Community Midwifery Specialist (CMS)
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Government of Pakistan has instituted number of major initiatives under Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) programme to address maternal and child health issues. One of the landmarkinitiatives has been introduction of Community Midwives (CMWs) as frontline Skilled Birth Attendant (SBAs). In Sindh province, first batch of CMW training started in 2008 and the first round of CMWs deployment was done in 2011 only, following the approval of “CMW Deployment Guideline’ in late 2010. So far, 1365 CMWs have been deployed in Sindh Province. Various anecdotal reports and assessments on CMWs indicate the need to improve various aspects of the CMW programme in a whole.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been collaborating with MNCH Programme since its inception, and strengthening CMW programme is in priority of UNFPA. Under funding support from UNFPA, MNCH Programme Sindh is seeking service an expert as following to provide technical assistance to all matters related to strengthening community midwifery component.
Position Title: CommunityMidwifery Specialist (CMS)
Type of employment: Contract
Duty Station: MNCH Programme OfficeKarachi
Reports to: Provincial Director of MNCH Programme Sindh
Closing Date: 20-04-2014
Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of PD MNCH Sindh, and technical supervision of Midwifery Advisor of UNFPA Country Office and close coordination with UNFPA Karachi Office, CMS will provide overall support to MNCH to improve efficiency and effectiveness of CMWs in delivering quality MNCH and family planning services at community level. Specifically, the incumbent:
Technical
- Provides technical support to MNCH on strengthening community midwifery programme at provincial and district level;
- Develops and maintains excellent working relationships with CMWs educational management, midwifery faculty members and staff at selected clinical sites;
- Supports improve CMW curriculum and provide support to midwifery faculty members for quality delivery of the curriculum;
- Conducts assessment of existing skills labs against midwifery educational standards set by Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC), and supports up-gradation/ establishment accordingly;
- Regularly monitors and coaches midwifery tutors and community midwives, assesses their competency levels, identifies areas that need improvement and develops action plan accordingly;
- Develops a plan for capacity building of the midwifery tutots and clinical staff at selected clinical sites to enable them to educate, supervise, and support students in class room setting, skills laboratories and clinical sites;
- Facilitates networking and coordinates midwifery related activities with local health and government authorities, professional organizations (PNC and Midwifery Association of Pakistan) and other stakeholders to move forward the programme; and
- Prepares concept papers, advocacy notes, and background documents, lead/ provide inputs in technical discussions relating to midwifery.
Pilot initiative in two districts
- Provides technical oversight to pilot initiatives in two selected districts executed by MNCH programme with UNFPA support;
- SupervisesClinical Supervisors and Programme Associate recruited for the pilot initiative;
- Supports Clinical Supervisors plan for on-site coaching to CMWs, and ensures its implementation;
- Identifies clinical sites, negotiates arrangements and implements clinical attachment and hands-on training of CMWs at public health facilities in coordination with other components health system;
- Sets baseline and milestones for the initiative, and regularly monitors progress of selected indicators;
- Provides supportive supervision to LHVs for ensuring quality refresher training and on the job training to improve hands on practice of CMWs;
- Ensures provision, displayand appropriate use of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for CMWs;
- Liaises between CMW training schoolsand PD MNCH on all matters relating to the pilot initiative, including assessment of training facilities;
- Works closely with International Programme Coordinator of UNFPA Sindh on all matters, preparesperiodic reports (quarterly, half yearly and annual) reports and submit to UNFPA Sindh Office; and
- Any other related task assigned by UNFPA and PD MNCH.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Midwife or nurse midwife, candidates with bachelor in nursing from a recognized institution is must;
- Registered with Pakistan Nursing Council;
- Knowledge of competency based training;
- Three to five years of clinical and teaching experience in midwifery;
- Exposure to CMW programme and working experience in development sector; and
- Excellent verbal and written communication skillsin English and Urdu, fluency in Sindhi is desirable.