Background information

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, hypertension and ischemic heart diseases, are the main causes of mortality in the Republic of Moldova for both men and women. The risk factors of NCDs are related for the most part to lifestyles including inadequate diet, smoking, low level of physical activity and alcohol consumption. 

NCDs represent an urgent public health priority in Moldova and the “Healthy Life” project, in support to the Ministry of Health and in close collaboration with national and international partners, aims to address this need.

The first phase of the project runs from 2016 to 2020. Its overall objective is to contribute to the improvement of the health status of the Moldovan population, especially in rural areas, through the reduction of the burden of NCDs. The project has three main outcomes:

• Outcome 1: National health authorities create an enabling policy environment for decentralized and integrated management of NCDs;
• Outcome 2: The population in target districts has access to and uses quality integrated care, including outreach services, related to NCDs;
• Outcome 3: The population in target districts improve its health seeking behavior and reduce its NCDs risk behavior.

The project is implemented in 10 pilot raions. It is coordinated by a Project Facilitation Unit (PFU) based in Chisinau. To complement its team, the PFU recruits an Integrated Care / Medico-Social Expert.

Scope of work

Under the supervision of the Team Leader and in close collaboration with other PFU staff members, Integrated Care / Medico-Social Expert will focus on services aspects:

• Coordinate work packages related to intersectoral collaboration with purpose to provide integrated (people-centred) services on NCDs, and facilitate their implementation, particularly:
  • Facilitate mechanisms  of health and social care collaboration, including the link to home based care
  • Further develop and pilot the concept of medio-social community teams
  • Ensure integrated planning, implementation and monitoring at raion level based on the health profiles tool
  • Define patient centred activities / case management, including packages of care and their costs (link to economic assessment and financial/payment mechanisms of medio-social services)
  • Collaborate closely with raion authorities  (Local Public Authorities, inclusively Direction of Social Assistance anf Family Protection, Public Health Council, etc)
• Set-up, facilitate and steer respective national and raion working groups
• Ensure the implementation of capacity building measures related to integrated care/intersectoral planning and implementationFacilitate the development of models of outreach services and integrated care (taking also data sharing into account) and testing/validating them  in pilot raions
• Document and share evidence and lessons learnt generated by the project
• Interact with and steer focal points at  raion level
• Travel to pilot raions to organise building capacity activities and oversee their progress (50-60% working time planned as field trips)
• Produce and contribute to quality reports, collect relevant indicators, provide support in the capitalization of the project achievements
• Fulfil other technical tasks and contribute to project activities as required by the Team leader

This position entails a substantial amount of travel time to project pilot raions: at least 50% of working time.

Required profile:

Qualifications:

• University level education in Social Work, Psychology, Health Sciences, Community Development, Nursing, Sociology or equivalent
• Postgraduate degree in public health is an advantage

Experience:

• Demonstrable knowledge of the health and social sectors in Moldova
• A minimum of 7 years of work experience in the health and/or social sector
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in international projects in a related field
• Demonstrated experience in health and social sectors in Moldova
• Demonstrated experience in intersectorial collaboration
• Experience in providing social services and/or health services
• Experience in project management, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting
• Experience in organization and delivery of trainings, workshops and campaigns
• Experience in working with government agencies, civil society institutions, local public authorities, other local partners.

Skills:

• Ability to work in a changing, multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships
• Ability to work in autonomy and to supervise staff
• Willingness to travel frequently within the country and to rural locations
• Ability to produce quality reports
• Excellent presentation skills
• Fluency in English, Romanian, and Russian
• Proficient user level computer skills of Office and other software

Position specification

The PFU offers a 100% position starting as soon as possible until the end of 2018. The contract will be renewable in 2019 depending on performance and upon agreement with the Team Leader and the Project Director (based in Switzerland). The position is based in Chisinau, Moldova with extensive travel to project raions. Post holder reports to the Team Leader.

Application procedure:

Interested persons may submit their CV and a cover letter by email to: info@viatasan.md.

Application deadline is 8th April 2018. Only pre-selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. A writing sample will be requested prior to interview.