Counselor Family Planning - Futures Group International India

Counselor Family Planning

Futures Group – Project Ujjwal

Location: Bihar, District level – 5 nos. 

Position: Full time Consultant Agreement

Submission Last Day: February 09, 2014

Futures Group has worked in more than 60 developing countries to build local capacity to design and implement effective strategies to address critical development issues since its inception in 1971. We have earned a reputation as a global leader in public health, including reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.

We invite applications from qualified candidates for the position of Counselor Family Planning in the Reproductive Health Framework (RH Framework) Project Ujjwal funded by DFID. The full-time positions are based at five government facilities of Bihar. The facilities are: 
1. Sadar Hospital , Begusarai 
2. Sub Divisional Hospital , Barh, Patna
3. Sub Divisional Hospital, Rosera, Samastipur
4. Referral Hospital , Marhaura , Saran 
5. Sadar Hospital, E Champaran 

Objective
The “Improved Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services in India” (Project Ujjwal) is a part of the UKAid Framework for Results to improve reproductive, maternal and newborn health in the developing world. The project objective is to prevent unintended pregnancies and improve contraceptive prevalence especially among young, low parity, poor and socially excluded women. Aligning to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s commitment to improve maternal health and child survival through the articulate Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) strategy, the project aims to reduce maternal deaths from unwanted pregnancies by increasing use of family planning (FP) methods, improving birth spacing practices and preventing unsafe abortions in Bihar and Odisha (in areas with the highest fertility and unmet need), using a mix of private sector approaches (eg. social marketing and social franchising), and public private partnerships. 

This project will strengthen linkages between public and private sectors and test hybrid models which allow for flexibility of using public funds to contract private services. The project will also support public sector to contract private clinics through the existing franchising models, or use demand side financing models or help public sector expand social marketing initiatives or help ‘contracting in’ of private providers for public services. Project Ujjwal is in the process of recruiting Ujjwal Saathis from within the community. These Ujjwal Saathis can be community health workers, community volunteers, members of self-help groups or any other community members who are vocal and have interest in working on health and FP/RH related aspect, and spread awareness and encourage potential users to use the network for availing services and products.

Recipients

The primary recipient will be the Government of India and the state governments of Bihar and Odisha. The secondary recipients will be the men and women of reproductive age, especially young low parity women, the private sector health care providers, and social marketing outlets.

Position Background:
In order to achieve desired results in Family Planning Programme, the Department of Health, Government of Bihar and State Health Society Bihar have decided to revitalize Family Planning Programme, with emphasis on Postpartum Family Planning services especially IUCD insertions. For this government of Bihar has decided to appoint family planning counselors selected health facilities across Bihar.
There has been an unprecedented increase in the number of beneficiaries visiting government health facilities and also the number of institutional deliveries being conducted in public sector institutions over last few years. The department of Health, Government of Bihar along with State Health Society wants to counsel these increased number of beneficiaries and their attendants coming to government health facilities to adopt from the various choices of family planning methods available. For this purpose it is proposed to place suitable candidates as counselors at various government health facilities. 

The roles and responsibilities of the position will include (subject to changes as per requirements), but not limited to, the following: 

Job Responsibilities: 
• To understand the social, cultural and emotional factors that determine a woman’s decision to accept a family planning method
• Create a comfortable atmosphere for clients and encourage the clients to ask questions. He should be able to encourage clients to share their knowledge and feelings about the concept of family planning and the methods
• Have respect for the values and attitudes of clients and respects the rights of the clients
• To explain the importance of a small family norm to clients
• The importance of family planning with context to safe motherhood and health of new born child
• Should be able to educate clients on various aspects of Family Planning by providing up to date unbiased information to the clients, regarding all the available Family Planning methods, including their benefits and adverse effects
• To explain the concept of Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy and Return to Fertility to the clients
• To explain about the advantages of Breast Feeding and Lactational Amenorrhea as a method of contraception to the clients
• Dispel myths and misconceptions of the clients regarding the various family planning methods
• Help the clients to take informed decisions on accepting Family Planning methods
• To inform clients about the health facilities and other places where family planning methods are available
• To track all cases of institutional deliveries occurring at the health facility and motivate them to accept suitable methods of family planning
• To track down eligible age group clients visiting the government health facility for other ailments and convince and motivate them to use suitable method of family planning
• To help the in-charge of the institution in timely organizing family planning and other health camps. He should keep a track of the number of camps (sterilization and IUD) expected to be held and the number actually held at the institution/ catchment area of the institution.
• To help in-charge in ensuring timely payment of incentive money related to family planning to concerned
• To ensure that the client is fully informed

(Responsibilities which may be used to evaluate the performance of Family Planning Counsellors)
• Collects and collates data for all clients who are counseled for Family Planning and/or are receiving Family Planning services at the health facility.
• To help MOIC in order to ensure timely reporting of data to District/State Health Society and the MOHFW, GoI, on the prescribed reporting format.
• Ensures use of the prescribed data collection tools for collection of required data.
• Collects and collates data for clients receiving PPFP/PPIUCD services, at the time of discharge and at the time of Follow Up.
• Supports the targeted facilities in display of BCC material for Family Planning including PPFP/PPIUCD services.
• Support the logistic and other arrangements for all the family Planning related trainings/workshops to be conducted at the targeted facilities.
• Other responsibilities as required from time to time.

Reporting

• The position will be supervised by the in-charge of family planning programme/ HoD Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the institution where he/she will be based.
• For contractual matters, the consultant will report to Futures Group. 
• The position will have six monthly performance assessments. 

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Maximum age limit 45 years.
• Masters degree in Hospital /Health Management or
• Masters degree in Social Work (MSW) or,
• Masters degree in Public Administration/Psychology/Sociology/ Home science.
• Two years work experience in Health Sector/relevant field. 
• Roaster will be applicable as per Bihar Government norms
• Excellent Interpersonal Communication Skills
• Fluency in local languages-both writing and speaking.
• Good data management skills
• Basic working Computer skills, especially those related to MS Office, MS Excel etc.
• Ability to work in a team
• Only shortlisted candidates will be called for interview

Compensation: Rs. 15,000/pm only.

Duration of assignment: March 31, 2015
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION: Feb 9, 2014


Interested candidates should email their CV, mentioning the job code FP Counselor
- as the subject matter along with a cover note to:

rpanda@futuresgroup.com 

Short-listed candidates will be communicated through e-mail. 

Futures Group is an equal opportunities employer.