3 Physiotherapist NGO Jobs – Humanity & Inclusion (Handicap International)

Job Title: Physiotherapist (3 Jobs)

Organisation: Humanity & Inclusion (Handicap International)

Duty Station: Nakivale (1 Job), Palabek (1 Job), Omugo (1 Job), Uganda

Salary: UGX3,276,469 – 3,680,921 /=

Reports to: Project Manager

Length of Contract: Until 31/05/2024

Start Date: September 2023

About US:

Co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, Humanity & Inclusion (the new name of Handicap International) is a 40-year-old independent and impartial organization working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and individuals experiencing extreme hardship, taking action and bearing witness to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

HI in Uganda is currently implementing development and humanitarian interventions in six sectors/thematic areas: Livelihood, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Physical and Functional Rehabilitation, Inclusive Education, Inclusive Health, and Inclusive Humanitarian Action (IHA) to improve access and quality of services to the most vulnerable people including persons with disabilities promoting a more inclusive and harmonious society

About Project:

Uganda is experiencing multiple emergencies that impact the delivery of safe, inclusive and equitable education. In 2022, 146,759 refugees newly arrived in Uganda, while 31,662 individuals are also recorded as new influxes during the beginning of January and the end of May 2023. Of these, approximately 37,500 (21%) are in the age group between 5 and 171, and 13.6% of them (5,100) are estimated to have functional difficulties. The project aims to achieve three major outcomes;

Outcome 1: Improved Access and Retention to Inclusive and Gender Transformative Learning and Training Opportunities
Outcome 2: Improved delivery of quality education and training
Outcome 3: Strengthened systems for effective and resilient service delivery

Role of HI in the Project

Barriers affecting access to quality education for children with disabilities are numerous including; access, attitudinal, limited knowledge and stigma. The proposed project therefore, will address the specific needs of children with disabilities with an intersectionality lens on age and gender. HI will provide technical support to Uganda Education Consortium partners to apply a twin-track approach to disability inclusion i.e. to mainstream disability inclusion to all educational interventions from ECD to secondary education and to provide targeted services i.e. rehabilitation, provision of assistive technologies (ATs), individualized educational support. The FER intervention will target 3,130 children with disabilities (14% of the total target of 22,358). HI will support the Uganda Education Consortium partners to achieve this target jointly, based on the data using the WGQs. For rehabilitation and related specialized services, HI will directly support 313 children in Rhino (Terego District) Palabek (Lamwo District) and Nakivale (Isingiro District).

Job Summary: The Physiotherapist (PT) is part of the integrated rehabilitation and MHPSS (occupational therapist, psychologists and psychosocial officers) and collaborate with consortium partners in the field with support from HI regional and country technical specialists (Regional Rehabilitation Specialists, Country MHPSS Specialist and Global MHPSS specialist). The position of the PT is to support the physical and functional activities of people with disabilities at home and at the fixed point, at the same time, partners and community stakeholders in understanding disability inclusion, the importance of integrated physical and functional rehabilitation and MHPSS performance and participation in society, and parents/caregivers in continuation of home exercises, games, and activities of daily living of their relatives with disability. The responsibilities of the PT contribute to the overall achievement of the project objectives, reflected in monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to HI and the donor.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Mission 1: Ensure planning and field coordination of project activities with the internal team and external stakeholders.

Participate in monthly activity planning meetings, including movement: daily, weekly, and monthly.
Coordinate activities with the project manager, TU, and project team (OT, Psy, PSS, IEO, CBRW), ensuring coordinated activity implementation within the project’s scope and HI procedures and standards.
Active participation in Case Management and Case Presentation with the technical units according to a pre-determined schedule.
Contribute to the reports prepared by the project manager to the consortium partners on HI activities in the field and to donors.
As needed, can be delegated to represent HI and the project in settlement meetings and produce report/feedback to the project manager.

Mission 2: Implement, facilitate and follow up daily on the project activities by the project implementation plans for service delivery.

