IPC Wash Assistant

Requisition ID: req51600

Job Title: IPC Wash Assistant

Sector: Health

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Al-Raqqa, Syria

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary:

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a prominent international organization working in relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression.

Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, the IRC currently addresses the needs of war-affected populations from several operational bases across NES. Our activities focus primarily on the supply of vital medications and medical equipment, non-food items, water and sanitation and women and children’s protection, and form part of an over-arching humanitarian response in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and the region that seeks to assist refugees, IDPs and war-affected people survive conflict and displacement.

Staff safety is an absolute priority and strict adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures will be undertaken to protect staff and patients. Given the serious nature of the work, personal protective equipment must be always worn while in Triage and isolation units with strict adherence to IPC protocols and response to WASH needs, projects that emerge in response to urgent IPC/WASH needs in the IRC working areas.

Job Overview/Summary:

The IPC Wash assistant will support the implementation and monitoring of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene activities at IRC health facilities, WASH activities may include water quality monitoring, water trucking, improving water storage facilities, sanitation improvements in the health facilities as well as outreach hygiene awareness in surrounding communities and provide detailed report to the supervisors. He\she will ensure the implementation of Infection Prevention & Control practices and related guidelines at IRC facilities in , Raqqa\ meet minimum standards and do the related assessment rounds.

He / She will work closely with the Sr. IPC WASH Officer and EH manager to ensure that COVID-19 triage, and isolation facilities and all program services meet IRC IPC protocols. This position will enter the red zone of the facilities to ensure that all standard protocols are adhered to. IPC standard precautions include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, prevention of accidental exposure to body fluids, safe and appropriate treatment of re-usable medical devices, waste management, cleaning and disinfection of surface and environment, respiratory hygiene and individual hygiene for staff, caretakers, and patients. IPC essential requirements include water supply, solid waste and wastewater treatment/disposal, latrines and shower facilities, dead body management, vector control and medical waste management.

They will work closely with the Environmental Health Manager to ensure that all distribution of NFI kits will go on as required, and all beneficiaries are served in a good manner.

Responsibilities:

• Implement rapid IPC infrastructural and operational analysis of isolation and treatment centers and designated health facilities in line with IRCs Standard Operating Procedures for Health facilities,
• Propose and support implementation of necessary adaptations leading to compliance in line with the national standards.
• Build capacity of front-line health care workers in IPC and WASH through daily mentoring.
• Ensure that activities related to IPC are carried out successfully, including training of staff, assessments in the facilities and communities’ adherence to IPC guidelines.
• Monitor WASH activities such as safe water supply, water trucking and sanitation improvements as per Sphere and IRC minimum standards.
• Follow up on data collection and reporting to feed in lessons learnt and improve IPC practices,
• Provide regular progress reports on the IPC implementation at the supported facilities and update IPC and WASH databases.
• Develop activity plans for technical support activities related to WASH.
• Participate in the preparation of overall work plan and budget for WASH activities.
• Other ad-hoc tasks as requested by Line Manager.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have an environmental health background and experience in Implementing water and sanitation for health facilities such as cholera treatment centers and disease-specific treatment units. “Highly desired criteria” include previous work in WASH at health facilities level and knowledge of infection control and prevention.

•  university degree or Diploma in Public Health, Environmental Health, Civil Engineering, Health Sciences, Nursing, or other related fields.
• At least2 years’ experience in working in WASH, healthcare setting, field epidemiology or emergency or IPC extended experience.
• Good experience in community WASH programs in displaced populations is strongly preferred.
• Excellent program implementation skills. 
• Good English language level will be preferred.
• Good communication and reporting skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of IPC and/or Healthcare Waste Management
• Good computer skills in Excel and Word will be an added advantage.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development.
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• A validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior-level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

• Arabic is required.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  Senior IPC/WASH officer.

directly supervises :none.

Indirect Reporting (If applicable):EH Manager.
Key Internal Contacts: Health officers, Community Health Workers Officers

Key External Contacts:  local community leaders.

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing, and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate, and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.