The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The International Rescue Committee has been working in Somalia since 2006, providing essential services to conflict and disaster affected communities. The IRC has been operational in Central Somalia (Mudug and Galgadud regions) and Mogadishu implementing interventions in the areas of livelihood, WASH, Governance and peacebuilding, GBV, Nutrition, education and health reaching out to more than 200,000 conflict and drought affected people.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Nutrition assistant is responsible for better nutrition among communities through treatment clinical symptoms of severe acute malnutrition and prevention of further deterioration of the nutrition situation through provision of therapeutic food, routine drugs, health and nutrition education and capacity building and technical support to the ministry of health in the management of severe acute malnutrition.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Smooth and accurate running of OTP/SFP

The nutrition nurse is responsible for the assessment of patient care and training needs with regard to enteral feeding and will plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care accordingly:

• Ensure that protocols are strictly followed and implemented.
• Ensure the clinical health and nutrition consultation of MAM cases by following strictly the protocols and provide individual health and nutrition counselling, refer the case to the health facility in case of need.
• Ensure proper, clear and accurate data recording on clinical registration book and nutrition cards.
• Participate to the demonstration of the preparation of the ration for each new admission.
• Ensure that all program materials are well maintained.
• Check the hygiene at each stage of the OTP/SFP visits

Managing nutrition

• Through liaison with the community mobilizers and nutrition volunteers, provide effective follow up of all cases: particularly tracing of children who are absent from the program sick children, long stay children, children not gaining weight, and children with social problems etc.
• Provide key health and education messages to beneficiaries based the protocol and guidelines
  respond to inquiries regarding the technical aspects of the program admission and discharge whenever necessary at the OTP/SFP sites.
• Perform any other duties requested by the immediate supervisor.
• Follow and respect the current protocols specially drug administration i.e. for de-worming, malaria, polio and measles, and micronutrient mineral/ Vitamin A supplements targeting children and PLW.
• Add the activities linked to health and nutrition education in the protocols.
• Follow the treatment of the beneficiaries during visits at home.
• Ensure documentation and recodes for reports and monthly consumption.
• Compile the statistical data (admission, default, cured, absent, death) and draft a report on activities.
• Perform any other duties requested by the immediate supervisor

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling for IRC values.
• Holds partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Reporting

• Complete and submit to the Field Nutrition Coordinator the relevant weekly and monthly reports for the OTP activities.
• Check the coherence between the medical stock report and the attendance of OTP beneficiaries.
• Make sure reports are accurate and complete.
• Report problems encountered to the Field Nutrition officer

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Diploma in Nutrition, Bsc Public Health, Nursing with Nutrition diploma.
• 2year’ experience is required
• Addition nutrition training in CMAM is an added advantage.
• Strong communication skills, oral, written and presentation.
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations.
• Should be a team player and culturally sensitive.
• Excellent spoken and written local language and English language.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

• Commitment, punctuality, proactive, a good team player, ability to work under difficult conditions in the field, trustworthy, honesty, etc
• All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.
• Knowledge of combined protocol (Treating SAM and MAM using simplified dosage of RUTF).