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

Reporting to the Health Coordinator, the IPC specialist will work in collaboration with the IRC Health, Reproductive and Nutrition managers to improve IPC practices and structures within the IRC supported health facilities, providing training and mentorship for IRC staff and healthcare workers.

The Infection Prevention Specialist coordinates an integrated and comprehensive plan for infection surveillance, prevention, and control and process improvement throughout the organization. Objectively and systematically assesses, monitors, evaluates and improves the processes that affect the quality of patient care.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the formation and induction of Infection Control Committees in health facilities/ appoint IPC focal persons.
• Support the IPC teams to plan, develop, implement and evaluate infection prevention and control within the health facilities.
• Provide technical support to IRC staff and health care workers.
• Initiate and support continuous IPC Training and mentorship support system to Health Care Workers and health.
• Provide IPC training for IRC supported health facility staff in relation to COVID-19.
• Ensure the quality of IPC in the facility by tracking, monitoring facility quality improvement plans and providing guidance or trouble shooting support.
• Conduct rounds in health facility wards and departments, discussing and monitoring infection control practices with staff.
• Ensure distribution of IPC equipment and supplies to supported facilities.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions in relation to IPC practices.
• Submit Monthly Reports on status of IPC activities and routine IPC supervision conducted across the health facilities and staff.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of an incidence reporting system and communicate to the Health coordinator where any IPC related breaches occur that could potentially heighten COVID spread.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Reporting and monitoring

The IPC specialist will:

• Monitor and supervise standard implementation of IPC practices in all IRC supported health facilities
• Provide weekly or biweekly progress reports to the health coordinator on the level of IPC implementation within IRC supported health facilities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Medical Doctor, Public health expert or clinical medicine.
• At least 3 years’ experience, including previous experience working with infectious disease outbreak and working in resource limited environments.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing IPC practices and systems improvement, ideally in a low resource setting.
• Previous experience working.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising a team in the strict adherence to infection control.
• Previous training or teaching experience.
• Strong leadership, management, planning, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to live in challenging conditions and ability to work under difficult, high pressure situations.
• Must be a team player with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure in a stressful environment, displaying patience, compassion and diplomacy.