Consultant at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children with funding from GSK is currently building the capacity of fronline health workers (doctors, nurses/midwives and CHEWs) to deliver quality MNCH services through the health workers capcity building (HCB) project. The project aligns with the National Strategic Health development plan (2010 – 2016),  the Integrated Management of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Strategy (IMNCH) 2013, and IMCI and ICCM guidelines and implementation strategies.

One of the training being delivered on this project is the On-the-job training (OJT) in Intergted Management of Common Childhod Illnesess (IMCI). Till date, the project has trained 515 health workers (doctors, nurses/midwives and CHEWs) in Kaduna state on IMCI using this approach. The trained HWs were selected from health facilities in hard to reach and underserved communities from 12  LGAs of Kaduna state.

The training methodology consisted of an intial visit to the selected health facilities by the trainer(s) to conduct a training needs assessment (TNA) on HWs involved in the case management of children presenting with any of the common childhood illnesses (Malaria, Pneumonia, Diarrhea and Measles). This was for the purpose of identifying gaps in the knowledge and skills of the HWs in the management of any of the aforementioned illnesess. The findings from the TNA were thereafter shared with the health workers and thereafter a training plan was developed in consultation with the HWs.

The trainer then visits the health facilities 3-5 times over a period of time to coach, mentor and train the HWs using the national IMCI guidelines and other relevant job aids. Importantly both the TNA and the actual training were conducted in the health facilities whilst the HWs were attending to patients. Within 6 weeks of completing the training, follow up visits were conducted to the health facilities to monitor the activities of the HWs as well as assess their performance. During the follow-up visits, trainer(s) got feedback from the HWs on their experience(s) since concluding the OJT.

The project which is now in the 3rd year is aiming to train an additional 442 HWs in IMCI using the OJT approach.  To this end, the project is seeking a consultant(s) who will undertake this consultancy. Details of this consultancy are as highlighted below.

Objectives of the Consultancy

• To enhance the skills of  front line health workers in tackling common childhood illnesses at the facility level using the IMCI guidelines 
• To strengthen follow up visits and mentoring to reinforce learning and address skill gap.

Purpose

• The purpose of this consultancy is to train health workers from selected health facilities in Kaduna state on the Integrated Management of Common Childhood Illneses using an on-the job training approach.
• This will involve the conduct a training needs assessment on the health workers in identified facilities.
• Based on the findings of the TNA conduct an on the job training for the health workers using the IMCI guidelines.

Specific Tasks

• Initial assessment of health workers ability to properly manage a child with childhood illnesses – malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea. This will be by onsite observation of health workers in the child welfare clinics using a skills checklist.
• After the clinic session, the consultant will review the skills checklist findings with the health workers and agree on the findings.
• The consultant using the IMCI chart booklet, trains the health workers on how to appropriately assess, classify and treat a child presenting in the facility with malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia. Also the health workers will be trained on how to counsel the caregivers on appropriate home management for the illnesses and when to return.
• The consultant will pay four (4) visits to the same health facility to ensure the health workers in these facilities have been properly trained on the necessary.
• Skills required to properly manage a child presenting with  malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea and be able to check for malnutrition and initiate treatment, give vaccines that are due or missed
• Consultant then leaves behind a chart booklet for the use of the health workers
• Consultant will also conduct a follow up visit (within six weeks of training completion) to assess the knowledge and skills change amongst the health workers in that facility
• During the follow up visit, the consultant will observe the health workers again using the skills checklist and feedback provided on the pre training and post training skills assessment result.
• During the conduct of the OJT, a training quality checklist will be applied by Save the Children MNCH Advisors who pay visits to the facilities where health workers are undergoing the OJT training to monitor the quality of the training conducted. Training reports are at the end of the satisfactory training then developed by the consultants and shared with SCI office.

Expected output
By the end of the assignment the trained health workers:

• Will be able demonstrate how to effectively assess, classify and treat cases of common child hood illnesses
• Will demonstrate and educate mothers on disease prevention and home care practices to promote early detection and treatment of common childhood illnesses within communities.

The consultant will submit the following:

• Inception report detailing the facility visit plan, checklist that will be used and how the findings from the facility visits will be analyzed.
• Final Consultancy report. Report should include timing of the training, venue, return demonstration, Names of participants at each training phase. Feedback from trainee; pictures taken during training sessions(at least 3 pictures for each training).
• Monthly report of activities.
• Challenges/success during the training including recommendations for future trainings.

Requirements

• MBBS Degree or trained nurse/midwife.
• Minimum of 10 years experience in Public Health programming
• Familiarity with national guidelines on Intergrated Management of Common Childhood Illnesses.
• Experienced trainer or facilitator of at least 10 years.
• Previous experience delivering similar training either for state governments or development partners.
• Good report writing skills.
• Preferably based in Kaduna State.

Application Closing Date
23rd August, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online