Community Health Officer (CHO).

About Trócaire

Trócaire is an International NGO. We work with local partners in the world’s most at-risk communities and with people in Ireland to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and injustice and respond to the crises they create. Together we bring about positive and lasting change for a just world. Trócaire works in up to 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. We work towards five goals:

• Defend Human Rights and Promote Access to Justice.

• Achieve Climate & Environmental Justice.

• Ensure Women & Girls’ Protection, Voice & Influence.

• Save Lives and Protect Human Dignity and

• Mobilise the Public on the island of Ireland to achieve Global Justice.

Trocaire Somalia’s Health and Nutrition programme is recruiting a Community Health Officer (CHO). The CHO will be responsible for supervising the ICCM supervisors and supporting Community Health Workers (CHWs) in providing health services and education as well as working with the community in arranging places/sites for the delivery of integrated community case management (iCCM). In addition, the CHO will be responsible for supporting the iCCM programme in the provision of treatment of key illnesses for children under five. S/he will support and supervise the iCCM CHWs in the timely treatment of children for diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, two of the highest contributors to morbidity in most areas of Somalia. The CHO will be responsible for sensitising communities and supporting them in identifying key health risks and assist them on how to address these risks. S/he will identify what treatment interventions and actions should be taken for treating a child under 5 years from diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition, referral of children with danger signs, pre-referral treatment of those children, and providing treatment at home.

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive salary and benefits package. This position is based in Kismayo and open to Somali Nationals only.

Project Management

• Compile reports from iCCM supervisors, giving feedback and ensuring that reports are of good quality through regular verification of the data and meeting indicator expectations.
• Identify and report immediately to the Community Health/iCCM Project Coordinator any problem that may interfere with the achievement of programme objectives.
• Ensure proper data collection, data processing analysis and quality reporting.
• Detail the achievements and share lessons learnt by conducting a regular monthly meeting with the iCCM supervisors, CHWs, and Community Health Committee (CHC) members to discuss all related issues.
• Develop a monthly plan and discuss with the team the required activities that need to be implemented.
• Conduct regular supervision visits to oversee and evaluate field activities, provide regular feedback to community health workers in a constructive way, and accurately address any training gaps identified.
• Ensure that the CHWs have adequate stocks and are provided with medicines according to the previous month’s consumption rate.
• Prepare purchase requests and follow-up with finance and logistics teams to ensure the availability of the required logistics (medicine, CHW supplies, and IEC materials).
• Assist in the training needs and coordinate training sessions and community meetings.
• Conduct weekly supervisor meetings with CHCs.
• Ensure integration of protection and gender throughout project implementation. This includes the introduction of mechanisms to enable women to participate in key decision making around public health issues.
• Carry out any other relevant tasks assigned by the line manager within the scope of the programme implementation plan.

Logistics & Procurement:

• Work with the Procurement and Warehousing team to prepare and execute a procurement plan to ensure favourable lead time for the procurement team.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Work with the Trocaire management team in the field in monitoring and reporting progress and adopt agreed changes in project design to conform to varying contexts.
• Develop a monthly activity schedule based on the project work plan to facilitate timely implementation.
• In collaboration with the MEAL team, set up programme impact/process monitoring systems and collect relevant secondary data relating to disease patterns, and other health indicators
• Contribute to the preparation of monitoring and assessment tools in collaboration with the MEAL team.
• Prepare and submit timely weekly/monthly reports to the Community Health/iCCM Project Coordinator.

Coordination

• Strengthen relationships between Trocaire, UN agencies, other agencies and beneficiaries (community leaders and government agencies (MOH)), working closely with all project stakeholders for the integration of services.

Essential requirements

Qualifications:

• University degree or higher qualification in Community Health or have a nursing/medical background with experience in public health programmes

Experience:

• Minimum two-year professional experience in implementing and supervising community health mobilisation projects and coordinating Child Care Programs.
• Proven track record in crafting community mobilisation, sensitisation, and awareness-raising activities.
• Training and capacity-building skills.
• Knowledge and experience in undertaking assessments and analysing the results.
• Fluency in written, spoken English and Somali languages is mandatory.
• Knowledge of different working standards and ethics, including SPHERE.
• Demonstrable experience in managing teams, supervising and training others.
• Ability to prioritise and commit to meeting deadlines.

Skills:

• Leadership and interpersonal skills including the ability to listen; negotiation skills at different levels; flexible and adaptable to work in unstable environments and under pressure with limited support.
• Capacity Building skills
• Good computer skills (Microsoft Office).
• Strong problem-solving skills and analytical skills.

Safeguarding Programme Participants-Children & Adults

Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse. It has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) that outline the expected behaviour and responsibility of all staff, consultants, and other organisational representatives. More information on Trócaire’s safeguarding policies is available here.

Diversity and inclusion:

We welcome diverse applicants to join our inclusive workforce.

Trócaire is an equal opportunities employer. We are an organisation that embraces diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds to bring their experiences and perspectives to Trócaire.

Diversity and Inclusion statement is available here