PSEC Counselor Educator (Maternity Gap-filler)

WHAT IS MSF?

Médecins Sans Frontières/أطباء بلا حدود (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people in 70 countries who are affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation and our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.

We offer basic healthcare, perform surgery, fight epidemics, rehabilitate and run hospitals and clinics, carry out vaccination campaigns, operate nutrition centers, and provide mental healthcare. Our activities include the treatment of injuries and disease, maternal care and the provision of humanitarian aid. Where necessary, we set up sanitation systems, supply safe drinking water, and distribute relief to assist survival.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project started in Sept. 2013 in Shatila, where MSF currently manages an outpatient center for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), vaccination services with transversely integrated mental health services and health promotion, and referrals for patients who require services beyond the scope of MSF activities. Additionally, MSF opened a women’s health center with sexual and reproductive health care.
During 2018, low risk deliveries were relocated from Shatila to Rafik Hariri University Hospital compound, where MSF runs a Birth Centre. MSF took this as an opportunity to work together with external partners as catalyst for change around midwifery model of care and demedicalization of deliveries. The antenatal care services remain in the camps, to serve the most vulnerable women.
In Bourj el Barajneh camp, besides the above-mentioned activities, MSF provides in addition home-based care for those patients who are housebound or bedridden often due to an advanced NCD disease.

Responsibilities:

MSF is looking for Counselor Educator to perform education, support and counselling sessions to patients with non-communicable diseases, following medical and educational MSF protocols and procedures, in order to improve their health outcomes.

Accountabilities:

• Establish individual care plans for non-communicable disease (NCD) patients and/or caregivers including clear objectives, priorities and action points, while considering resources available;
• Provide NCD patients with a comprehensive package on their disease including pathology, signs, symptoms, possible complications… etc., and discuss treatment options linked to patient’s specific educational needs and priorities.
• Provide essential support and counselling relating to specific patient’s therapeutic needs, living conditions, educational and social status, and barriers to adherence;
• Through adequate support, help patient develop self-care skills tailored to their needs and capacities;
• Plan for follow up with the patients and track those who miss their opportunities;
• Organize and carry out group sessions such as support groups, peer groups, specific disease literacy groups and others;
• Fill patient file documents adequately and on a timely manner;
• Contribute to multidisciplinary case management by closely working with the NCD staff.
• Refer patients to specialized departments when necessary e.g. psychologist, referral nurse, HP team, social worker
• Participate in the creation of material needed for PSEC activities including modules for different NCDs, pamphlets, child-friendly tools… etc
• Inform line manager of any problem of any kind arising during the day-to-day activities;
• Take active part in trainings and support the activities manager when necessary in doing sensitization for MSF staff or external partners about PSEC issues;
• Reporting: monthly figures, registry, indicators… etc on a regular basis.
• Provide individual patient support, education, counselling sessions to diabetic patients on insulin, to improve overall disease management.Identify, and set practical and tailored disease manegemnt plans for diabetic patients on insulin, to improve healthy lifestyle practices, and HBA1C levels.
• Provide individual patient ssupport, education, and counselling sessions to epilepsy patients on basics of disease, symptoms, first aid, disclosure to help improve health outcomes & coping skills.
• Provide support group sessions to epilepsy and diabetic patients in collaboration with the mental health team, for emotional, coping and educational improvement on disease management.
• Participate- along with medical team at PHC in identification, and selection of eligible diabetic patients on insulin for Advanced Carbohydrate Counting Sessions (ACC) through adminstration of needed assessments and phone surveying.
• Conduct Advanaced Carbohydrate Counting Group & Individual Sessions to eligible diabetic patients on a montly basis, and provide needed support.
• Conduct weekly visits to OPD in BB camp, and adminster PSEC sessions to NCD patients in low mobility clinic.
• Develop and adminster message comprehension pre post tests and tools for assessment of knowledge outcomes of implemented PSEC sessions.
• Conduct needed capacity building and trainings to other MSF staff and external stakeholders, including PHCC staff- as per need identfiied by HPAM.
• Provide counselling and health education sessions to home bound and/ bed ridden patients in Home based care activities in BB and Shatla camp, as per need identified by HPAM.
• Develop IEC tool material (icl. Brochures, flyers, booklets, flipchart) and content relevant to various health topics and PSEC activities.
• Refer patients within PSEC cohort to other medical departments based on identified need incl. referrals to mental health, social work, hp, NCD and other medical departments.
• Fill PSEC files, and encode data for PSEC activities on EMR on a regular basis, and ensure data cleaning and accuracy of data outcomes.
• Submit monthly reports to HPAM on coducted activities and sessions as per submitted EMR data
• .Show team spirit and collaboration with various medical departments through a multidisciplinary approach incl. NCD, Mental health, Pharmacy, for improved delivery of session outcomes and promote needed discussions and knowledge exchange based on activity needs.
• Report challenges and problems to line manager on a day to day  basis.
• Show commitment towards MSF work schedule, while ensuring flexibility in provision of needed work outputs and activities.
• Show and ensure work ethics at all times, in accordance with MSF humanitarian principles and patient centered approach.

Qualifications:

Education:

Essential diploma

Nutrition, counseling/education, nursing, paramedical, or other similar degree/ diploma.

Experience: One year experience working with NCD patients. Experience with NGO desirable.

Languages: Arabic essential. English is desirable

Soft Skills: Results, teamwork, flexibility, commitment, service, good communication skills