Community Health Officer

Role summary

The Community Health Officer will act as a first-line neonatal clinician within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), helping deliver safe and evidence-based care to newborns. Working under the guidance of a neonatologist or paediatrician, the role focuses on assessing, stabilising, and managing neonates in line with established clinical protocols.

The position is designed to support uninterrupted neonatal care, timely identification of deterioration, appropriate escalation, and strict compliance with infection prevention and patient safety standards.

Key details

Job title: Community Health Officer (2 positions)

Work location: KGH/MCOE, Koidu

Department: Clinical

Reporting line: OBGYN Lead

Requisition number: 4727

Line management: None

Core duties

• Carry out the first clinical review of triaged neonates, complete admission assessments, join daily ward rounds, and ensure findings are properly recorded.
• Manage common neonatal conditions such as sepsis, birth asphyxia, prematurity, low birth weight, jaundice, hypoglycaemia, respiratory distress, and feeding problems using approved NICU protocols.
• Request relevant investigations, begin treatment, prescribe within authorised standing orders, and provide basic neonatal resuscitation at birth or on admission when needed.
• Stabilise critically ill newborns while awaiting doctor review or referral.
• Keep patient notes complete and accurate, including admission records, progress updates, treatment plans, and procedure documentation.
• Support clinical audits and quality improvement work aimed at improving neonatal safety and service effectiveness.
• Escalate abnormal findings promptly to the appropriate medical officer or specialist and help stabilise babies before referral to a higher-level facility.
• Perform or assist with essential neonatal procedures, including resuscitation and intravenous cannulation.
• Follow NICU infection prevention and control standards, maintain aseptic technique, practise proper hand hygiene, observe isolation protocols, and take part in infection surveillance.

Qualifications and experience

• Diploma or degree in Community Health.
• Active professional registration with the relevant regulatory body.
• Certification in Basic Neonatal Resuscitation.
• Additional training in newborn care, emergency care, and infection prevention and control is preferred.

Competencies

• Neonatal assessment and recognition of emergencies.
• Neonatal resuscitation skills.
• Knowledge of infection prevention practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Strong and accurate documentation.
• Clear communication skills.
• Ethical, patient-centred care.

About the organisation

Partners In Health is a global health and social justice organisation focused on delivering high-quality care to people who need it most. The organisation works across 11 countries, including Sierra Leone, where it supports the Ministry of Health and Sanitation through public-sector accompaniment, integrated services, and a commitment to health equity.

In Sierra Leone, Partners In Health has developed the Maternal Center of Excellence as an extension of Koidu Government Hospital in Kono district to improve care for mothers and newborns. The facility expands capacity, introduces modern technology, strengthens training for health workers, and aims to serve as a model for care beyond Sierra Leone.

Safeguarding and misconduct disclosure

The organisation is committed to preventing sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, financial misconduct, and any other harmful behaviour in the workplace. All staff, consultants, contractors, vendors, and volunteers are expected to uphold the code of conduct and safeguarding standards.

The selected candidate will receive appropriate training and must comply with safeguarding policies. Employment is subject to satisfactory references and screening checks, which may include criminal record and terrorism finance checks.

As part of its misconduct disclosure process, the organisation may request information from previous employers regarding any incidents of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment. It may also share relevant misconduct records with other agencies when a staff member leaves, in line with its accountability procedures. By applying, candidates agree to these recruitment checks and disclosures.

Application instructions

Applicants were instructed to submit their applications via the organisation’s careers page and include the names, addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers of three referees. The stated deadline was 12:00 pm GMT (midnight) on Friday, 10 April 2026.