Position Available: (Paediatric) Nurse Educator

Welbodi Partnership is recruiting a nurse educator, with significant experience in maternal and child health, to support the well-established nurses’ training office at the Ola During Children’s Hospital (ODCH) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. In addition, the (paediatric) nurse educator will help establish a nurse/midwife training office at the neighboring Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) as well as support the newly established Paediatric Nurse Specialist training at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS).

This rewarding position offers a unique opportunity to be involved in the development of human and institutional capacity, crucial for the rebuilding of the health system in Sierra Leone, with a focus in improving maternal, neonatal and child health.

The successful candidate will be employed and managed by the Welbodi Partnership, a UK registered charity, based at the Ola During Children’s Hospital since 2009. Welbodi Partnership works with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) to support the development of ODCH and PCMH with the aim to improve maternal, neonatal and child health outcomes in Sierra Leone.

Please distribute this notice widely to those who might be interested in this great opportunity to help us improve maternal and neonatal healthcare in Sierra Leone

1. Job specification

Job title:	(Paediatric) Nurse Educator
Location:	Ola During Children’s Hospital (ODCH), Freetown, Sierra Leone
Reports to:	Country Director, Welbodi Partnership
Supports:	Nurse training offices at ODCH and PCMH, Paediatric Nurse training at COMAHS
Duration:	12 months, with possibility of extension subject to funding availability and performance
Start Date:	Mid-August / Early September 2014
Application Deadline:	25th July 2014

2. Overall Responsibility and Key Activities

The overall responsibility of the nurse educator is as follows:

• To support the Nurses’ Training Office at ODCH and help ensure the continuous implementation of high quality in-service training for nurses.
• To work closely with the Nursing/Midwifery department at PCMH to help establish a nurses’/midwives’ training office, and help ensure the continuous implementation of high quality in-service training for nurses and midwives.
• To support COMAHS - Faculty of Nursing, in the implementation of the Specialist Paediatric Nurse Training Course. 

The key activities of the nurse educator are as follows:

• To maintain/support the nurse training office at ODCH, in collaboration with ODCH staff, and provide mentorship to the national nurse educator and national assistants.
• To set up and support the nurse training office at PCMH, in collaboration with PCMH staff, which includes assisting management in the appointment of a national nurse educator and national assistants as well as to provide ongoing mentorship.
• To support the hospitals in making sure tat the training environment is adequate and promote safe working practices.
• To ensure continuous implementation of high quality in-service training for nurses and midwives at both hospitals, working with hospital staff appointed to the training offices.
• To ensure that all essential leaning materials/equipment for the clinical experience are prepared prior to teaching.
• To support efforts to develop and implement officially recognized continuing professional development schemes at both hospitals, in collaboration with hospital staff and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
• To maximize the development and capacity building processes in both hospitals through the utilization of the Mentorship Programme and Quality Improvement principles.
• To monitor and evaluate all training and mentorship activities, specifically focused on measurable clinical outcomes and behaviour change amongst nursing staff, and report quarterly to the Welbodi Partnership Board, hospital management and the MOHS on a regular basis.
• To support the Paediatric Nurse training faculty at COMAHS with the roll out of the Paediatric Nurse training course
• To support the development of a competency-based assessment framework for students with theoretical and practical evaluation tools which assess mastery of concepts, skills and attitudes and to reinforce learning.
• To support the Paediatric Nurse Diploma students at ODCH during their clinical placement, including the provision of counseling and advice as appropriate.
• To ensure that theoretical lectures in the classroom are closely linked and aligned with clinical practice in the healthcare facilities.
• To facilitate learning in a clinical setting with a specific focus on strengthening learners’ clinical skills, critical thinking ability (including tools for reflective practice and problem solving), ward leadership and management skills and clinical supervision/mentorship capacity.
• To identify learning tasks and simulated situations to stimulate a participatory learning process amongst learners
• To work with national nurse educators to set up a system in which the learners can develop personal learning plans, including goals and objectives and outcomes during their placement against a timeline.
• To ensure the safety of self, co-workers, learners, and patients through the application of professional standards and code of ethics. This may include collaborating with health facilities managers in improving general quality of care, and role modeling how to improve poor practice.
• To submit narrative and financial reports to Welbodi Partnership and other partners on a quarterly basis.
• To manage funds secured for nurse/midwifery training activities and report accordingly.
• To undertake any additional duties deemed appropriate to skills, experience and ability.
• To maintain professional & effective relationship /communication with Welbodi Partnership staff and partners

3. Communications and Working Relationships

The Nurse educator will collaborate with the following partners:

• Ministry of Health and Sanitation (including but not limited to the Chief Nursing Officer, Directorate of Training, Human Resources for Health Directorate)
• College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences – Faculty of Nursing (particularly, but not limited to the Specialised Nursing Department)
• Ola During Children’s Hospital management
• Princess Christian Maternity Hospital management
• Professional nursing institutions (including, but not limited to, Nurses and Midwives Board of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Nursing Association, West African College of Nurses)
• Other organisations working at ODCH/PCMH, or in paediatric or nursing care in Sierra Leone (including Cap Anamur, SOLTHIS, ACF, Friends of Maternity, UNFPA, UNICEF)
• Sierra Leone Institute of Child Health (SLICH)

4. Qualifications and skills: essential and highly desirable

Essential

• A recognised professional nurse qualification with additional qualification or significant experience in paediatric nursing
• A minimum of 3 years recent experience within a relevant training environment
• Graduate level degree in relevant field
• Evidence of teaching and adult learning skills to provide post-basic nurse training e.g. Certificate Ed, PGCE, or extensive teaching experience
• Proven leader with experience supervising a culturally diverse team
• Excellent people skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to self-motivate and work autonomously within the scope of the role
• Ability to provide clinical mentorship and use the clinical supervision process effectively
• Proven financial management competency
• Excellent computer skills in Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills
• Commitment to the goals and principles of Welbodi Partnership

Highly desirable

• Experience of working and living in a developing country, preferably in Africa
• Experience of nursing and teaching nurses in West Africa
• Education to Master’s degree level in a related subject area
• Krio or other local language ability a plus

5. Terms

The Nurse educator will join the Welbodi Partnership team in Freetown between mid-August and early September 2014. Benefits include a return flight to/from Sierra Leone, cost of visas and residence permits, cost of national professional registration, shared accommodation, emergency medical and travel insurance, transportation to and from work and a stipend of $1000 per month.

6. Application process

Interested candidates should email a copy of their CV, cover letter, and a list of three relevant references to jobs@welbodipartnership.org by July 25, 2014. The job title should be included in the subject line. We welcome applicants of any nationality, including Sierra Leoneans at home or in the diaspora. Only those applicants shortlisted for an interview will be notified.

Equality and Diversity Statement

The Welbodi Partnership confirms its commitment to a comprehensive policy of Equal Opportunities in volunteering and employment in which individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and are given Equal Opportunities within the organisation. It is the Welbodi Partnership’s policy as an employer to treat all people equally irrespective of race, ethnic origin, nationality, sex, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, creed, disability, age or political belief.

Applicants for this position should be aware that if successful, they will be requested to complete a Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check, or equivalent in countries other than the UK. The Welbodi Partnership complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice. The entirety of the Welbodi Equality and Diversity statement is available upon request.