Ebola Isolation Unit Clinical Manager

Background:  Active in Sierra Leone since 1998, the IRC supports Sierra Leonean institutions – government, civil society and community-based organizations – to address local needs. The IRC does this through programs and partnerships designed to improve the lives of women, youth and children by implementing Health, Education, and Women’s Protection and Empowerment programming.  The IRC has a country program office in Freetown, and field offices in Kenema, Kono, Bo, Tonkolili, Port Loko and Kailahun districts.

The International Rescue Committee is scaling up its Ebola response in Sierra Leone by establishing isolation units of 20-30 beds each. The Ebola Isolation Unit Clinical Manager is a clinical officer or nurse practitioner dedicated to one isolation unit to oversee clinical practice within the facility. Patients admitted to isolation units receive presumptive treatment while awaiting test results. Once patients receive test results they will be discharged if negative, or transferred to a treatment unit if positive. Staff safety is an absolute priority and strict adherence to infection control procedures is required to prevent disease transmission. Personal protective equipment must be worn at all times while in the isolation units with strict adherence to infection control protocols. Time in the isolation unit is controlled so staff will have ample rest time.

Summary: Under supervision of the Ebola Isolation Unit Medical Coordinator the Clinical Manager will be responsible for providing clinical support to IRC nurse supervisors and environmental health specialists who are supervising national staff at Ebola Holding Units (EHU) where suspected and probable cases are held and treated until their test results are confirmed. The clinical manager is responsible for the coordination and monitoring of safe transfer of confirmed cases to an Ebola treatment center.

Responsibilities: The responsibilities of the Clinical Manager will be to:

This position will enter the wet area of the isolation unit
Liaise with the Isolation Unit Medical Coordinator to ensure proper coordination and apply best practices
Monitor and adjust promptly the designation of patients as “suspect”, “probable” and “confirmed” as per approved definition
Supervise the IRC nursing staff and monitor their well-being
Coordinate with nurses the movement of patients newly admitted, between wards, and transferred once laboratory confirmed.
Provide orders for clinical case management of patients to nurse supervisors
Monitor and complete symptomatology matrix
Ensure provision of appropriate medical and nursing care to all patients in isolation wards including supportive therapy and Ebola-related empiric therapy for malaria and typhoid.
Communicate to supervisor any training needs or deficits of personnel
Ensure that clinical management and infection prevention and control procedures are being applied by clinical staff according to a strict protocol
Provide technical support for organization of the PPE, drug management, and medical supply systems
Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of staff; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC and the DHMT and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs
Other relevant duties as assigned

Professional Standards

·         All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate will be a nurse practitioner or clinical officer who has clinical experience in isolation wards and in emergencies, with demonstrated and repeated experience working in isolation centres for viral hemorrhagic fevers or secondarily, field hospitals or cholera treatment centres. 

• Clinical experience in sub-Saharan Africa
• Strong leadership, management, planning, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills;
• Ability to live and work in stressful and insecure environment;
• Excellent initiator, able to manage multiple tasks;
• Able to work under pressure and good at timely decision making;
• Training or teaching experience;
• Knowledge and/or experience in conflict management, protection, or other related field;
• Excellent professional approach and strong team building and capacity building skills;
• Strong coordination and representation skills and well versed in convincing and clarification of views and points.

Working Environment:  

Security:

The security level for the IRC in Sierra Leone is 2 yellow. There is an ongoing outbreak of infectious disease, common criminality and potential risk of civil disturbance. The IRC is firmly committed to staff safety and wellbeing measures are in place in all offices and guest houses to mitigate against risk.

Housing:

Housing will be in an IRC guest