Health and Nutrition Officer at Save the Children

The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, is an international non-governmental organization that promotes children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries

Scope of the Role 
Reports to: Nutrition Coordinator
Dimensions:
Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and a footprint in Kakamega, Kisumu, Migori and Kitui. In 2016, Save the Children established a new project office in Madagascar whose operations are managed by the Kenya CO.

Key areas of accountability:

Programme.

Provide technical assistance to MoH and CHPs towards implementation of integrated community case management and integration with uncomplicated acute malnutrition.
Support training and mentorship for Community Health Volunteers on Integrated Community Case management implementation (ICCM), Basic modules, and Community-based Management of uncomplicated acute malnutrition (CMAM).
Organize and coordinate training in consultation with County health authorities.
Consolidate activity reports and ensure timely submission to the supervisor for onward submission.
Ensure the quality of programme data by interacting often with the project database.
Closely work with the principal investigator(s) and provide the requirements they need to successfully implement the research.
Work with MOH to strengthen Community Health Service delivery and the community–facility linkage and referrals.

Monitoring and Evaluation.

Participate in the design, development and implementation of an M&E framework for health-related activities.
Document the process of implementation, lessons learnt, case studies and good practice to ensure information is widely disseminated.
With the support of the MEAL team ensure project performance is tracked and quality standards adhered to.
Coordinate regular project monitoring and supervision in liaison with the SCHMTs and project MEAL focal person to ensure quality project implementation according to agreed standards.
Ensure the compilation of quality and timely activity and monthly reports for the project.
Collect and manage complaints and feedback in close coordination with the MEAL team.

Supervision

Develop a comprehensive plan for supervision of all the field health and nutrition activities to ensure implementation adheres to developed monthly work plans.
Support regular review meetings with the community health promoters, sub-county community strategy focal person and community health assistants.

Development of health education training and counselling materials.

Participate in the design/adaptation of appropriate health education and promotion methods and tools, pre-testing them with the team and community members.
Liaise with the health education department at the Ministry of Health to adapt and produce appropriate health education materials

Network and coordinate with the relevant sectors and agencies implementing health activities at the national and community levels.

Identify areas of synergy in the field with the Ministry of Health and other implementing agencies working with communities.
Come up with a comprehensive plan of activities within the identified areas of synergy with the actors named above.

Implement Community Mobilization Activities.

Liaise and establish strong links with existing community structures including mother-to-mother support groups, community units, youth groups, village elders and religious leaders.
Support community dialogue and action days.

Strengthen Community – Health Facility Referral system and Linkage.

Work with the Ministry of Health to strengthen a referral system at the community level and implement activities to strengthen the community–facility linkage.

Behaviours (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
Future-orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

Qualifications and experience

Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Nursing or Clinical medicine with extensive nutrition programming experience.
At least two (2) years’ work experience in health and nutrition programming including monitoring and evaluation.
Strong research and data analysis skills.
Experience in community mobilisation within the development context.
Experience working with programmes on community health strategy and community health services delivery is an added advantage.
Good understanding and experience working with MOH and county health departments, health stakeholders, opinion leaders and integration of donor funded programmes into county plans.
Experience in training and capacity building.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide array of organizations.
Experience of and commitment to utilizing participatory approaches.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathise with children.
Good knowledge of the nutrition and health field.
Proficiency in intermediate computer skills especially basic office applications including MS office (word, excel, PowerPoint, outlook) is a MUST
Good presentation and persuasion skills.
Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions.
Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment.
Ability and willingness to frequently travel and stay at the field
Experience in project and donor report writing.
Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.