Matron/Patron – Health Facility

BACKGROUND: IRC began working in South Sudan in 1989. South Sudan declared independence in July 2011 following decades of brutal civil war rooted in disputes over religion, ethnicity, resources, governance and self-determination. The security situation remains fragile and testing operational challenges abound. IRC-South Sudan operates a country office in Juba, field offices in Lakes, Unity, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria states. Currently, IRC South Sudan implements programs in primary health care, community case management, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection and access to justice and livelihoods.

JOB OVERVIEW: The Matron/Patron under the supervision of the senior medical doctor will work with the County Health Department (CHD) and State Ministry of Health (SMOH) on a daily basis to ensure the Health Pooled Fund (HPF) programme design of comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care (CEmONC) is understood and implemented with close partnership between the CHD and IRC, while consistently building and strengthening the capacity of the CHD to manage the  Comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care services in the County. The Matron/Patron will promote and restore patients' health by developing day-to-day management and long-term planning of the patient care area. S/he Will Supervise and coordinate all nursing services in the health facility.

S/he will provide technical oversight to the nurses and midwives in the area of Emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC), with an emphasis on coaching the national staff to build their technical and professional capacities.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical Duties

Observe nursing care and visits patients to ensure that nursing care is carried out as directed, and treatment administered in accordance with physician's instructions.

• Accompany physician on rounds, and keep informed of special orders concerning patients.
• Identify patient service requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand service requirements.
• Maintain nursing staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training nurses and auxiliary staff
• Maintain nursing staff job results by coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.
• Maintain nursing operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing program, operational, and personnel policies and procedures
• Assure quality of care by developing and interpreting hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care; measuring health outcomes against standards; making or recommending adjustments
• Maintain safe and clean working environment by designing and implementing procedures, rules, and regulations; calling for assistance from other health care professionals.
• Ensure operation of medical and administrative equipment by verifying emergency equipment availability; completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs; maintaining equipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and techniques
• Maintain nursing supplies inventory by studying usage reports; identifying trends; anticipating needed supplies and approving requisitions
• Maintain patient confidence and protect operations by monitoring confidential information processing.
• Maintain documentation of patient care services by auditing patient and department records.
• Maintain a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information; responding to requests; building rapport; participating in team problem-solving methods.

Staff Management

• Maintain updated job descriptions for nurses and midwives, participate in recruiting national staff in conjunction with the Human Resources Department, orient new staff to the IRC and the Health program.
• Set performance objectives for the supervised staff, routinely monitor their performance and evaluate them at the end of the performance period.
• Strengthen and build up the programmatic, managerial and operational skills of the CHD and the IRC health staff through on-job mentoring and coaching and feedback mechanisms.
• Recommend promotions and disciplinary actions for the nursing staff through consultation with the senior medical doctor.
• Develop ongoing education programs for the nursing staff in consultation with the senior medical doctor.
• Address and mitigate staff complains and conflicts in coordination with the Senior medical doctor

Coordination & Representation

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders - including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, community based organisations and other IRC sectors to enhance cooperation and coordination.
• Attend the County level health coordination meetings and other meetings/workshops related to the CEmONC program.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Registered Nurse/Registered Midwife with strong management skills background
• At least 3 years of experience in implementing and managing CEmONC programs, preferably in complex humanitarian and/or emergency settings
• Strong ability to support and build the capacity of the health national team and strengthening of health systems (building the capacity of and working with local government counterparts)  
• Experience supervising a multi-national staff in a complex, insecure emergency setting
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to live and work under pressure in an unstable security environment
• Additional qualities: ability to multitask, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, cultural and environmental sensitivity
• Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, Power-point, Outlook and Internet   

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.