Consultant - Nursing/Midwifery, WHO Samoa

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1. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to assist the WHO Representative Office for Samoa, in reviewing the current Samoa Nursing and Midwifery professional and services standards, 2017. The overarching objective of this assignment is to improve access to, and safe utilization of effective, efficient, and quality nursing and midwifery services to promote the health and well-being of the Samoan population as articulated in the Health Sector Plan FY 2019/20 – FY 2029/30.

2. Background

The Government of Samoa through the Ministry of Health (MOH) continues to emphasize implementing its Health Sector Plan FY2019/20 – FY2029/30. The overarching objective of the health contractual arrangements is to improve and enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals in Samoa’s health system, to provide safe, effective, efficient, and quality healthcare services to improve the health and well-being of Samoa’s population in line with Health Sector visions of “A Healthy Samoa”. Based on the Health Sector Plan strategic areas, key outcomes, and priorities, the proposed activity will serve to further enhance the capacity of all healthcare professionals in all areas of Samoa’s healthcare system, specifically nursing and midwifery services.

Samoa’s health system has been facing the challenge of shortages of staff and having a limited number of healthcare specialists in the past years. We cannot achieve national health strategic outcomes in the Pathway for the Development of Samoa, sectoral vision, and corporate vision if we fail to address this issue.

Some of the initial steps that had already been taken include the development of Human Resources for the Health of the Health, particularly nurses and midwives as one of the key priorities of Samoa’s health sector, and this had been well articulated in its Health Sector Plan 2019/20-2029/30, MOH Corporate Plan FY2020/21 – FY2022-23, Samoa Human Resources for Health Strategy 2021 – 2026 and Samoa Health Workforce Development Plan 2021 – 2026.

Furthermore, one part of the Ministry’s commitment to advance this agenda is to review and update health professional services standards and legislations including the review and update of the Nursing and Midwifery Professional Services Standards 2017.

3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Estimated start date: 1 May 2023

Duration: 60 days (full time)

4. Work to be performed

1. 1. Review the existing Nursing and Midwifery Professional services Standards 2017 and;
      1. Identify gaps and assess the quality of nursing and midwifery Professional services and identify gaps
      2. Review and provide a holistic strategic direction to guide and assure quality education and safe nursing and midwifery practices
   2. Provide a technical report on the review and recommendations for the way forward in progressing
   3. Develop the new Nursing and Midwifery professional services standards

Subject to the agreement of both parties (WHO and MOH - Samoa), these terms of reference may be modified from time to time, as required in the interest of the activity. The signatory will primarily work under the direction and will report to ACEO Nursing and WR WHO Samoa.

5. Methods to carry out the activities

• Conduct literature search, gather data, and conduct relevant analysis, draft technical briefs, presentations, and talking points.
• Coordinate and conduct stakeholders’ consultations with partners and the MOH within and outside of the organization and facilitate discussions on the review of the Nursing and Midwifery professional service standards.
• Develop a technical report on recommendations and develop the new Nursing and Midwifery professional services standards.

6. Specific requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

A master’s degree in Nursing, Health management, or related fields or higher

EXPERIENCE

At least 10 years of working experience in the areas of nursing in International, regional, and Pacific countries with a similar context to Samoa.

Must be conversant with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) & Western Pacific Southeast Asian Regions Regulatory Authorities (WP/SEAR) Nursing competencies and WHO global standards
for Initial education for professional Nurses and Midwives

Previous experience working on ICN standards and competencies and supporting countries to develop their standards

Have strategic governance work experience to provide capacity building to government counterparts on the process of reviewing and developing nursing and Midwifery professional services
standards.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

1. A thorough knowledge of Nursing and Midwifery professional services standards
2. Excellent interpersonalal skills with the demonstrated ability to work effectively with government officials as well as with the national and international organizations
3. Demonstrated ability to develop and review Nursing and Midwifery professional standards and has worked in multicultural and multidisciplinary settings
4. Good communication skills and a teamwork spirit
5. Strong writing skills and good attention to detail
6. Persistence in follow-up, tact, and diplomacy in working with diverse stakeholders in a resource-constrained environment

LANGUAGES

A high level of written and spoken English is required.

7. Place of assignment

Apia, Samoa

8. Competencies

• Ability to clearly and briefly generate insights based on analysis of data
• Strong capacity to communicate clearly and quickly
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and produce high-quality outputs
• Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multicultural environment
• Willingness to provide and receive constructive feedback

9. Medical Certificate

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

10. Travel

Consultant may travel within Samoa depending on the MOH request.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and is committed to putting the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment, and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment, or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions, or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions, and any other contributions which apply to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon the conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.

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