International Consultant – Human resource competency strengthening

Purpose of consultancy

Under the overall guidance of WHO Representative (WR) and direct supervision of the Health Policy Advisor (HPA), the consultant/incumbent will support relevant health systems related activities at WCO Timor-Leste with a focus on developing Simulation/Skill Labs at National and Regional Hospitals to strengthen secondary and tertiary care in TLS.

Scope of work:

The aim of the consultancy is to establish Simulation/Skill-Labs across the country to improve maternal/ child survival and emergency and critical care indicators with the aim to strengthen maternal/child health and emergency and critical care services through a hands-on learning experience.

Background

The development of Simulation/skill laboratories in health institutions provide an environment where students learn and practice various aspects of knowledge and skill imparting positive features that enhance the quality of the learning environment. Clinical skills acquisition is an important aspect and a bridge between gaining procedural knowledge and clinical competence. Simulation/Skill laboratories offer a 'more forgiving' training environment and studies have shown that such training improves procedural skills not only for starters but also for experts. This applies to complex surgical skills as well as basic clinical skills performed by medical students. The skill laboratories help ensure all students acquire the necessary techniques and are properly assessed before delivering care to actual patients.

The National Health Sector Strategic Plan 2011-2030 (NHSSP) sets out the vision for “Healthy East Timorese People in a Healthy Timor-Leste” and highlights a clear commitment for the provision of free universal health care to all. MoH (TL) with active support from WHO is set to reform and manage the health sector, to effectively and efficiently deliver comprehensive and quality healthcare services that are equitable, accessible and sustainable for people in Timor. One of the key tools to fulfil this mission has been the delivery of essential service package with a special focus on maternal and child healthcare, that has been an important component for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Health services in TL are organized at 4 levels of care including outreach services, health posts (HPs), community health centres (CHCs) at the municipal and sub-municipal levels, and referral hospitals (RHs) at the regional and national levels. Some of the current issues pertaining to MCH and emergency/critical care in Timor-Leste is inadequate medical and paramedical training, leading to skill gaps of healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, midwives). Simulation/Skill labs are equipped practice rooms functioning as training facilities offering skill-based training for the practice of clinical skills prior to their real-life application.

Advantages of operationalizing skill-labs in the country:

• They play a key role in medical and paramedical training quality assurance
• Here procedural skills are trained, repeatedly practiced, and evaluated until the required minimum standard for patient treatment is ensured.
• Provides possibility of training clinical procedures in a safe and fault-forging environment prior to real life application

Deliverables

Output 1: Visit to health facilities and public health institutions for finalizing space for simulation/skills centres and Planning, refurbishing and furnishing in identified centres

Output 2: Development of operational plan, standard operating procedures, Training package and facilitator guide

Output 3: Negotiating and identification of focal persons/ simulation centre in charge, master trainers and other required staff in consultation of MOH

Output 4: Installation of Simulation/Skill-lab equipment in identified centres

Output 5: Orientation and training of trainers

Output 6: Supervision of functionalization of simulation/skills centres

For the successful completion of all the aforesaid activities, the period of assignment has been kept as 11 months.

Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: A university degree in Public Health, health system management or other relevant disciplines

Desirable: Advanced degree in Public Health, health system management or other relevant disciplines

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 5 years of professional work experience at the National/ international level in the field of maternal and child health
• Experience of working within Health systems and with Ministries and development partners

Desirable:

• Experience of working with international health organizations is an asset, such as the experience of working with UN or other international development organizations
• Experience of operationalizing simulation/skill-labs will be considered an advantage
• Experience of setting up skill labs for critical and emergency care will be an advantage

Skills / knowledge:

Essential:

• Demonstrated work experience in maternal and child health and emergency/critical care programs both at ground level, state and national levels
• Demonstrated experience of establishment and operationalization of Simulation/skill-labs
• Previous experience in developing review reports, operational guidelines, SoPs, training modules, trainings etc.
• Excellent drafting, formulation and reporting skills
• Advanced computer literacy skills like word processors, GIS, spreadsheets etc.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing

Language required

Essential: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English

Location

• The consultant will be based in WHO country office, Dili-Timor-Leste, with travel to municipalities as and when needed.
• For travel, the consultant is required to provide medical clearance and to ensure compliance with visa requirements of Timor-Leste

Travel

If travel is involved, full medical clearance is required. The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work

Local travel within the country, where needed, will be arranged by WCO Timor-Leste

The Consultant is expected to travel, including for taking up assignment, according to the itinerary prepared at the time of issuing the contract.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

• Remuneration:

Band level A - USD 3,955-6,980 per month, depending on the consultant’s experience and educational background

• Living expenses: Per diem will be paid as per WHO rules applicable to international consultant for travel.
• Expected duration of contract:

11 months. Additional contracts can be offered based on funding availability and satisfactory performance

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/ diploma(s)/certificate(s) in English required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.