program and its policies and procedures, and to ensure such procedures are executed in the field.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Quality Improvement (QI), Training, and Recruitment
   1. Compile and present perceived knowledge, performance, and implementation fidelity gap assessments of CHPs, CHP Supervisors and CHNs/CHSS based on regular Monitoring, Supervision, Mentorship and Spot Checks as well as feedback from clinicians at the health facility, and share with Community Health Program leadership at CHT and Partner Organizations to develop additional or refresher trainings or other potential capacity building innovative solutions.
   2. Lead the management of monthly QI workshops and annual QI work plan (conception and initiation, planning, implementation, performance monitoring, and evaluation)
   3. Support community engagement, mobilization and participation meetings with Community Health Committees (CHCs) to discuss key health issues, such as Community Event-Based Surveillance (CEBS) prevention measures, address the problem of community-based births, etc. and for recruitment of additional CHPs and CHP Supervisors
   4. Facilitate baseline and refresher CHP and CHP Supervisor trainings
   5. Proctor literacy tests and oral interviews for recommended CHP candidates
   6. In collaboration with the CHNs/CHSS and the OICs, identify poorly performing CHPs/CHP Supervisors and recommend them to Community Health Focus Person (CHFP) of the County Health Team (CHT) and PIH for remedial training and mentorship.
   7. Data Aggregation and Reporting

      Write timely and quality monthly, quarterly and annually reports for CHT, MOH, and donors by synthesizing programmatic (quantitative) data, (qualitative/field-based) narrative data, and photos. Ensure the report is a balanced representation of clinical and community health related activities, as well as a reflection of contextual and cultural competence.

      1. Present key performance indicators for his/her assigned catchment area and CHPs and CHP Supervisors to CHT and health facility leadership at monthly/quarterly review meetings
      2. Work with CHNs/CHSS and CHP Supervisors to identify gaps in infidelity, performance and quality care and help generate potential innovative solutions
      3. Participate in data quality assessments at all levels and ensure findings used for capacity building and decision-making
      4. Provides a regular monthly status report on all Quality Improvement (QI) projects being implemented in the assigned catchment communities and health facilities to keep the program team informed
         1. Community and Health Facility Integration
            1. Provide technical and leadership support for the development of a system of accountability and participatory management of the CHP program through attendance and coordination of weekly/monthly/quarterly review meetings to review progress on Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and assess program implementation
            2. Coordinate monthly review meetings with Health Facility, District, and County-level staff for synchronization of clinical and community health programmatic goals and targets.
            3. Collaborate with clinical supervisors and health facility leadership to ensure buy-in and adherence to CHP program protocols by clinicians and laboratory staff, such as color code assignments, TRACE, accurate completion and timely submission of Referral and Escort Forms.
            4. Attend monthly Health Facility Development Committee (HFDC) meeting to strengthen community governance structures for improved community-based health initiatives.
            5. Identify disease hot spots throughout Harper City through discussion with health facility clinical supervisors to schedule targeted integrated outreach sessions with the most acute need to improve timely case detection of HIV, TB, NCD, and other priority health conditions
            6. Coordinate with County Depot and Program Team to ensure CHNs/CHSS, CHP Supervisors, and CHPs have the necessary logistics (supplies, equipment, and tools) needed to effectively carry out their roles and responsibilities
            7. Supervision and Mentorship
               1. Work with CHNs/CHSS to provide regular, on-the-job supportive supervision and mentorship and feedback for CHP Supervisors and CHPs during Monthly Supervision, Mentorship, and Spot Check visits
               2. Attend monthly CHP Supervisors and CHNs/CHSS meetings and occasionally attend monthly CHPs meetings
               3. Ensure quality of accompaniment and psychosocial support through Patient and/or Household Satisfaction Audits
               4. Identify and troubleshoot challenges and solutions/ recommendations with Community Health Nurses/Community Health Services Supervisors, CHP Supervisors, CHPs, households/patients, and Health Facility/District/County Supervisors
               5. Work with health facility/district/county supervisors to provide mentorship for Community Health Nurses/Community Health Services Supervisors to improve clinical, supervision, and program management skills
               6. Care Coordination, Lost To Follow Up Tracking, and Contact Tracing
                  1. Coordinate closely with HIV, TB, NCD, maternity, pediatric, and mental health clinic staff to ensure timely and quality care provision of patients
                  2. In collaboration with the aforementioned clinical teams, supervise timely tracing and reporting of Lost To Follow Up by CHNs/CHSS, CHP Supervisors, and/or CHPs
                  3. Support joint contact tracing efforts by health facility staff and CHNs/CHSS, CHPs, or CHP Supervisors for early detection, timely reporting, investigation and prevention of infectious diseases.
                  4. Serve as a clinician to provide clinical care/advice to chronically ill patients during the joint CHNs/CHSS, CHP Supervisors, and CHPs' accompaniment visit.
                  5. Other Administrative and Operational Duties
                     1. Keep accurate written records and timely reporting of all program activities that happen in his/her assigned catchment area
                     2. Ensure and manage safe storage of CHP program documents, such as Health Facility Care Coordination Ledger, and CHP and CHNs/CHSS and CHP supervisor monthly reports with the M&E team
                     3. Provide monthly work plans to the JJ Dossen Hospital Officer In-Charge (OIC) and CHP program leadership and report on progress
                     4. Attend and support the Officer in-charge presentation of the CHP program progress in the health facility clinical meetings
                     5. Carry out other duties as assigned from time to time.
                     6. Ability to live in Harper City, Liberia full-time required.

