Lactation Advisor

1- GENERAL OBJECTIVE
Under the direct supervision of the Inclusion & Community Health Team Manager, the Lactation Advisor is responsible for the set-up and activities’ implementation related to lactation and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counseling and awareness at community and PHCC level based on PU-AMI’s Health Intervention Strategy. The Lactation Advisor also roves around PHCCS, community health clubs, follows up on cases and provides counseling based on the project’s framework.

2- RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

1. ENSURE PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES
- Lead the scale up plan for developing the community health network in the areas assigned in the project intervention framework;
- Receive referrals from community health volunteers, other health and non-health personnel and follow up on cases based on intervention framework;
- Liaise with the Multi-Disciplinary team for the activities related to referrals to PHCC (i.e. follow up on special cases, SGBV cases, Birth Emergency Cash Assistance, malnutrition cases, etc.);
- In collaboration with the Community Health Supervisors, ensure that Community Health Volunteers have the necessary information on IYCF and referral system as well as provided services and have the proper understanding of the activities to be implemented in the framework of the project;
- Report immediately any difficulty or delay faced in the implementation of activities to the line manager;
- Cooperate with Health team especially with Health Field Officers on referred cases from the community;
- Liaise with the Information Management Officer to make sure data registration is accurate on hard and digital copies;
- Participate in delivering Community Health Clubs’ sessions and provide feedback to Community Health Volunteers to improve their performance;
- Rove among assigned catchment areas and deliver Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) as well as Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) counselling and consultations;
- Identify and refer cases to Social Workers and other service providers;
- Be part of the multidisciplinary team and actively participate in empowering beneficiaries;
- Provide comprehensive care and ensure feedback and autonomy of beneficiaries;
- Ensure inclusion of vulnerable groups and people with special needs including adolescent girls, pregnant women with disabilities, minorities and others.
- Provide support and counseling to mothers who are identified with difficulties in breastfeeding and/or suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices at the community level, and PHCC level
- Identify malnourished children and infants to be referred to the nearest PHCC/Malnutrition center as per referral mechanism set by MoPH;
- Provide one-to-one and group counseling sessions on IYCF and lactation methods;
- Plan and perform household visits to support pregnant and lactating women and girls;
- Conduct regular follow-up visits to all women assisted, especially mothers of children under 6 months, to ensure exclusive breastfeeding;
- Deliver sessions on exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding and IYCF and lactation practices;
- Provide on-the-job coaching to the PHC staff on IYCF counseling whenever needed.

2. TEAM MANAGEMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING

- Ensure coordination with PU-AMI staff and stakeholders concerning community intervention activities;
- Take part in supporting Community Health Volunteers in improving their performance;
- Conduct routine field visits to monitor the activities of the Community Health Volunteers and Community Health Clubs;
- Be responsible for the preparation and provision of trainings related to IYCF and maternal and child health to Community Health Volunteers;
- Support training modules for building the capacity of the Community Health Volunteers and other concerned staff according to the area of expertise/topic.

3. LOGISTIC & ADMINISTRATION
- Define the needs in materials and tools required to conduct trainings, health campaigns and outreach activities;
- Organize and coordinate training sessions: venue, attendees, and support materials;
- Comply with all logistics’ and administrative rules, procedures and processes and ensure the timely supply of all logistics’ needs for the successful implementation of the program.

4. REPORTING & DATA COLLECTION
- Collect and report information on identified cases and referrals;
- Identify the number of assessed individuals and progress towards assigned target;
- Document and report training sessions and feedback from participants;
- Document and report Community Health Clubs’ sessions and feedback from participants when applicable;
- Be responsible for compiling and reporting to the line manager the data on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis and/or upon request;
- Report on project’s targets and progress.

The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project’s needs.

3- PRIORITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT
- Understand the host community and the status of the refugees’ distribution and context;
- Set up according to scale up plan the community health network in the assigned catchment areas supported by PU-AMI;
- In coordination with line manager, be in charge of development and provision of intensive training curriculum all year round for Community Health Volunteers and other key staff for the community health intervention;
- Provide consolidated and quality reports on weekly, monthly and compile monthly and annual basis or any ad hoc requested data;
- Provide continuous feedback to the staff and line manager on challenges, lessons learnt for continuous improvement on better health care at community level;
- Provide counseling and consultations to beneficiaries and ensure smooth implementation of the project’s components.

4- QUALIFICATIONS:

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:
- Language skills: Fluent in English and Arabic
- Education degree: Midwifery Diploma, certified by the Ministry of Public Health to practice in Lebanon. - Master’s in Public Health and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant is a must. - A bachelor of science in nursing care with proven experience in IYCF counseling can be considered.
- Work experience: Proven experience working in NGOs and community health, as well as IYCF or lactation counseling between 2-4 years of experience.
- Knowledge and skills:
. Good knowledge of Lebanon governorates geography, willing to travel locally;
. Excellent experience in conducting trainings;
. Excellent communication (especially in public) and diplomacy skills to manage relationship in potentially tense situations;
. Literacy in reporting, experience in conducting surveys.
. Computer skills: Excellent knowledge of the MS office software including Word, Excel, Outlook
. Other: Valid driving license (1-year minimum)

ASSETS:
Interests: Work in relief, interest for social issues.
Transversals skills: Strong motivation to help people in need; Conflict resolution and diplomacy experience; Ability to adapt or change priorities according to the changing situation within a mission or the organization itself; Understanding of the political situation in the area; Ability to analyze and suggest improvements of the activities; Well organized and hard worker; Able to manage stress and pressure; Understanding of the context of the area; Reliability; Neutrality.