Participate in assessing children following PT procedure and guidelines with the integrated team (OT and MHPSS) using validated assessment tools via Survey CTO, and coordinate work with Inclusive Education Officers (IEO).
Design appropriate physiotherapy intervention according to the priorities of needs identified during assessment and according to the “rehabilitation goals” of the child, family and the integrated team. Ensure all plans and interventions are “child-centred”.
Prescribe appropriate assistive devices following standard procedures, assessment tools, delivery notes, and follow-up guidelines post-delivery, i.e. basic and intermediate wheelchair assessment and follow-up.
Coordinate with the PM and logistics officer on timely orders and review of assistive devices after delivery
Provide direct PT services to the child at home, fixed point, and school using appropriate intervention and basic, local equipment.
Provide basic training to the child, family, caregiver, and teachers on physical and functional activities to achieve the rehabilitation goals at school or home.
Monitor performance and participation outcome of the child, and update record during home, fixed point and school follow-up using standard outcome measure tools (FIM etc.)
Re-assess cases according to “new” priorities and recommend adjustments in the treatment plan, including discharge and case closure

Mission 3: Participate in project review, monitoring and data collection and MEAL activities.

Participates and contributes to project inception, implementation, review, and reporting.
Regularly updates client data record after every follow-up, re-assessment, and discharge via Survey CTO, and maintain complete documentation of each activity performed within the PT capacity.
Participates in technical meetings, case reviews, and regular project reviews (ISPR, BSS, Lessons Learned, etc.)
Write and submit “human interest” stories, and other testimonies, and submit them to project managers for approval and submission to Hinside, and the social media platform
Contribute rehabilitation (PT) information in the project and donor reports following approved MEAL templates
Participates in capacity building, and mandatory training allocated to staff in-country, and via Physiopedia, and HI Academy

Mission 4: Respect for HI identity, rules and policies;

Know, understand, apply and respect the HI code of conduct and ethics, HI mandate and values, HI rules and operating procedure, HI policies (child protection policy, policy and mechanism for the prevention of and fight against bribery, the protection of beneficiaries from sexual exploitation and abuse policy) and make sure they are known, understood, applied and respected by its team
Know, understand, apply and respect HI security rules and make sure they are known, understood and used by their team

Mission 5: Emergency preparedness and response

Contributes to the program’s emergency preparedness actions and, during an emergency, adapts his/her work modality to contribute to HI’s effective humanitarian response.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The applicant must hold a Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Physiotherapy
At least two years of clinical experience in a hospital as Physiotherapist working along the multi-disciplinary team (Mandatory).
Experience working for an NGO (local/international) as clinical or community staff, an advantage. (Desirable)
Experienced working in humanitarian and emergency settings, an advantage. (Desirable)

Personal Skills and Technical Competencies required

Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills as a physiotherapist in day-to-day activities
Ability to perform a client-centred approach in the assessment, evaluation, and follow-up of intervention using standard methods and tools for physiotherapy
Contribute to comprehensive assessment providing neuromotor, sensory processing, and functional or adaptive skill analyses of children
Contribute, communicate and collaborate effectively with the team and partners on the improvement of care for children and the project
Knowledge of disability, inclusion, and inclusive education
Engages in professional development and seeks ways to improve professional competencies and capacity using different mediums.
Thinks critically.
Professionalism by respecting professional and organisational ethics in dealing with clients, families, colleagues and partners.
Able to manage own practice ensuring quality and safety of work and confidence to work with less supervision
Ability to initiate and complete assignments and to work under demanding circumstances with minimal supervision
Good communication skills in spoken and written English. Knowledge of Sign Language is an advantage.
Must have good interpersonal skills.
Must exhibit patience and tolerance when handling beneficiaries, training caregivers, and other organisational responsibilities.
Can work under pressure.
Must possess good analytical and problem-solving abilities in designing treatment programs, especially for complex cases, using available resources and, at the same time, taking advantage of the multidisciplinary approach within the organisation.
Must exhibit creativity, innovation, and flexibility in the management of children with disabilities.
Must be open-minded and able to accept criticisms.
Must be computer literate – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet Browsing

Application Process

Humanity and Inclusion is an Equal Opportunity Employer, we encourage females and persons with disabilities to apply to become a part of our organization. HI provides the reasonable accommodation to facilitate work processes for Persons with Disability
HI staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the Code of Conduct. In accordance with these values, HI operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-fraud, bribery, and corruption.
HI does not solicit funds in exchange for employment opportunities.

How to Apply:

If you feel you meet the requirements, please send an updated CV (3 pages max, including three professional referees current and/or past line managers) with a cover letter to HR department at recruitment@uganda.hi.org indicating the position and location applied for in the subject line

Deadline: Sunday 13th August 2023 by 11pm

Any efforts to influence the recruitment process will lead to automatic disqualification. Disclaimer: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.