                        Qualifications:

                        Academic Qualification:

                        • Clinical credentials (A licensed Registered Nurse, Midwife or Physician Assistant) and with working knowledge in the following areas:

                          - Essential primary health care (community-based disease surveillance, integrated community case management, reproductive, maternal and neonatal health).

                          - HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, mental health, Non Communicable Disease, and neglected tropical disease management in contexts of high stigma.

                          - Knowledgeable on the Liberian Community Health Systems – National Policy and the National Strategic Plan

                          
                          Technical Competencies:

                          • Clinical experience working at the facility or community-level in rural settings for at least 3 - 5 years.
                          • Strong writing and reporting capabilities by set deadlines is mandatory.
                          • Must have experience in Quality Improvement works; skilled in using Quality Improvement tools (Fishbone, PDSA cycles) to develop and manage Quality Improvement projects, thereby capacitating the CHN/CHSS, CHPs, Supervisors and other supervisors
                          • Experience managing health projects - especially projects where risk of stigma and transmission are high – is required.
                          • Experience with work and budget planning is required.
                          • Experience in management and supervision of community-based field teams.
                          • Confidence working in a community setting with a variety of people and stakeholders.
                          • Experience in community engagement and advocacy – able to Engage Community Leaders and stakeholders on Quality Improvement goals
                          • Experience developing a Competency–Based Community Health Worker training materials within the Liberian context preferred.
                          • Strong facilitation, presentation, and organizational skills.
                          • Experience with training and workshop facilitation, preferably with low-literacy audiences, is also an advantage.
                          • Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation - collecting and analyzing data and discussing Community Health Indicators to stimulate discussion for improvement and decision-making.
                          • Ability to travel by motorbike for fieldwork, including outreach, community engagement, and supervision of CHP Supervisors and CHPs.
                          • Good computer literacy skills: must demonstrate competence in the use of MS Office Programs, in particular MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; dhis2, CommCare, Power BI, and Internet literacy are added advantages.
                          • A high degree of English fluency is required.

                            Behavioral Competencies:

                            • Ability to maintain confidential information professionally.
                            • Interpersonal Skills - Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with an open, accommodating, and pleasant personality.
                            • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
                            • Team Management - A team player skilled in managing, motivating, and leading a dynamic team.
                            • A skilled collaborator capable of working effectively with diverse communities.
                            • Commitment to health and social justice and to the mission of Partners In Health.

                              Organizational Profile:

                              Partners In Health (PIH) is a non-profit, global health organization that fights social injustice by bringing the benefits of modern medical science first and foremost to the most vulnerable communities around the world. PIH focuses on those who would not otherwise have access to quality health care. PIH partners with the world’s leading academic institutions to create rigorous evidence that shapes more sound and all-inclusive global health policies. PIH also supports local governments’ efforts to build capacity and strengthen national health systems.