Rehabilitation Senior Technical Officer – Palestine

Application review on a Rolling Basis: Due to the urgency of this recruitment, we encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible. We will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis.
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Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. The organisation works alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Since its creation in 1982, HI has run development programmes in more than 60 countries and responded to numerous emergencies. Today, we have a budget of approximately 255 million euros, with 4794 employees worldwide.

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion, we truly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organisation. This is why we are engaged to a disability policy to encourage the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities.

Please indicate if you require any special accommodation, even at the first interview. For more information about the organisation:

CONTEXT:

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) has been operating in occupied Palestinian territories since 1996 and has intensified its response post-October 7th, 2023. In the West Bank, HI is currently providing multidisciplinary rehabilitation services to individuals with injuries and disabilities in Nablus, Jenin, Hebron, and partially in Tulkarem through partnership with 2 local partners: Al-Jaleel and AL Amal Hospitals. HI also provides humanitarian assistance, including first aid, wound dressing, hygiene kits, dignity kits, stress management, education, kitchen supplies, and assistive devices and other material for affected families and individuals impacted by hostile and volatile environment. This is done through an existing network of trained volunteers (community-based agents – CBAs), and through referrals by the multidisciplinary rehabilitation task force members.

HI is also working on both humanitarian and institutional advocacy and has created the Multi-disciplinary Rehabilitation Task Force (MDRTF) under the Health Cluster. HI provided capacity building to MDRTF members on early rehabilitation, inclusive humanitarian action (IHA) and provided technical support in adapting their conflict preparedness plan to be more inclusive. Furthermore, HI established and furnished 3 warehouses to enhance its emergency preparedness capacity.

With funding from the CDC, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) conducted a training needs assessment for partner rehabilitation staff, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and prosthetics and orthotics professionals. The assessment aimed to evaluate current capacities and identify training topics to enhance the quality of rehabilitation interventions. Key topics identified included triage in emergencies, functional measures in rehabilitation, and spinal cord injury (SCI).

While the team successfully delivered training on topics aligned with their expertise, they were unable to address SCI due to a lack of clinical expertise in this area. To address this gap, the mission is seeking a highly qualified Senior Technical Officer with specialized clinical expertise in SCI rehabilitation and proven capacity-building skills to lead training efforts on this topic.

The total budget for 2024 will likely be between 7 and 12 M EUR. The total number of staff is around 60 + around 50 volunteers, and it is expected to grow up to around 150/200 staff in total (for all sectors).

YOUR MISSION:

Due to lack of qualified human resources in emergency rehabilitation in West Bank, HI is willing to recruit international staff with expertise in emergency. Attached to the Deputy Country Manager, you will be deployed for 2 months in West Bank to support the HI Rehabilitation technical team working under the CDCs project (emergency preparedness and Response Project). The main objectives are:

• To deliver training on spinal cord injury for rehabilitation professionals from HI partners and MDRTF members followed with coaching at HI partners’ facilities.
• To assess the current capacity and capability of the HI technical team in West Bank to carry out clinical trainings and coaching on trauma topics like SCI, TBI, and fractures.
• Review the available SoP for the provision of early rehabilitation services implemented at the partner level and provide modification/adaptation if needed to improve the quality of intervention.
• To assess the current capacity and capability of both WB HI Rehabilitation Technical Officer (Dania & Ahmad) to facilitate the MDRTF meetings and represent HI in the different Health coordination platforms in West Bank (Health Cluster, Trauma Working Group, MDRTF) and provide coaching accordingly.

Expected results and achievement

• Training and coaching of rehabilitation professionals from partner facilities and MDRFT members on SCI rehabilitation is completed.
• The current capacity and capability of the HI technical team in West Bank is assessed specific to delivery of trainings on trauma topics (SCI, TBI, PNI and Fracture) and recommendation for further capacity building is shared/ documented.
• Early rehabilitation service provision SoP is reviewed and updated.
• Practical support is given to the Rehabilitation Technical Officers to facilitate and represent HI in the different emergency/rehabilitation coordination platforms (MDRTF, Health Cluster and Trauma Working Group)

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

The position is based in Ramallah (West Bank). Main challenges: severe lack of security and humanitarian access in Gaza; security risks, access constraints, and potential further escalation in West Bank and East Jerusalem.

YOUR PROFILE

Qualification & experience:

• Degree in Phyisiotherapy
• At least 2 years of clinical experience in emergency humanitarian settings
• Confirmed experience in hospital and multidisciplinary approach
• Experience in supervision and health science pedagogy
• Fluency in oral and written English

Interpersonal skills and attitudes:

• Able to manage stress
• Reactivity, flexibility, and adaptability
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills

CONDITIONS:

At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission.

• 2 months International contract starting as soon as possible;
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:
  • Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals;
  • Pension scheme;
  • Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution;
  • Repatriation insurance paid by HI;
• Salary from 2448€ gross/month upon experience;
• Perdiem: 756,27€ net/month – paid in the field
• Hardship: 500 € net/month paid with your salary;
• Paid leaves: 25 days per year;
• R&R: 5 days every 8 weeks => + possible transport/package support;
• Position: Unaccompanied
• Housing: Collective taken in charge by HI