Main purpose of the position:
- The role of the Mental Health Provincial Coordinator is to ensure coordination between the Improving Mental Health and HIV/TB Service Integration (IMHSI) project at provincial level and a wide range of role players including IMHSI consortium partners, SA government structures, PEPFAR Partners and Masiviwe consortium members to achieve the project outcomes, strategies, their linked objectives to ensure that the project achieve the nine interim and longterm outcomes.
Scope of Work
Strategy 1: TA support to SAG on policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures
- Provide technical support to all efforts related to the MH and HIV policy and guidelines, capacity development, referral strengthening and community engagement.
- Support desktop reviews and gap analysis of existing policies, guidelines, and SOPs to identify opportunities to strengthen PHC MH activities to ensure provincial and district realities are included in technical assistance provided at a national level.
- Support the development of position papers to inform roundtable discussions at provincial and district level.
- Manage translation of national level project policy and strategy outcomes to provincial, district and PEPFAR district support partner’s (DSP) level.
- Represent IMHSI programming provincially by highlighting innovative work.
- Support program coordination to the provincial office, ensure smooth logistics of organization of HCW mental health training workshops, provincial and district steering committee meetings, and other relevant supportive tasks.
- Support the provincial and districts DOH and DSP efforts to address HCW mental health wellness programs.
Strategy 2: Capacity development of SAG & DSP staff on the MH needs / services for PLHIV
- Work with provincial and district counterparts to identify skills gaps and develop appropriate skills development plans (e.g., training, coaching, mentoring).
- Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for DSPs and IMHSI partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.
- Support reporting and learning at district and provincial level.
- Liaise with provincial and district DOH and engage with PEPFAR DSPs and coordinate capacity development activities.
- Support capacity development of public sector and DSP staff on the MH needs and services for PLHIV through providing mentoring linked to training, moderation of online discussion forums liked to capacity development.
- Conduct audits of cascade training by master trainers in PHC facilities.
- Support stakeholder efforts to increase retention in care for PLHIV with MH disorders including targeted intervention that prioritize underperforming facilities.
- Provide technical advice to provincial and district level government and DSP staff on MH service improvement.
- Support districts and DSPs to establish MH intervention Teams.
- Ensure the IMHSI project data quality standards are adhered to per Monitoring/Evaluation and Reporting (MER) policy and procedures.
- Work with M&E managers at all levels to use data analytics to track all aspects of project implementation.
- Collaborate and support the work of provincial MH and HIV leads and implementing partners.
- Participate in and provide technical support to strengthen National, Provincial and District programs, M&E and technical working groups and other relevant forums with focus on strengthening roll out of MH and HIV/TB collaboration activities, appropriateness of M&E frameworks and data quality and use of routine health information.
- Advocate for the inclusion of MH and HIV/TB indicators in the PIDS and DIDS to support the MH and HIV/TB collaboration activities.
- Monitor and report on access to MH and HIV care, HIV treatment, retention in care and VL done and suppression.
Strategy 3: Referral network development for MH services for PLHIV and HCWs
- Identify stakeholders, and support organization providing mental health related care at a provincial and district level.
- Support stakeholders with the development and implementation of referral and counter referral strategies and implementation plans.
- Promote the use of Vula Mobile referral technology and mentoring tool.
- Advocate and promote the use of Vula data to strengthen access to care through retrospective mapping of referral pathways.
- Promote “masiviwe.org.za” to provide self-help solutions to PLHIV.
- Monitor the progress and pace of project implementation, assuring that the full potential of the program is realized through the promotion of high-quality work and internal cost control.
- Work with DSPs and District Management Teams to ensure deployment of digital health solutions and HCW awareness of self-care solutions.
- Promote “masiviwe.org.za” to provide self-help solutions to PLHIV and HCWs. Strategy 4: Community / stakeholders engagement on improvement of MH services for PLHIV
- Identify stakeholders, and support organization providing mental health related care at a provincial and district level.
- Participate and provide technical support to strengthen implementation, quality assurance, M&E and technical working groups, and other relevant MH/HIV provincial / district forums.
- Support the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with PDOH, Donor and FPD’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
- Implement any additional project related tasks allocated by FPD management.
- Work with DSPs and District Management Teams to ensure deployment of digital health solutions and community awareness of self-care solutions.
Qualifications and registration:
- Degree in the health sciences or a related field (required).
- Registration with an appropriate professional council if relevant to professional qualification applicable.
- Management (advantageous)
- Public Health (advantageous)
- Community development (advantageous)
- Mental health (advantageous)
Working / Industry experience required:
- Minimum of 5 years relevant management and technical experience.
- Experience in working with multiple stakeholders.
- Experience in working in a relationship building capacity.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience working within a multi stakeholder environment within the public, private and/or civil society environment within South Africa.
- Experience in the provision of services to disadvantaged communities would be an advantage.
