National Consultant - Quality and Patient Safety in Healthcare

Area of expertise

National Consultant - Quality and Patient Safety in Healthcare.

Purpose of consultancy

The main objective of this consultancy is to analyze the status of quality and patient safety through situational analysis of the requirements for implementing the global action plan for patient safety in various health institutions in Iraq. The outcomes of this work will inform adaptation of the WHO global action plan on Patient Safety (PS) and aid in the development of a clear policy for applying the principles and practices of patient safety in the health sector in addition to articulation of the training needs to build the capacities of healthcare workers in management and leadership roles.

Background

The Comprehensive Quality Management and institutional Development Department at the Ministry of Health in Federal MOH in Iraq emphasizing on improving the quality of the provided health care services through creating, implementing, monitoring & evaluating plans, programs & standards of quality and safety with the provision of the required technical support to all sectors of the ministry of the health in Iraq.

The Therapeutic Department/ Patient safety section at Ministry of Health of Iraq has implemented patient safety activities in hospitals. Activities have included the establishment of patient safety units at the level of the hospitals; continuous training of hospital staff on safety and risk management concepts and root cause analyses; developing and implementing an medical errors reporting forms; encouraging staff to report any incidents to promote a culture of safety; and adopting the safe surgical checklist through which many hospitals have started to develop policies and allocate responsibilities to implement patient safety solutions.

Both Departments are considered a driving force in promoting safety and risk management. Standards relating to safety include leadership standards relating to risk management, planning and adverse event management. Human resources standards include standards related to orientation and ongoing education of environmental safety, infection control, quality improvement and occupational health and safety.

Further progress is needed in the realm of incident reporting culture and information system in addition to scope of practice of patient safety officers to build a critical mass of patient safety expertise that is institutionalized within the health sector.

Work to be performed:

The consultant is expected to work both independently and in close communication and coordination with the Public Health and Risk Communication Officer who Heads the Liaison Office at Federal MOH at the WCO Iraq, as well as counterparts at the MOH, in the development, consultation and finalisation of the following final documents:

1) Situation analysis on quality of health services and Patient Safety in Iraq

2) Guiding multi-stakeholder framework for Quality and Patient Safety improvement in Iraq

3) Quality Patient Safety Improvement Roadmap and action plan

Deliverable 1: A consolidated report analyzing situation & context of the ‘Quality and Patient Safety landscape in Iraq

Output 1.1: Comprehensive analyses on the ‘Quality and PS landscape’ in Iraq’s health sector, including its relevant institutional actors and frameworks, through a desk review of existing situation, national and international assessments as per WCO guidance. The draft overview will identify gaps, key issues and emerging themes to guide and inform both the content of and process towards the envisaged Quality Strategy.

Output 1.2: Draft a timeline of meetings, consultations, site visits and workshops to be discussed and finalized jointly with the MOH counterpart and Health Systems Team at the WCO

Deliverable 2: A draft Quality and Patient Safety Improvement framework providing a recommended approach to coordinated action by all relevant stakeholders to operationalize Iraq’s existing vision and strategic goals.

Output 2.1: Propose a clear conceptual practical Quality and PS improvement framework guiding the implementation of the quality strategy for a complex set of national stakeholders, based on the desk review and consultations with MOH and other stakeholders during the first visit of the consultant to Iraq. The framework will apply a health system perspective with a view to contextualizing good international and scientific practices in practical quality improvement to the specific institutional and service delivery challenges in Iraq.

Output 2.2: Update the timeline of meetings, consultations, site visits and workshops to be finalized jointly with MOH counterpart and WCO Health Systems Team.

Deliverable 3: A draft roadmap with action plan as a basis for coordinated, concrete actions for all stakeholders to work towards the same objectives and as part of the same framework

Output 3.1: Develop a draft roadmap for strengthening system and sector-wide measures to systematically improve the Quality and PS of health in Iraq.

Output 3.1: Consult with relevant stakeholders and capture agreements on a realistic, achievable and actionable action plan to translate the roadmap into agreed, practical and realistic actions with associated division of responsibilities.

Deliverable 4: A consolidated Quality and Patient Safety framework to guide and clarify multi-stakeholder coordinated action to implement the Quality and PS Roadmap and action plan.

Output 4: Consolidate and adjust the draft quality framework (deliverable 2) on the basis of consultations with all stakeholders in Iraq’s health system, including public, private and non-profit/international sectors and context of the roadmap and action plan.

Deliverable 5: Inputs to the final action plan that incorporates the final shared understanding of all relevant stakeholders regarding their respective roles and common strategy.

Educational

Essential: Master’s degree in public health or health policy or related field.

Desirable: PHD in public health or health policy or related field will be an asset.

Experience

Essential: Seven years of experience with the science and practical application of quality improvement in different health systems

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Health system governance and policy, service delivery management and organization.
• knowledge translation and facilitation of change in public sector environments to generate consensus across bureaucratic contexts.
• Evidence-informed policy making.
• Facilitation experience and skills.

Language

Essential: Fluency in written and spoken English.

Location

Hybrid format including both online and in-person interactions.

Medical clearance

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

Hiring Unit

EM_IRQ WHO Representative's Office, IRAQ

Travel

Expected travel to Iraq and other regional country

Remuneration and Expected duration of the contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year)

• Remuneration: National grade NOD level
• Expected duration of the contract: 30 days - Start date: 01 Jan 2025 - End date: 31 Jan 2025

WHO Competencies

Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model: https://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:

a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated.

b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided.

c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

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.
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