IPC Officer - UN Agency

E-Zone HRM Limited is a management consulting group providing one-stop solutions to clients who seek improved and sustainable profitability through the effective use of their people and resources. We specialize in delivering innovative and value added services that promote revenue growth and cost containment.

E-Zone HRM Limited has a formal agreement with one of the United Nations Agency to provide outsourcing services under a third party contract.

E-Zone HRM Limited is now accepting applications from Bangladeshi Nationals for the following vacancies under third party outsourcing contract modality:

Position: IPC officer

Duty Station: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contract Duration: 4 Months

Number of Vacancies: 1(One)

Contract Type: Contract with E-Zone

Contract Start Date: 1st April 2022

Reporting to: Health Specialist, Dhaka

A. Objectives:

The objective of IPC officer is to supplement capacity of UNICEF to support field level MNCH activities in assigned district. She/He will provide technical assistance to local DGHS/DGFP for implementation of UNICEF supported project emphasizing on implementation, monitoring and mentoring for project implementation. S/He will also coordinate with the UNFPA, save the children and other NGO partners supporting implementation of this project to achieve the result for this project.

He/she will be responsible for restoration of routine essential services for both COVID-19 and Non- COVID-19 cases, operationalize the COVID-19 guidelines for MNCAH services and  responsible for the actual operationalization of district/Upazila quality improvement plans focusing on maternal care, small and sick newborn care and oxygen therapy in assigned districts and selected facilities. Also focusing on IPC practices as a norm in the intervention facilities, an effective monitoring and mentoring system would be institutionalized under the active supervision of the functioning IPC committee.

B. Background:

The  overall  goal  for  this  position  is  to  improve  the  health  and  well-being  for  vulnerable populations,  especially  for  women,  adolescents,  children  and  newborn,  through  increased resilience of the communities for COVID-19 response and ensuring quality essential healthcare services.  The  overall  project  work-plan  has  developed  together  with  the  DGHS  and  others government partners mainly focusing on purchasing and equipped the oxygen related equipment in  selected  facilities,  improving  on  IPC,  WASH  and  waste  management  and  importantly revitalization of MNCH , small and sick newborn services in line with the quality of care standard Currently the central team is supported by the zonal Health officers for implementation of this project. However, additional support is required especially in the intense field support as the zonal health officers are occupied with others divisional responsibilities. As the nature of the project require hands on approach to the selected facilities, and intense field support will be required during  the  initial  phase  of  the  project.  To  improve  the  efficiency  of  the  funding  and implementation, it is important conduct thorough monitoring progress and visit to the selected facilities in weekly basis.

It is anticipated that selected individual will be reported to national QIL hub coordinator who will be technically supported by UNICEF officer for day to day management of the project.

C. Scope of Work:

The IPC officer will perform the specific defined task with time line in collaboration with DGHS, DGFP, and other partners in the assigned districts. The officer will report to supervisor every month focusing on the progress of the overall indicated activities. S/He will ensure timely quality accomplishment of project implementation at the facilities, Quality Improvement initiative and NGO supported activities in the community level. S/He will also coordinate with country office and other MNCH officer in other districts to share the progress as required.

Responsible for monitoring officers and facility IPC team for continuous quality improvement of the IPC measures through implementing quality improvement cycles at unit level using PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach in order to sustain the key IPC practices after the training.

The IPC officer shall be stationed at their assigned district headquarters and travel to the upazila health facilities as per monthly travel plan guideline. The assigned districts may be changed according to program needs however UNICEF will notify the officer in timely manner. IPC officer will work 5 days a week except government holidays as per GoB policy.

