Position Title

fws Health Policy Officer

Team

Health

Position Purpose

This exciting and important Australia-based position requires a health worker with experience in policy development and monitoring. You will oversee the establishment of policies and procedures to govern Community Health Program in the Kesho Leo Children’s Village. At this stage, Kesho Leo has a small health clinic with basic facilities and a limited range of education and training programs. The policies are required primarily to provide guidelines about the health clinic component of the program for the volunteer expatriate Kesho Leo Health Manager and the local Tanzanian nurse who will provide clinical services at Kesho Leo, initially to the mamas, kids, fws workers and their families. Health promotion and an education program are an important part of the health service at Kesho Leo and you will have input into policies related to these areas also.

The fws Health Team will include the Australia/Vietnam based fws Health Manager, the in-country Kesho Leo Health Manager, (a volunteer expatriate registered nurse), and a Tanzanian Nurse (to be recruited in mid - late 2010) based at Kesho Leo, and you. You will work closely with the team to develop policies, procedures and guidelines that ensure good clinical practice, clear lines of responsibility, clear referral pathways and safety for our Kesho Leo residents and employees and our in – country staff.

Responsibilities

• Become familiar with the current Kesho Leo Community Health Program
• Canvass the Health Team and other fws volunteers and managers about the role and scope of the Kesho Leo health clinic in the short and long term.
• Work closely with the fws Health Manager to ensure effective implementation of clinical services in the eco-friendly health clinic.
• Work closely with the Kesho Leo Health Manager to develop policies, procedures and guidelines that promote health and wellbeing.
• Identify existing local services and develop policies about accessing these services for Kesho Leo residents and workers

Key performance indicators

• Policies for services provided (including beneficiaries) by Kesho Leo Community Health Program clinic to be established in partnership with fws health team
• Policies about sourcing equipment and supplies for the health clinic from local sources to aid in the eventual plan for Kesho Leo to become self-sustaining]
• Policies are eco-friendly where possible
• Referral pathways to be developed and reviewed in partnership with fws health team
• Procedure manual for any clinical presentation to be developed in partnership with fws health team, including guidelines on care of clients with HIV/AIDS
• Policy regarding childhood immunization to be developed in partnership with fws health team.
• Policy to assist nursing staff to maintaining health files
• Timely and positive communication with other fws volunteers as required.

Liaise with

• fws Health Manager
• Kesho Leo Nurse
• Tanzanian nurse
• Kesho Leo Manager
• fws Board and Managers

Time

3 hrs/week

Term

At least 12 months, and hopefully more!

Location

From home – in any country (fws Australia operates as an e-office).

Skills & Requirements

• Health background
• Public health an advantage
• Experience in writing and reviewing policies
• Experience in writing procedure guidelines for common clinical presentation is desirable
• Experience in international health a plus.
• A sound understanding of health promotion and disease prevention.
• Experience working on health programs in developing countries
• A sound understanding of the burden of disease in developing countries, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, typhoid
• Excellent online communication skills
• Good team player
• A willingness and ability to think outside the box to develop and implement innovative, cost-effective and sustainable programs that align with the innovative and holistic aims of fws.