ThaiNGO

Title:    (International) Quality of Healthcare Adviser

1. Background

The Lao and Luxembourg governments decided for the fifth Lao-Luxembourg Indicative Cooperation Programme (ICP V) to maintain and deepen collaboration nationally, but with emphasis on the provinces of Bokeo, Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane, through following four sectoral programmes (2023-2027) with a total budget of approximately 100 million EUR, as follows:

• Health and Nutrition (H&N) with a budget of 32,5 million EUR.
• Local Development with a budget of 34 million EUR (including Swiss co-financing).
• Skills for Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry (STAF) with a budget of 25 million EUR (including Swiss and EU co-financing).
• Rule of Law, Access to Justice and Good Governance (ROLAG) with a budget of 9 million EUR.

The Health and Nutrition programme is the continuation and further expansion of two previous healthcare support initiatives named Lao-Luxembourg health sector support programme (LL-HSSP). The programme will work in close cooperation with the United Nations Joint Programme (UNJP), especially at the provincial level in the fields of Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and nutrition – latter in close concert with ongoing initiatives undertaken by Caritas Luxembourg. 

2. OBJECTIVES

The Quality of Care Adviser provides expert support for the enhancement of service delivery quality in beneficiary hospitals and facilitate the accreditation process. This role aims to optimize healthcare standards, promote continuous improvement, and ensure the alignment of hospital practices with international quality benchmarks. The incumbent will also offer advisory support to MoH and main beneficiaries in quality of care and hospital accreditation field.

3. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

The following objectives and activities aim to guide the Quality of Care Adviser in effectively supporting hospitals in their quality improvement journey and accreditation processes.

1. Quality Improvement Planning:
   • Collaborate with hospital stakeholders to assess current service delivery practices and identify areas for improvement.
   • Develop tailored quality improvement plans, incorporating evidence-based practices and international standards.
   • Establish performance metrics and benchmarks to measure progress and outcomes using the available instruments.
   • Provide guidance on the integration of patient feedback mechanisms to enhance patient-centered care.

2. Capacity Building and Training:
   • Design and deliver training programs for healthcare professionals on quality improvement methodologies.
   • Conduct workshops to enhance staff skills in data collection, analysis, and reporting for quality assessment.
   • Facilitate sessions on fostering a culture of continuous improvement and patient safety.
   • Develop and distribute educational materials on best practices and international quality standards.

3. Accreditation Facilitation:
   • Develop a general minimum accreditation standard and consult with beneficiaries, Programme medical team and MoH.
   • Guide hospitals through the pilot accreditation process, offering expertise on required standards and documentation.
   • supervise pre-accreditation assessments done by the Programme medical team to identify gaps and support the implementation of necessary improvements.
   • Facilitate training sessions for hospital staff on accreditation criteria and compliance measures.
   • Assist in the development of accreditation documentation, ensuring completeness and adherence to international standards.

4. Performance Monitoring and Evaluation:
   • Establish a monitoring system to regularly assess the implementation and impact of quality improvement initiatives.
   • Conduct regular audits to evaluate compliance with accreditation standards.
   • Analyze data trends to identify areas for further improvement and share insights with hospital leadership.
   • Provide constructive feedback and recommendations for ongoing refinement of quality of care strategies.

Detailed job descriptions of each position can be obtained upon request to the email address: hr.rofvte@luxdev.lu.

4. SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE JOB

• Bachelor’s degree in medicine or public health.
• Demonstrated experience as quality-of-care evaluator and hospital accreditation.
• Experience in conducting trainings and coaching of health facilities (hospitals) in implementation of the quality of healthcare concepts.
• Excellent English language skills, both oral and writing.
• Post graduate degree is an advantage.
• Experience in conducting research studies.
• Lao language skills is an advantage.
• Previous experience in working with international organizations is an advantage.

5. CONDITIONS:

• Location: The Quality of Care Adviser will be expected to spend 60% of their time in the LAO/035 office in Vientiane Capital and 40% of the time rotating between hospitals in Bolikhamxay Province, Vientiane Province, Khammouane Province and Bokeo Province. On occasion, travel to institutions in neighbouring countries, such as Thailand or Vietnam, may be required.
• Nature of the position: fixed-term contract, full time;
• Duration: 24 months (renewable);
• Expected starting date: as soon as possible, 01/03/2024;
• Salary will be calculated based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate. 

How to apply:

Applications can only be submitted via the LuxDev careers website: Quality Healthcare Adviser: https://careers.luxdev.lu/job-invite/1423/. Applications consist of a motivation letter and curriculum vitae (including contact details of two referees). Only applications received via the LuxDev careers website will be considered. Deadline to apply: 14 January 2023