JOB DESCRIPTION

• In order to be successful for this role, the candidate must be fully licensed to practice as a Community Health Officer (CHO) in Sierra Leone

• The Community Health Officer will serve as a frontline clinician on the maternity team, providing safe and evidence-based antenatal and postnatal care, especially to women with high-risk pregnancies at the outpatient department of the Maternal Centre of Excellence, KGH. He/she will work under the clinical supervision of a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist and follow established protocols in the management of patients.

• This is a national position

• Clinical care
• The post holder will examine and assess pregnant women at booking to identify high-risk conditions such as hypertensive disorders, diabetes mellitus, previous CS, bad obstetric history etc. He/she will request for routine and other relevant investigations; and outline a pregnancy and delivery plan in conjunction with the supervising consultant. He/she will also provide care to postnatal women and, if necessary, participate in inpatients consultant ward rounds. Maternity care are must be delivered respectfully and maintain patients’ dignity at all times.

• Clinical documentation and data management
• The Community Health Officer will maintain complete and accurate patient records using the electronic medical record (EMR), ensuring proper documentation of antenatal history, examination, investigation results and management plans. He/she will also contribute to clinical audit processes and participate in quality improvement activities to strengthen the safety and effectiveness of maternity care services. Patients’ data must be treated with utmost confidentiality

• Escalation of care
• He/she will promptly escalate any abnormal clinical condition detected during care to the supervising consultant.

• Procedural skills

The CHO will be expected to competently perform obstetric ultrasound scans.

• Infection Prevention and Control
• The post holder will strictly adhere to infection prevention and control protocols and maintain aseptic technique during all clinical procedures. The officer will ensure compliance with key infection control practices, including proper hand hygiene. In addition, the officer will participate in infection surveillance activities to support the prevention and monitoring of healthcare-associated infections within the unit.

• Other duties as delegated to you by your line manager.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time, and this description will be subject to review in consultation with your line manager.

• A Diploma or Degree in Community Health (Required).
• A valid professional registration with the relevant regulatory body (Required).
• Additional training on obstetric ultrasound scanning (Desired)
• Ability to work well in a team, be dependable, flexible, hardworking and time conscious
• Experience in managing low-risk and high-risk pregnancies, and postpartum women.
• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given
• A strong commitment to social justice and health as a human right.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer proficiency (MS Office – Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Must not hold dual employment.
• Willing to live and work fulltime in Kono, Sierra Leone (Required).

The successful candidate will receive appropriate training and must adhere to the organisation’s safeguarding policies. Employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory references and screening checks, which may include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

As a participant in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, we request information from previous employers about any instances of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment. Additionally, Partners In Health Sierra Leone will share records of such misconduct with other agencies upon staff departure, ensuring transparency and accountability. By applying, candidates acknowledge and agree to these recruitment procedures