Visiting Consultant Paediatrician

BACKGROUND

The Ola During Children’s Hospital is located in the densely populated eastern part of Freetown, Sierra Leone. The hospital is established as the only tertiary referral paediatric hospital in Sierra Leone and is part of the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex, comprising of six hospitals. The Ola During Children’s Hospital has officially acquired the partial accreditation for postgraduate training in Paediatrics by the West African College of Physicians, the reaccreditation was due in March 2020 but this visit was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Approximately 12,000 children are admitted annually. The Ola During Children’s Hospital has 200 inpatient beds divided across two general wards (with oncology, nephrology, pulmonology, neurology and infectious disease subspecialties), a resuscitation department, an intensive care unit, an emergency room / HDU, an isolation unit, a nutrition unit and a neonatal unit. In addition, various clinics (HIV, Tuberculosis, etc) are held on a regular basis.

Sierra Leone has a high under five mortality rate, one of the highest in the world. The Government of Sierra Leone is putting all measures in place to change this status. One of the measures is strengthening the tertiary hospitals and the affiliating teaching hospitals to improve the quality of care which would support in strengthening the postgraduate training of residents.

Currently, there are a number of pre-residents, 2 junior residents and one senior resident in the department of paediatrics and this is expected to increase in number in the next few years. As per the requirement of the West African College of Physicians, to be able to run the postgraduate training in Paediatrics requires at least 5 consultants to be present as faculty members, which is where there is a current gap.

In this context, with support from the World Health Organisation, Welbodi Partnership intends to appoint several International Paediatric Consultants to help support the postgraduate and undergraduate training, clinical service and quality improvement in the hospital, thus improving patient care on flexible short-term contracts (minimum 1 month, maximum 7 months).

ROLE PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The purpose of these roles is to strengthen the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at ODCH and embark on quality improvement activities in the hospital.

Specific objectives include:

1. To provide support to the local consultants in carrying out and upgrading the

   undergraduate and postgraduate training programmes for students and doctors

   respectively.

2. To support audit and research in the hospital.

3. To provide clinical patient care and supervise and train the junior doctors.

4. The consultants will also be required to help in the postgraduate training programme

   of nurses.

SCOPE OF WORK

Under the supervision of the Medical Superintendent and Head of Department for Paediatrics at the Ola During Children’s Hospital, and the Welbodi Project Manager, the consultant is expected to:

• Assist in the planning and execution of the postgraduate training of the residents according to the Curriculum of the West African College of Physicians.

• Assist in the planning and execution of the undergraduate training of the residents according to the Curriculum set by the head of department for Paediatrics.

• To provide direct support to house officers, medical officers, residents and senior residents with bedside teaching and other clinical management of paediatric patients.

• To promote and carry out research and assist students and junior doctors in the area of research.

• Help organise and take part in various postgraduate meetings.

• Assist in the development of protocols (clinical and non-clinical) for all cadres

  working in the hospital.

• Head a ward and be responsible for the smooth running of that particular ward.

• Carry out out-patient clinics, according to the subspecialty interest of the consultant.

• Be involved in the general quality improvement of the hospital.

• Assist in the assessment of under- and postgraduate students, also at unit/ward

  level.

• Take part in the on-call roster for the senior doctors.

• Take part in meetings of the senior doctors.

• Assist in the organisation and mentoring of pre-primary doctors.

• Assist in the training of nurses.

  EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

  • Lectures, bedside teaching, tutorials, meetings conducted at the allocated time.

  • Smooth running of the particular ward allocated to and optimal care of the patients

  on that ward.

  • House officers, medical officers, residents, senior residents are mentored in the

  clinical management of various diseases.

  • Pre-residents, residents and senior residents successfully taking the primary,

  membership and fellowship exams respectively.

  • Successful Standard Operating Procedure development for clinics.

  • Contribution to at least one research project, quality improvement project or audit.

  • Multiple clinical and non-clinical protocols designed.

  • Smooth running of undergraduate and postgraduate exams/assessment.

  • Successful on call duties.

  • Successful lectures and clinical training of nurses.

  • Report of training needs assessment of the nurses and doctors.

  • Feedback to the Medical Superintendent and Head of Department concerning any

  irregularities.

  1. PERSON SPECIFICATION

     Qualifications:

  • Fellowship in the Faculty of Paediatrics of the West African College of Physicians, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health or American/European equivalent.

  Experience:

  • At least 5-years’ experience post fellowship.

  • Experience in training of undergraduate and postgraduate students.

  • Preferably subspecialty or experience in either emergency medicine, nephrology,

    endocrinology, pulmonology, gastroenterology or infectious disease.

  • Previous experience in Sierra Leone or sub-Saharan African countries or regions will be an asset.

    Skills:

  • Good communication skills, both written and verbal.

  • Ability to develop a suitable capacity building training program for doctors and

    nurses.

  • Good coordination skills with the direct supervisor and other key health

    stakeholders.

  • Good interpersonal skills to establish rapport with staff at all levels.

  • Ability to articulate and link up the needs of the unit that consultant is attached to.

  • Monitoring and supportive supervision skills for the wards, for the junior doctors and

    for medical students.

  • High level of motivation and patience to assist in the building up of the hospital to

    international standard.

    GENERAL POLICIES PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES

    In addition to the key job responsibilities detailed in this job description all employees and volunteers at Welbodi Partnership are expected to comply with the general duties outlined below and detailed in full in our policies.

    SAFEGUARDING

    Welbodi Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff and volunteers are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment. Applicants for this position should be aware that if successful, they will be requested to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, or equivalent in countries other than the UK. The Welbodi Partnership complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice.

    DATA PROTECTION

    Welbodi Partnership complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

    EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

    Welbodi Partnership is committed to a comprehensive policy of Equal Opportunities in volunteering and employment in which individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and are given equal opportunities within the organisation.It is the Welbodi Partnership’s policy as an employer to treat all people equally irrespectiveof race, ethnic origin, nationality, sex, marital or parental status, gender, sexual orientation, creed, disability, age or political belief.

    WORKING CONDITIONS

    The Consultant will be based in the Ola During Children’s Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone and will have use of shared office space.

    Welbodi Partnership operates in tertiary and primary healthcare facilities in one of the world’s poorest countries. Consequently, working conditions can be challenging, including many things we take for granted in other working environments, such as running water, power, communications, staff competency and regular supplies of essential medicines and equipment – many of these things are not a given in the environments where we work. Whilst every reasonable effort is made to ensure a safe working environment, this is a challenging context, much of which is out of our control. Welbodi Partnership places a strong emphasis on staff health and well-being and strives to ensure staff comfort at all times.

    JOB REVISIONS

    This job description should be viewed as a guide to the duties required and is not definitive or restrictive in any way. The duties of the post may be varied from time to time in response to changing circumstances.

    SALARY / BENEFITS

    • Salary between USD1500 and 2000 per month depending on experience

    • Housing allowance

    • 1 return flight from current place of residence to Sierra Leone

    • Travel and medical insurance cover

    The full remuneration package will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.