- Previous experience in capacity development and policy development.
- Experience in public sector system strengthening would be an advantage.
Additional requirements:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet)
- Proficiency in reading, speaking, and writing English.
- Proficiency in another official language (advantageous).
- Own vehicle, valid Code 8 Driver’s license, and willingness to travel extensively.
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Purpose of the position:
To lead the development and sustainability of FPD’s Research Department as follows:
- Provide strategic leadership to FPD Research Department.
- Build FPD’s capacity in clinical research by securing new research grants and funding as the Primary or co-Primary Investigator.
- Generate/obtain financial resources for research implementation and department operations.
- Ensuring rigor of clinical components across all research projects.
- Take a leading role in the clinical, scientific and career development of staff and visiting researchers/interns.
The successful applicant will lead the department’s overall clinical research programme, and be provided with the freedom to build FPD’s clinical research and clinical trials portfolio in support of strategically defined and negotiated research topics including, but not limited to:
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Mental Health
- NCDs
- HIV/TB
- Neglected tropical diseases
- Adolescent health
- Men’s health
- Rural health
- Implementation Science
Main responsibilities:
Provide strategic leadership to the Clinical Research portfolio under FPD’s Research Department (10%)
- Work with Research Department and FPD leadership to develop strategic and operational goals and plans to ensure the long-tern sustainability of the department.
- Work with Research Department staff to develop operational goals and plans to optimally implement research studies.
- Representing the department at FPD organizational management meetings
- Externally represent the department by attending appropriate clinical, research or stakeholder meetings as requested/needed.
- Engage with relevant stakeholders in national, provincial and district health departments, funders, and academic institutions to enhance visibility of the department’s work and attract new opportunities.
- Establish and manage relationships with national and international academic institutions and research collaborators.
- Stay abreast of new scientific developments and expand the network of collaborative partners by attending conferences, technical working groups and academic meetings.
Build FPD’s capacity in clinical research (30%)
- Lead the Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) research portfolio by ensuring current studies is implemented according to the highest standards, new opportunities are identified, and additional funding is attracted.
- Leverage research and clinical expertise to identify opportunities and create clinical training courses for FPD’s Academic Department and serve as course faculty and/or quality assurance committee member, as appropriate.
- Lead research protocol writing/ethics applications and ensure that the clinical research projects are implemented with the highest standards.
- Disseminate Research Department findings through local and high-level scientific publications andopinion papers, articles in popular media, conference presentations, and district/provincial feedback sessions.
Generate/obtain financial resources for research implementation and department operations (45%)
- Apply for and acquire new grant funding to grow the department’s research portfolio; a strong focus must be placed on international funders.
- Expand the portfolio of clinical research activities by identification of new opportunities and subsequent application for funding.
- Identify, cultivate and leverage new sources of funding and profit generation for long-term sustainability of Research Department activities.
Ensure clinical rigour across FPD’s research programmes (10%)
- Ensure rigor of clinical component of FPD’s research projects by providing guidance during grant writing and providing training on clinical programme aspects to research staff.
- Ensure visibility of FPD during clinical meetings with local, provincial and national health departments, and facilitate linkage of FPD Research staff with the relevant clinical facilities/structures for management of research patients.
- Provide direct support and consultation on clinical components of all research studies.
Take a leading role in the clinical, scientific and career development of staff (5%)
- Host / supervise clinical and research students during internships/fellowships and elective projects.
- Provide regular training to staff on clinical topics; both in the Research Department as well as within FPD’s training programme.
- Mentor junior staff researchers in protocol, manuscript, and grant writing.
Essential Qualifications:
- MBChB with significant clinical expertise in resource-constraint settings.
- M.Med in Internal Medicine or PhD in Infectious Diseases or Public Health
- MPH or MS degree with a focus on epidemiology
- Management qualification highly desired
Additional requirements:
- Minimum of 50 peer-reviewed publications, of which 20 must be as 1st author.
- Expertise in one or more of FPD’s strategic activity areas (potentially demonstrated by 10 or more first authored publications), and significant experience in a second (potentially demonstrated by at least 10 or more co-authored publications)- please highlight in cover letter
- Must have track record of funding acquisition and implementation of research projects.
- Demonstrated expertise in designing and conducting epidemiologic studies, including observational and experimental study designs and analysis.
- 10+ years progressive experience in clinical management, research output and program implementation
- Significant experience with statistical software (SPSS, STATA, or SAS)
- Experience working in rural and resource constrained settings.
- Demonstrated project management skills at a minimum level of 20 staff.
- Demonstrated teaching / training experience including supervision of students and clinical staff.
- Ability to champion research ideas and get new ideas funded and executed.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with technical experts from diverse disciplines.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
- Project management and budgeting experience.
- Clearly communicate basic statistical concepts to other scientists and non-scientists.
- Full fluency in written and oral English.
- Ability to communicate in another South African language would be advantageous.
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