TERM OF REFERENCE
Title: Rehabilitation Physician Consultant
Overview
The International Center (formerly known as Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation -VVAF) is a humanitarian organization that has addressed the consequences of war through advocacy and service programs in Vietnam for the last three decades. As a cofounder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, IC-VVAF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. Now working under The International Center, IC, focuses on disability support, landmine removal, and mental health programs.
The Moving Without Limits Project
Under the financial support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), IC is implementing the Disability Support Project named “Moving without Limits” in the three provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh from July 2015 until September 2022. This project aims to improve the accessibility of the people with mobility impairments in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, and Binh Dinh to quality and affordable assistive devices.
Three specific objectives of the project include:
- Improved availability of quality assistive technologies/ devices (AT/AD) for people with mobility impairments in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh provinces;
- Improved capacity related to AT/AD for the health sector workforce at national and sub-national levels; and
- Improved advocacy for policies/regulations and information sharing related to AT/AD.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, a wide range of activities will be implemented in the three project provinces as well as at the central level. AT/AD service provision is implemented following the relevant steps to service delivery, this includes need assessment and prescription, AD procurement, fitting, user training and follow-up, maintenance and repair. These steps in service delivery are required in order to ensure that people with mobility disabilities receive appropriate and quality AD. The project also promotes the integration of health care for people with disabilities (PWDs), which includes AT/AD service delivery into the existing health care system and mobilizing non-specialists at the community levels to recognize, assess, manage and follow-up of care for PWDs.
One of the project’s other key activities is to engage in capacity building of local health staff and practitioners to improve their skills in assessment, fitting, user training, and follow-up of assistive products. This is to ensure the suitability of assistive products in encouraging independence and quality of life for clients, and to ensure the ability of the local workforce in providing quality assistive technology.
In stating this, the project also recognises the significant gap in human resource within rehabilitation services, especially in relation to assistive technology, and considers practical solutions for filling the gap. In doing so, the project applies the following mixed approaches:
- build capacity for both high skilled health professionals at the national level in technical assistance towards complicated cases, and support building capacity for lower level service providers when needed;
- task shifting, defined as the delegation of tasks to existing or new cadres with either less training or narrowly tailored training in order to deliver specific and basic rehabilitation/AT solutions.
It is through these means with which IC will provide support in improving the capacity of rehabilitation and AT workforces for both national and provincial levels, and for both high and less skilled service providers. However, challenges exist in the establishment of this workforce, due to the limited availability of doctors trained in rehabilitation in Vietnam, with official courses in physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians pending revision to meet international standards. This has led to the inclusion of general physicians or traditional medicine doctors to support with the growing demands. Capacity building activities are then implemented to ensure these physicians are provided with the necessary skills and knowledge of rehabilitation to support in the work of the multidisciplinary team.
Due to this, the project is seeking a qualified physician consultant to provide necessary support in the area of rehabilitation. This is to be completed within a multidisciplinary approach in comprehensive assessment, goal setting, and intervention planning for persons with disabilities, with particular focus on the provision of assistive devices to meet rehabilitation goals. The consultant is expected to provide technical assistance in (i) provision of services relating to assistive device provision (with focus on prescription of assistive devices), as part of the range of rehabilitation services required by clients; (ii) capacity building of service providers in the development of training materials and conducting relevant training in assistive device related topics; and (iii) development of service delivery procedures in assistive devices in health facilities.
1. DUTY STATION & CONTRACT’S DURATION:
- Duty Station: Project Provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, and Binh Dinh
- Duration of Assignment: from January 1 to September 30, 2022, with the total of estimated working days are 36 working days.
2. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The consultant will be responsible for promoting best practice in rehabilitation by providing technical inputs in direct service delivery, as well as capacity building through the development of training materials and implementation of training activities. The consultant will work together with members of the multidisciplinary team to deliver effective and quality service and will collaborate with the project team and other service providers to engage in necessary capacity building activities.
3. SCOPE OF WORK
The consultant will be responsible for:
- Conducting service delivery and coaching activities in different forms (online coaching, on the job training, outreach trips) within the 3 project provinces. This will include coaching service providers in conducting needs assessment to identify rehabilitation intervention needs, intervention planning; prescription of assistive devices and solutions for home accessibility; and re-assessment to evaluate the effective use of assistive devices for persons with a mobility disability.
- Develop technical guide for AD prescription, technical procedures for service providers
- Provide technical support to the project as required
4. SUPERVISION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
The consultant will work under the direct supervision and evaluation of the Project Officer of IC.
5. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications and Experience Required:
- Master Degree in Physical Rehabilitation is essential; post graduate degree in rehabilitation is an advantage.
- At least 10 years of experience in common conditions in community and capacity building in the field of disability.
- At least 5 years of experience in prescription and training on assistive devices/ technologies.
- Experiences in conducting researches, assessments and evaluations.
- Experience of working with diverse stakeholders (such as national government departments, institutions, service providers) is an asset.
Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
- Technical knowledge of health policy and provision of assistive technology and medical devices in Viet Nam.
- Data analysis and reporting.
- Good communication and coordination skills.
Language requirements:
- English proficiency: Good listening, speaking, reading and writing skill.
Competencies:
- Teamwork, professionalism, flexibility and an understanding of working with people from diverse backgrounds.
- Having long-term commitment to the job.
- Having a dedication and ability to learn, to work independently and in groups, high sense of responsibility.
- Willing to accept high frequency of business travel in project provinces in Vietnam.
6. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Individual(s) interested in this missions are invited to submit your applications in English, either by email (to [email protected] [1]) or by post (to The International Center, R.103-203, B3 Building, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound, 298 Kim Ma, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam).
Please state “Application for the <position>” in the subject line or on the envelope. The short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Applications should include: CVs demonstrating relevant capacity and experience
Deadline for submission: 31st December, 2021.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Hua Thi Thu Len – Receptionist
Tel: (84-24) 3733 9444, ext: 9
Email: [email protected] [1]