Senior Medical Officer

Job Family
Clinical

Job Opening Number
22-Clinical-RHUH-181357-R-Kampala (X)

Application Deadline: Until Filled

Description
Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), Medical Services Division, RHU.
The incumbent is the Chief of the Medical Services Section (MSS). As head of section (HOS) the incumbent reports directly to the Chief of DHHS and has a functional relationship to the Deputy Director, HHS for operational matters.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Medical Officer (HOS) will be responsible for the following duties:

Clinic Management:

• Oversees the delivery of high-quality occupational health services in the RHU workplace, including employment clearances, travel medicine services and travel clearances.
• Oversees the provision of clinical services including first aid and emergency care, access to RHU programmes such as Medical Missions, and effective referral to healthcare services.
• Oversees clinical practice in relation to in-person occupational health clinical reviews and examinations.
• Develops and oversees the delivery of occupational health and safety programs including workplace and home ergonomics programs and workplace safety and health risk assessments.
• Oversees the delivery of effective community, workplace or general health promotion programs.
• Develops, exercises and provides a emergency response / mass casualty capability integrated with local community safety plans.
• Advises on other aspects of health including public health relevant to the duty station, through liaison with the health authorities of the Host district.
• Ensures quality in services including the implementation of quality control mechanisms and procedures, the use of published RHU and National clinical guidelines, and adherence to patient safety and adverse event reporting requirements.

Medical Administration:

• Oversees the provision of recommendations or determinations related to medical entitlements.
• Oversees the completion of sick leave, including where required liaison with individual staff members and their healthcare providers to ensure effective sick leave management.
• Oversees the development and implementation of return-to-work programs.
• Monitors sick leave usage in conjunction with human resources staff and prepares and finalizes disability summaries and reports for the Medical Director and CEO.
• Oversees medical evacuation (ambulance services) and repatriation (non-emergency patient transport) services where required.
• Oversees the provision of advisory services to the Kampala based office of the Advisory Board on Compensation Claims Committee (ABCC).
• Undertakes mediation and informal dispute resolution related to medical entitlements, and where required represents the Medical Services Division in formal dispute resolution bodies such as medical boards or the Clinical Tribunals.

Supervisory:

• Manages the work and results of all staff working in the Medical Services Division, including where appropriate occupational safety staff or remote staff supervised by the Medical Services Section.
• Ensures medical confidentiality and release of medical records/information is in accordance with RHU policies and requirements.
• Manages access to the PuhMed medical record system.
• Undertakes annual planning.
• Plans and prepares budgets and prepares reports on budget performance and results.
• Ensures the development, generation and reporting of relevant key performance indicators documenting health support performance including responses to audit requests on health performance.
• Ensures timely recruiting and training of all new staff, and effective performance management.
• Ensures effective continuous professional development of staff and their career management.

Advisory, liaison and representation:

• Coordinates with the Office of the Director, DDHHS, contributes to the development of RHU healthcare policy, and ensures alignment of policy and practice in RHU health care services.
• Represents the Medical Services Division at events and meetings with other RHU entities and in national and international fora.
• Oversees workplace health and MSD communication products, and liaison/outreach with external actors.
• Briefs and advises the Director-General and senior management on all health matters relevant to the workplace (including mental health and staff well-being), such as health policies, business continuity, enterprise risk management and representation at crisis response and related bodies, makes recommendations taking into consideration the local context, whenever warranted.
• Represents MSD on health and medical entitlements matters before the RHU judicial system and RHU or national investigative bodies.
• Ensures effective occupational health representation at the local occupational health and safety committee, or similar body.

General:

• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of clinical, occupational safety and health and tropical/travel/tele/community medicine. Ability to manage a diverse and multicultural team and to operate efficiently under stressful circumstances. Good drafting ability in English and Luganda. 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.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Master Of Medicine or equivalent in medicine, including residency/internship in one of the medical specialties. A master of Public Health is welcome if the candidate has a Bachelor Of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.

Job – Specific Qualification

Further certification in internal medicine is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible clinical experience in one of the areas of medicine, including at least five years in the Occupational Health field, are required.

Experience in mental health is desirable.

Three years of managerial experience in the medical field including budgeting, supervisory responsibilities and resource management are desirable.

Experience in an International Organization is desirable.

Experience in travel medicine related to Public Health is desirable.

Experience with team and/or project management is desirable.

Real Health Uganda is an equal opportunity organization, and we encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. Thank you for your interest in contributing to Real Health Uganda’s mission.