Patient Safety & Quality of Care (PS-QoC) Advisor at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

Rationale/Objective for Position

The Quality-of-Care Advisor provides strategic, technical, and operational support to strengthen the patient’s safety, quality of care and clinical governance across MSF Ubuntu Programs, in line with MSF International medical standards and MSF Ubuntu key approaches, emphasizing community participation, local partnerships and sustainable solutions. The role focuses on promoting a person-centered, respectful, safe, effective and ethical care embedded into routine practice among all MSF Ubuntu programs and departments.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategic and Technical Leadership

• Develop and implement MSF Ubuntu ‘clinical governance’ approach, patient safety and quality of care framework and strategies in alignment with MSF International quality of care standards and policies.
• Define, develop (or adapt), and implement patient safety and quality of care reporting, monitoring, quality of care systems and tools, e.g. Patient Charter, Patient Safety incident reporting, minimal standards monitoring etc., closely working with the relevant thematic specialists, and the medical department.
• Support MSF SPARC quality of care initiatives in MSF Ubuntu, monitoring and reporting.
• Together with the Medical Director, develop a ‘Patient Safety and Clinical Governance/QoC committee’ for MSF Ubuntu, and coordinate the committee’s activities, including reporting to MSF Ubuntu MT.
• As a member of MSF Ubuntu’s Medical department, actively engage and contribute to MSF Ubuntu’s medical operational vision, strategies and programming.

Technical and Operational Support

• Support country program teams on integrating patient safety, quality of care standards and quality improvement plans into the project design and routine monitoring.
• Support programs on quality monitoring and reporting, quality improvements plans (QIPs), patient safety incidence management.
• Visits to country programs on regular basis to support the teams in analyzing patient safety and QoC and provide direct support for improvements.

Patient Safety and QoC monitoring, analysis, and learning

• Support the use of patient feedback, experience surveys and routine indicators to inform patient safety and quality of care improvements.
• Conduct periodic clinical audits and comprehensive analysis and reporting of patient safety and quality of care data across MSF Ubuntu programs (including individual programs), findings translating towards learning and improvement plans.
• Initiate and lead innovation and operational research on clinical governance thematics for evidence-based practices, institutional learning and benefit for MSF programs.

Representation and Coordination

• Represent MSF Ubuntu in inter-sectional MSF Quality Alliance network/groups and technical platforms.
• Support in leading specific thematics and/or projects as per the agreed workplan, including active participation.

Capacity Building and People Management

• Support recruitment, mentoring, and development of staff and pools, as required.
• Working with L&D, support knowledge sharing, and mentoring relevant staff, including the development of patient safety, quality of care training materials, when required.
• Facilitate learning through conducting workshops, webinars, community of practice sessions for programs and HQ staff.
• Build capacity of program teams on patient safety and quality of care culture and standards, systems and tools etc.

Qualifications

Education

• A qualified Degree in Medicine or Nursing is essential; Master of Clinical Leadership or Governance is an advantage.
• Fluency/excellent level of written and spoken English, knowledge of French is an advantage.
• Excellent knowledge and experience in cross/multicultural communication and collaboration.

Experience

• At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience with MSF or international medical-humanitarian organizations as a ‘Health or Medical coordinator (deputy)’ or QoC implementer or patient safety manager is essential.
• Experience in developing and implementing ‘Health care clinical governance’, ‘Patient Safety’ and ‘Quality of care’ policies, standards, practices and culture is essential.
• Commitment to and experience of advancing multicultural collaboration, learning, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Competencies 

Technical Competencies

• Excellent skills in Office Suite (advanced MS Excel and others).
• Ability to produce high quality, succinct actionable reports with clear recommendations.
• Excellent written and presentation skills across audiences of diverse backgrounds.

Behavioral/General Competencies

• Commitment to MSF’s Principles
• Cross-cultural Awareness
• Strategic Vision
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Service Orientation
• Planning and Organizing
• Initiative and Innovation
• Teamwork and Cooperation
• People Management and Development
• Networking and Building Relationships
• Security awareness and Management