The International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH)

The International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH) is a United States of America federally-funded project which supports the development of HIV / AIDS care and treatment training initiatives in 25 developing countries acutely impacted by the global AIDS epidemic.

I-TECH is an initiative of the University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public Health & Community Medicine. Its Central Office is headquartered in Seattle, Washington and it currently supports ten international offices, including one in Pretoria, South Africa.

 

 

Job Title: Continuous Quality Improvement Mentor
Location: Pretoria, South Africa – Secondment to the National Department of Health
Section: Programs – MhINT
Supervisor: Program Director
Position Duration: Fixed Term Contract (March 2020 – September 2020)
I-TECH South Africa Goal:

I-TECH South Africa’s goal is to support the South African National Department of Health in strengthening national health systems to ensure delivery of high quality, sustainable health care services.

Commitment to Diversity: 

I-TECH recognises that disparities in health around the globe stem from inequity. I-TECH South Africa encourages and supports the multiple identities of staff, faculty and students including, but not limited to, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, culture, spiritual practice, geography, mental and physical disability and age. I-TECH strives to become a local, national, and international leader in developing and maintaining increased representation and recognition of each of these dimensions of diversity among its faculty, staff, and students.

Brief Summary of Position:

MhINT is a programme that aims to support the integration of mental health care into the already existing primary health care systems. The vision of this programme is to improve overall health outcomes of chronic care patients through reducing symptoms of common mental disorders (including depression, trauma symptoms and alcohol use disorders) and improve patient adherence to chronic medication. The MhINT Programme is implemented using continuous quality improvement methodology to strengthen collaboration and use of data to embed the intervention within the health system. The MhINT Programme Manager contributes to the strategic planning and operational aspects of implementation. They also play an important role in stakeholder engagement, particularly with the Department of Health and district support partners.

The MhINT Programme Psycho-social Training Lead will primarily be responsible for the day-to-day running of the psycho-social component of the program including training councillors, psychologist and supervision and supporting of the relevant staff. The psycho-social Training Lead will be involved in monitoring, evaluating and improving of the intervention and will work closely with senior management within the DNoH, DSP and other key stakeholder in developing strategies for embedding the programme within the health system.

Broadly this role will include:

• Strategic planning
• Training
• Supervision
• Mentorship
• Content / Manual Development and revisions
• Stakeholder Engagement

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and manage programme relevant staff to efficiently implement a programme to support integration of mental health services in primary health care in targeted districts
• Define the programme scope of work and develop programme implementation plan in collaboration with programme staff, Department of Health Training centers and Mental Health Directorates at different levels of the health system
• Engage with and negotiate access to implementation sites with relevant stakeholders i.e. programme collaborating partners, programme funder (PEPFAR), National, Provincial and District level department of health management
• In collaboration with DSP another other stakeholder, Support and strengthen Department of health Provincial and District strategic planning relating to mental health services in the primary health care setting
• Develop and revise training content and training materials related to the programme
• Lead training, mentorship and technical support activities to Department of Health Staff involved in mental health service provision at primary health care level, as well as at district hospital level
• Provide training, mentorship and support to District support partners involved in implementation of the MhINT programme as needed
• Train, supervise and provide emotional support to MhINT Registered Psychological counsellor/s
• Utilize continuous quality improvement methodology to implement the programme
• Provide training in Continuous quality improvement and assist the health system to form functional improvement teams to support integration of mental health services in primary health care
• Lead workshops and learning sessions in the targeted implementation districts
• Manage programme budget, resources and equipment
• Approve and manage time-sheets of MhINT programme staff and consultants
• Review and approve travel plans and implementation logistics
• Review and approve claim forms for programme staff
• Represent the MhINT programme in Conferences, Workshops and Department of Health events as needed
• Participate in Department of Health Implementation Partner meetings
• Strengthen collaboration with other relevant implementation partners in line with programme objectives
• Regularly review programme implementation data
• Compile programme reports for funder, District, Provincial and National Department of health consumption as needed
• Participate in programme evaluation and research linked to programme implementation
• To perform any other duties as assigned for the project.

Required Education, Training & Experience:

• A Master’s Degree in Psychology (Clinical / Counselling)
• Fluency in English and widely spoken language spoken in the targeted districts
• Training and Supervision experience (Advantageous)
• Experience in community based behavioural or psychotherapy interventions (Advantageous)

Desired Qualities

• Fluency in English and widely spoken language spoken in the targeted district
• Ability to delegate
• Good problem management skills
• Professional and respectful of other people
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills
• Systematic work approach with good organisation skills
• Analytic and inquisitive
• Enthusiastic, approachable and confident
• Good problem management skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and take initiative
• Willing to share knowledge, skills and expertise
• Willing to travel extensively

To apply:

Applicants are required to quote the relevant Position Title mentioned above when submitting their applications via email to [email protected].  No late applications will be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Preference will be given to South African applicants.

 

Application Deadline:  02^nd February, 2020