D. Tasks and Schedules:

1. Overall management, coordination, and implementation in the assigned district

• Support district and Upazila manager for improving capacity to manage, implement and monitor MNCH program
• Ensure communication and coordination between UNICEF, URC, NIPSOM,DGHS,DGFP and local authority of divisional director office, civil surgeon office, Medical college ,District hospital ,UHC (Director/hospital superintendent/CS/DCS/MOCS/DDFP/ UHFPO) UN, BRAC and other implementing partners and act as the focal person of the district for the program
• Responsible for development implementation and monitoring of quarterly work plan for the project
• Timely disbursement, utilization and liquidation of project fund on the quarterly basis
• Preparation and dissemination of technical reports
• Coordinate   with   BRAC   and   identify   opportunities   to   encourage   community engagement in the district level planning for QoC and in facility quality improvement cycle (PDCA)

2. District QoC program management:

(District QoC program management includes all district level activities to support improvement in quality of care for mothers, newborn, child and adolescent health in selected facilities)

• Act  as  key  resource  person  for  the  quality  improvement  program  for  IPC  care supported by UNICEF in the assigned district
• Support the development and operationalization of district MNCAH QoC plan
• Be able to plan monthly/weekly activities, workplan, meetings, travel and logistics in consultation with NIPSOM and UNICEF zonal health officer
• Communicate and coordinate with national quality improvement learning hub (NQIL hub coordinator), NIPSOM faculty coordinator, URC mentors, district IPC monitoring officer as appropriate, in a timely manner
• Functionalize the district Quality Improvement Committee (QIC), facilitate monthly QIC meeting and provide technical support for performance tracking of implementing facilities
• Facilitate and participate in IPC related trainings and other trainings provided by the UNICEF and BRAC.
• Conduct facility assessment to the assigned facilities using the provided checklist

3. District IPC program management:

(All district level activities to support improvement in quality of care for IPC related activities in selected facilities)

• Act as key IPC resource person for the quality improvement program in the assigned district supported by UNICEF.
• Ensure triage and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in target facilities established and adapted to the current COVID-19 context as per national protocol and guidelines
• Assist the formation of district IPC committee
• Establish an effective monitoring and mentoring system active supervision of the functioning IPC committee
• Organize and facilitate monthly district IPC committe
• Responsible for development implementation and monitoring of quarterly work plan for the project
• Be able to plan their activities, meetings, travel and logistics.
• Communicate  any  challenges  faced  to  QIL  hub  coordinator,  NIPSOM  faculty coordinator, URC mentors, as appropriate, in a timely manner
• Facilitate and participate in IPC trainings and other related trainings provided by the UNICEF and BRAC.
• Contribute to efficient administrative and financial processes

4. Facility On-site support

• Establish and/or strengthen functional QIC and other quality improvement teams such as work improvement team (WIT) at the health facility
• Identify training needs for QI among facility staff and seek support from mentors and QIL hub coordinator to organize quality improvement workshops.
• Enhance the knowledge of the facility staff in Quality improvement cycle (PDCA) by acting as coach
• Learn about the existing progress of Quality improvement cycle (PDCA) at the facility
• Regular coaching visits to health facilities using structured coaching tools – once a week to each facility, frequency of visits may have to be adapted based on progress and need of the facility team (Most teams initially require intensive coaching. District hospitals may require separate coaching for teams in different departments)
• Guide the facility staff in designing and accomplishing Quality improvement cycle (PDCA) project
• Identify training needs for QI among facility staff and seek support from mentors and QIL hub coordinator to organize IPC related quality improvement workshops.
• Ensure intervention facilities upgraded with installation of oxygen infrastructure such as Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO), oxygen equipment (oxygen concentrators, pulse- oximeters) and capacity building to staff on using and maintenance of those equipment
•     Certify that small and sick newborn care by further strengthening and upgrading of SCANUs services with provision of adequate, safe and rational use of oxygen
• Establish system for screening, management of ROP (retinopathy of Prematurity) in all intervention districts

5. Capacity building on rational use of oxygen

• Contribute to implementation of "National medical oxygen plan" of Ministry of health and Family Welfare (MOH&FW)
• Facility information tools: adaptation of medical documentation templates for facilities that care for COVID-19 patients
• Integrate Oxygen indicators in the national HMIS (DHIS2) and dashboard and capacity building of the national HMIS team on data analytics for oxygen
• Quality assurance process established for operations and maintenance of the oxygen supply system in selected hospitals as per national guidelines
• Conduct facility assessments in all identified health facilities and develop assessment reports
• Work with the trained Master Trainers to prepare sessions for stepdown cascade trainings

