Background

As in many Programme Countries, UN field personnel in Ghana are exposed to various health and security hazards that may result in disease, psychological trauma and life threatening injuries. Dedicated, effective primary health, occupational health and emergency medical services may mitigate negative outcomes of trauma, injuries and health complications and provide better chances for saving lives as well as faster and better recovery.

The Health Manager, UN Clinic Physician, is part of the UN common services of the UN country team in Ghana and administered by UNDP. In that context UNCT, after long consultation and evaluation of health conditions in Ghana, decided to recruit a national Physician.

The incumbent will attend to the UN Clinic on a full time basis and provide medical services to staff members and their dependents. Also, he/she will facilitate medical evacuations and cooperate with headquarters offices on all related matters. The incumbent is responsible for the day to day running of the UN Clinic and he/she manages the UN Clinic staff and physical assets (equipment and inventories), ensures consistent delivery of high quality medical services to UN staff. The incumbent will also be responsible for medical examinations of staff: a responsibility he/she will share with other designated UN Physicians.

The incumbent will be under the overall supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator and/or her/his delegate with regards to administrative matters and under the general supervision of the UN Medical Director with regards to technical matters. The incumbent will provide clinical services including medical consultations and emergency care, and supervise the overall work of the UN Clinic medical staff (nurses, lab technicians, administrative staff and support staff). The incumbent will promote proactive occupational health policies, best practices and procedures in the medical services in conjunction with the Administration. This will include outreach to staff and dependents in the areas of preventative health. The incumbent is expected to take part in the HIV work in the UN work place as outlined in UN Cares and UN Plus.  S/he is part of the emergency response team and will as such work closely with DSS in implementing Casevac and mass casualty response. As per UN standards for full-time positions, and especially given the expectation that the UN Doctor be available to handle emergencies outside of working hours, the incumbent is not permitted to take on additional private work outside of this contract. 

She/he is expected to be located in Accra Ghana but travel in-country to monitor health conditions of staff and medical facilities in the UN field offices elsewhere in the country.  Assessments of medical facilities/hospitals outside Ghana to be used for referrals might be required. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Duties:

• Attend the United Nations Clinic on a full time basis;
• Respond to acute emergencies in line with international protocols such as advanced trauma life support management and advanced cardiac life support. or Pre Hospital Trauma life support;
• Be able to do triage and primary stabilization;
• Undertake day-to-day clinical duties, e.g. walk-in clinic, pre-placement and periodic medical examinations and immunizations;
• Provide health education;
• Participate in addressing work environment and occupational health issues;
• Undertake medical examinations for UN Agencies’ international and local staff and dependents;
• Diagnose and recommend treatment to all staff visiting the Clinic on a daily basis, during normal business hours;
• Be on call during and outside office hours to observe and treat emergencies in the UN Clinic and undertake house calls when required;
• Responsible for entry and periodic medical examinations for United Nations staff members who choose to use the UN Clinic for their examinations;
• In case of mass casualty and emergency situations, keep the Clinic functional 24/7;

Medical Administrative Duties:

• Liaise with other dispensaries, host-nation medical facilities and medical facilities abroad to coordinate medical evacuations;
• Follow the United Nations established policies and procedures regarding medical clearances, sick leave and medical evacuations;
• Recommend medical evacuation when required to Resident Representative of the involved Agency, fund or program (act as the medical expert and submit the evacuation request the advice of  UN Medical Director) and facilitate medical evacuations authorized by the UN Medical Director;
• Responsible for all paper work and reporting procedures for medical evacuations in line with UN Rules and procedures;
• Ensure proper follow up on all cases;
• Application of terms of reference in UNDP Program and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) for rules and regulations regarding UN Clinic operations;
• Responsible for establishing good relations with reliable hospitals, private medical facilities and blood banks and local physicians including UN Examining Physicians, if available;
• Keep constant contact with the United Nations Designated Examining  Physicians to facilitate their availability  as and when required;
• Ensure that proper medical records are kept in a strictly confidential manner;
• Maintain emergency medical supplies and equipment to be used in case of emergency situation;
• Replenish first aid kits and other essential medical supplies kept in other              duty stations within the country;
• Recommend procurement of vaccines, medical supplies and equipment, and ensure that inventory is kept updated;
• Maintain medical records of all United Nations personnel and advise health precautionary steps to new staff members;
• Prepare and send periodic (quarterly) reports of functions, visits, medical evacuations and treatments at the UN Clinic to the United Nations Medical Service;
• Advice on health precautionary steps to be undertaken at the duty station, and perform any other duties as considered necessary by the United Nations Medical Director and/or the UN Resident Coordinator;
• Responsible to provide training in UN administrative rules and procedures to the roster of pre-qualified relief doctors to stand in for the UN doctor during his/her illness and leave.

Supervisory Administration:

• Supervise, distribute work to the nurse (s) and other staff of the United Nations Clinic;
• Manage day-to-day mission medical support operations by ensuring availability of supplies and proper functioning of medical equipment;
• Ensure that appropriate training programs are implemented in order to maintain and develop the medical capabilities (e.g. health education, HIV/AIDS prevention, first aid and CPR);
• Responsible for regular reporting on clinic activities, medical facilities available locally and other statistical information as may be required.

Coordination of UN Cares Activities:

• Planning and organization of training of focal points and peer educators;
• Arranging the dissemination of UN policies on HIV/AIDS;
• Conducting an education and information campaign.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP.

Functional Competencies:

Professionalism: 

• Knowledge of clinical, occupational and tropical/travel medicine;
• Formal training in CPR and, preferably in BCLS and ACLS or equivalent emergency medical care;
• Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
• Remains calm in stressful situations;
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning & Organizing: 

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
• Identifies priority activities and assignments;
• Adjusts priorities as required;
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work;
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning;
• Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Accountability:

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments;
• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules;
• Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments;
• Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Client Orientation:

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view;
• Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
• Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
• Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
• Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
• Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Managerial Competencies:

Managing Performance:

• Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority;
• Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member;
• Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills;
• Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines;
• Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff;
• Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative;
• Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff;
• Appraises performance fairly.

Judgement/Decision-making:

• Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly;
• Gathers relevant information before making a decision;
• Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them;
• Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the organization;
• Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information;
• Checks assumptions against facts;
• Determines the proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision;
• Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in Medicine, from an accredited University and currently licensed to practice within home country or other national jurisdiction;
• Certification in Advanced Trauma Life support, Advanced cardiac Life support OR Pre hospital trauma life support is desirable;
• Certification in HIV care OR VCCT is desirable;

Experience:

• At least five (5) years progressive experience and practice in general medicine in developing countries or countries in conflict, of which at least one year should be in Trauma and Emergency care and two years in Internal Medicine;
• Surgical, ICU, aeromedical or anesthetic experience is an advantage;
• Experience in Tropical Medicine;
• Previous UN medical system/international medical experience would be an advantage; 
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is expected.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required;
• French would be an additional advantage.