Background

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people 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. MSF is therefore guided by the principles of neutrality and impartiality. These principles must apply to all MSF staff.

MAIN PURPOSE

In close collaboration with the project medical referent, supervising the implementation of patient support activities according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures in order to empower the patient in front of his illness and treatment, beyond the purely medical aspects of care

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Main Accountabilities:

• Assisting the Patient Support Activity Manager in assessing the patient support needs, defining the patient support strategy according to the changing medical needs and context, and developing pa-tient support tools (counselling/education protocols, health promotion messages, etc.)
• Ensuring, monitoring and evaluating the implementation of patient support activities according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures
• Ensuring good communication and collaboration with the other components of the project and other partners working on patient support
• Supervising and supporting the staff under his responsibility, planning and organizing their work
• In close collaboration with the HR department, supervising the associated HR processes (recruitment, training, induction, evaluation, potential detection, coaching, development and internal communica-tion) in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required
• Ensuring data collection and analysis of patient support activities (collecting reports of patient sup-port staff, summarizing reports, etc.)

Context Specific Accountabilities

Patient Support & Access to Care

• Support differentiated models of care for stable patients in hard-to-reach areas.
• Coordinate implementation of patient support interventions including:Transport support,Nutritional support linkages,Treatment literacy sessions
• Monitor implementation of defaulter tracing systems adapted to remote settings (e.g. village-based follow-ups and CHW linkage).
• Support community-based patient education activities to improve health-seeking behaviour and early presentation.

Community Linkages & Referral Systems

• Strengthen referral pathways between health facilities and community structures within MSF-supported catchment areas.
• Coordinate compliance of referral pathways and referral criteria.
• Coordinate with MoH counterparts to align patient support strategies with district health priorities.

Quality of Counselling & Patient Protection

• Ensure culturally appropriate counselling approaches that consider stigma, gender dynamics, and traditional beliefs in alignment with MSF standards.
• Ensure accurate documentation of counselling sessions and patient support interventions.
• Identify and report protection risks including gender-based violence (GBV), neglect, and stigma-related abuse.
• Provide on-the-job coaching to improve counselling quality and confidentiality practices.

Team Management & Supervision

• Line manage Patient Support staff including counsellors, social workers, peer educators, and outreach workers.
• Provide supportive supervision and technical guidance to ensure quality implementation of patient support activities.

Data Monitoring & Reporting

• Ensure consistent use of data collection mechanisms and implement monthly reporting in standardized tools such as Patient Support Register, Counselling Session Logbook and Referral Tracking Forms.

Educational Qualification:

University degree in psychology/ counselling/ social sciences/ communication/ health promotion/ educational sciences / nursing

Experience:

• Desirable 2 years of previous experience in NGO’s settings
• Demonstrable experience in supervising and training others in a team setting

Languages:

Mission language (English) and Swahili essential

Knowledge:

Essential knowledge of word, excel

Competencies:

• Results and Quality Orientation
• Team work and cooperation
• Behavioural flexibility
• Stress Management
• Commitment to MSF Principles

Women, people living with a disability or any person feeling like being part of a minority is encouraged to apply. MSF is dedicated to fostering a safe work environment with zero tolerance for any form of abuse.

• Assisting the Patient Support Activity Manager in assessing the patient support needs, defining the patient support strategy according to the changing medical needs and context, and developing pa-tient support tools (counselling/education protocols, health promotion messages, etc.)
• Ensuring, monitoring and evaluating the implementation of patient support activities according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures
• Ensuring good communication and collaboration with the other components of the project and other partners working on patient support
• Supervising and supporting the staff under his responsibility, planning and organizing their work
• In close collaboration with the HR department, supervising the associated HR processes (recruitment, training, induction, evaluation, potential detection, coaching, development and internal communica-tion) in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required
• Ensuring data collection and analysis of patient support activities (collecting reports of patient sup-port staff, summarizing reports, etc.)
• Support differentiated models of care for stable patients in hard-to-reach areas.
• Coordinate implementation of patient support interventions including:Transport support,Nutritional support linkages,Treatment literacy sessions
• Monitor implementation of defaulter tracing systems adapted to remote settings (e.g. village-based follow-ups and CHW linkage).
• Support community-based patient education activities to improve health-seeking behaviour and early presentation.
• Strengthen referral pathways between health facilities and community structures within MSF-supported catchment areas.
• Coordinate compliance of referral pathways and referral criteria.
• Coordinate with MoH counterparts to align patient support strategies with district health priorities.
• Ensure culturally appropriate counselling approaches that consider stigma, gender dynamics, and traditional beliefs in alignment with MSF standards.
• Ensure accurate documentation of counselling sessions and patient support interventions.
• Identify and report protection risks including gender-based violence (GBV), neglect, and stigma-related abuse.
• Provide on-the-job coaching to improve counselling quality and confidentiality practices.
• Line manage Patient Support staff including counsellors, social workers, peer educators, and outreach workers.
• Provide supportive supervision and technical guidance to ensure quality implementation of patient support activities.
• Ensure consistent use of data collection mechanisms and implement monthly reporting in standardized tools such as Patient Support Register, Counselling Session Logbook and Referral Tracking Forms.

• word
• excel
• Supervising and training others
• Counselling
• Health promotion
• Data collection and analysis
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Stress Management

• University degree in psychology/ counselling/ social sciences/ communication/ health promotion/ educational sciences / nursing