6. Sharing & Learning

• Help QI teams identify details of PDCA projects that are valuable for sharing
• Arrange webinar calls, meetings, workshops as needed for learning and sharing
• Share experiences and learning with other district MNCH officers, IPC monitoring officer, NIPSOM faculty, UNICEF, URC and DGHS, DGFP team members.
• Together with QI teams document PDCA projects and learnings (case studies/ppts)

7. Measurement for improvement

• Actively guide teams in data collection for their selected quality improvement aims (simplify data collection, helping improve data quality for selected aim)
• Collate data on improvement from the selected sites in the district
• Help foster a supportive environment so teams can share data for problem solving without fear of punishment or blame.
• Ensure complete and correct reporting of core QED indicators in DHIS2/other tools
• Support collection of data for additional indicators including experience of care (key data that is not reported in DHIS2 but required for QoC program)
• Support  the  analysis  and  interpretation  of  data  for  using  in  the  quality improvement process

8. Learning and knowledge management

• Writing a case study of a previous and current PDCA project (jointly with QI team)
• Helping teams make QI project PowerPoints.
• Watching recordings of sharing and learning webinars
• Reading case studies of successful QI projects
• Coaching facility teams in PDCA
• Participating in webinars and meetings organized by external mentors
• Cross  learning  visit  and  experience  sharing  among  the  other  implementing districts

E. Deliverables:

• Monthly reports ( To be submitted on 15th of every month)
• Monthly workplan ( To be submitted on 15th of every month)
• # facilities reported using the oxygen monitoring tools (100% of all facilities within the assigned districts within the contract period)
• # facilities reported using the oxygen monitoring tools (100% of all facilities within the assigned districts within the contract period)
• # facilities reporting oxygen related data (100% of all facilities within the assigned districts within the contract period)
• # facilities implementing the Quality improvement project (PDCA) (100% of all facilities within the assigned districts within the contract period)

F. Consultancy Costs:

1. The consultant will get BDT 1,25,000 as mentioned in the take home pay as a consolidated package which includes lumpsum travel cost, so consultant will not claim any travel cost in additionto this.
2. Computer and communication will bear by the Consultant
3. Stationary and other office equipment will bear by the Consultant
4. Consultant will be responsible to pay all taxes as per government rules and regulations. E-Zone will make statutory deductions towards income tax as per government rules and regulations.

G. Profile Requirements & Qualification Skills

• MBBS (MPH degree preferred) and also people with bachelor's degree in social  science experience in health care are encouraged to apply.
• Technical  expertise  in  areas  such  as  Quality  Improvement,  Reproductive,  Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent health or nutrition is preferred
• Good skills in coaching, facilitation, and ability to work as a team player
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication and presentations skills
• Willingness to learn new concepts and methods
• Ability to engage effectively with a range of different stakeholder groups, including health facility staff of all cadres, partner organizations, public/private sector officials.
• Ability to travel within the district, between districts and to Dhaka (>75% of time)
• Some experience with management of finances and logistics
• Must be able to join on short notice. (preferably within two weeks after receiving offerletter) 

This position is open for Bangladeshi Nationals only. All candidates, irrespective of gender, religious and ethnic backgrounds can apply for the vacancies.

The UN Agency prides itself as fostering a multicultural and harmonious work environment, guaranteed by a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected consultants will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Candidates with the required profile and proven experience, who meet these qualifications, are invited to submit their application in English clearly mentioning the Job Title along with a meaningful cover letter, updated CV, recent PP size photograph by email to: [email protected]

Last Date of Application: 14th March , 2022

Please mention the Applied Position Name on the subject line of your email

No phone calls please. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. All applications will be treated according to the merit and with strict confidentiality.