Purpose of consultancy

This role involves providing technical guidance on improving the quality of critical care, emergency and operative care – with a focus on person-centered care. It will involve technical support, data analysis and developing programmatic materials and facilitating capacity building in countries.

The consultant works with the Maternal and Child Health, and Quality Safety Unit of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO WPRO) and Country Office focal staff, team leaders in priority countries.

This consultancy includes supporting the following technical programs – Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH), Safe Affordable Surgery (SAS), Infection Prevention Control (IPC) and Quality & Patient Safety.

Background

The World Health Organization’s global strategy report on people-centred health services highlights the need to ‘fundamentally recalibrate’ health services to put users at the centre of service delivery. People-centred care involves respectful communication, appropriate information sharing and shared decision-making, addressing psychological, social, spiritual, and cultural needs, and enhancing coordination and continuity of care.

People-centred care can lead to a range of benefits for patients and healthcare staff, including improved recovery from critical illness and improved staff wellbeing. Improving patient and family experiences is an important part of providing high quality care.

In the WPRO region Member States have adopted the Regional Framework for Safe and Affordable Surgery. In addition to there have been multiple World Health Assembly resolutions on strengthening Emergency, Critical Care and Operative Care. These are healthcare settings where patients and families are at their most vulnerable and the need for a people– centred orientation becomes even more important.

Person-centeredness has also shown impact on outcomes. Presence and engagement of family members and loved ones has shown improvements in patient safety and improvements in outcomes. However, there is a need for clear implementation approaches and support for change in practices since health facilities and providers often face obstacles in making their processes and systems patient and family centred.

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop an approach and guidance on making health services, specifically along the emergency, critical care and surgical care continuum more people-centred.

Deliverables

The selected Consultant will work under the supervision of the Technical Officer for Safe and Affordable Surgery, and will support the following activities:

Output 1. Concept note on the planned approach with background evidence and evaluation plan.

Deliverable 1.1: Draft a concept note on the strategic approach to improving person-centred care for vulnerable persons in health facilities more broadly and then going into detail on patients and families in critical care.
Deliverable 1.2: Describe the evidence base using existing WHO publications, existing reports and online literature review, especially as relevant to the WPRO region and building on work from other regions. Outline the plan for testing and scale-up. Include program objectives and evaluation plan (quantitative, qualitative).

Output 2. Implementation materials and tools.

Deliverable 2.1: Draft a tool to support person-centeredness in critical are. Can also include elements of emergency care and surgical care.
Deliverable 2.2: Based on best practices and literature review done for Output 1, develop an easy-to-use guide on person-centred care practices. This can include aspects around communication, system design, family presence and engagement, decision making, pain management, sound/light/ambient temperature considerations etc. It should also include common queries and challenges that arise such as infection control and workload of staff. And related considerations for staff wellbeing and safety.

Output 3. Report of implementation and revised materials from a minimum of one facility.

Deliverable 3.1: Support the implementation of the approach in selected health facilities in the WPRO region.
Deliverable 3.2: Together with the WHO WPRO team identify interested health facilities in the WPRO region to implement the patient centred approach using quality improvement methods (multi-disciplinary team based).  This may include travel to selected sites, and require coordination with Ministry of Health, WHO Country Office, health facility staff. Adapt the strategy and tools based on testing. Evaluation and documentation of the learnings from this work.

Output 4. One meeting facilitated (online or offline).

Deliverable 4.1: Support a community of practice & learning to further the agenda of person-centred care in the region. Together with the WHO WPRO team advocate for person-centred care in the region.
Deliverable 4.2: Meeting agenda, meeting notes/outcomes and participant list.

The consultant may be required to provide additional support not mentioned above such as coordinating with WHO HQ on inclusion of person-centred care modules; and drafting relevant materials for the WPRO Regional Meetings. Providing expert inputs in their area of work. Draft technical documents, concept notes, PowerPoint decks drafted/edited.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: First university degree in medicine or nursing; Training in public health, hospital management or relevant field.
Desirable: Specialist training in critical care, emergency medicine or surgical care; Training in research skills; Training in quality improvement, patient safety or change management

Experience

Essential: At least five years of public health or clinical experience; Prior work experience in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) – either clinically or in a public health role
Desirable: Work experience in countries of the Western Pacific region. Experience in quality improvement. Experience in person-centered care or family-centered care.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential:

Ability to write and edit technical documents, reports and PowerPoints
Strong understanding of interpreting evidence and guidelines and distilling into practical recommendations
Familiarity with use of indicators, and monitoring and evaluation using both quantitative and qualitative data
Experience working collaboratively with health facility staff in improving care
Experience in quality improvement, change management in health facilities
Experience in facilitating workshops and providing on-site support

Languages and level required

Essential: Expert knowledge of and fluency in spoken and written English
Desirable: Additional working knowledge of a language of the WHO Western Pacific Region

Location

Off site: Home-based

Travel

The Consultant is expected to be available for travel on a on-demand basis as necessitated by project requirements. Travel details, including destinations, duration, and any related logistical considerations, will be communicated in advance to facilitate planning and coordination.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: Band level B, USD 7,000 – USD 8,000 (monthly)
Expected duration of contract: 60 days, November 2024 to April 2025

Additional Information:

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