The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons/Fred Hollows Foundation is recruiting a consultant for an in-country gap analysis to assist the Timor Leste National Eye Centre teams to enable the clinical management of the facility.
The consultant will identify any possible gaps between current capacities and the required management and health systems skills sets and recommend approaches to resolve the identified gaps.
The consultant will work closely with the National Program Manager, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, National Eye Centre (NEC), and RACS project staff to undertake an assessment of existing staff capacity and how it aligns to Ministry of Health (MoH) position descriptions and the ability to meet the Timor Leste National Eye Health Strategic Plan.
A. Background
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), formed in 1927, is a non-profit organisation training surgeons and maintaining surgical standards in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. RACS supports the ongoing development, maintenance of expertise and lifelong learning that accompanies the surgical practice of more than 8,300 surgeons and 1,300 surgical trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates.
RACS’ vision is that safe surgical and anaesthetic care is available and accessible to everyone. Through partnerships with Timor Leste and Pacific neighbours, RACS Global Health (GH) provides specialist medical education, training, capacity development and medical aid to 15 countries in the Indo-Pacific region and aims to support the local health care systems to develop so they can provide quality medical services into the future.
The National Eye Clinic (NEC) is based at, and forms part of the Guido Valadares National Hospital (GVNH) in Dili. It brings together eye health agencies operating in Timor-Leste to provide a comprehensive and high-level surgical and out-patient eye health service delivered by Timorese eye doctors and clinicians. The services include vision screening; refraction and spectacles supply; cataract and other eye surgery in its two-bed operating theatre; treatment of trauma and eye disease; and eye health care education resources.
In addition to being the major referral facility for eye treatment it will act as a base for the co-ordination of surgical outreach visits to district referral hospitals and community health centres (CHCs), and clinical attachments for eye care staff also based in the districts. The NEC is supported by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeon (RACS) and the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF Australia).
B. Purpose and objectives of the assignment
The NEC is going through a transition period where the international long-term ophthalmologist is leaving after supporting the centre for the past 10 years. RACS Global Health with FHF Australia aims to ensure the NEC continues its ability to function at a high level, and effectively deliver eye care services (as the main referral centre in Timor-Leste) and to support district eye care centres throughout the country. This includes clinical and surgical outreach activities.
RACS Global Health is recruiting a consultant to undertake a Skills Gap Analysis to assist the National Eye Centre teams to enable the clinical management of the facility. This consultancy will focus on the clinic with an emphasis on a clinical management systems gap analysis.
The consultant will identify any possible gaps between current capacities and the required management and health systems skill sets and recommend approaches to resolve the identified gaps. The consultant will work closely with the National Program Manager, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, National Eye Centre (NEC), and RACS project staff to undertake an assessment of existing staff capacity and how it aligns to Ministry of Health (MoH) position descriptions and the ability to meet the Timor Leste National Eye Health Strategic Plan https://www.iapb.org/news/timor-leste-has-new-eye-health-strategic-plan/ .
C. Scope of the assignment
The Consultant will work closely with the National Program Manager, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, National Eye Centre (NEC), and RACS project staff:
1. Undertake a NEC Clinical Management gap analysis to determine the differences between the current state of operation and where the NEC and National Eye Health Plan aim to be.
2. Identify management skills and clinical systems to identify gaps in management, eye health services and NEC management capacities.
3. Provide explanations of NEC skills and systems and provide recommendations of how these can be realistically managed e.g., clinical leadership training, on-the-job training, and clinical systems development.
4. Identify actions to strengthen operational management of the NEC by ensuring adequate systems and best practice are in place and implemented, for smooth running of NEC.
5. Work with NEC outreach teams to determine existing systems / process are in place to ensure the smooth running and facilitation of district outreach activities.
6. Assist clinical staff with processes and procedures to organise and facilitate regular clinical attachment for eye care staff from referral hospitals.
7. Clearly define roles and responsibilities of the NEC clinical management structure for key stakeholders, with consideration and recommendations regarding gaps.
8. Develop a NEC Clinical Management Gap Analysis Report and Plan for consideration and operational use by NEC, HNGV and RACS TL Country Manager and in-country AVI specialist. Utilise gap analysis confirmed findings to facilitate development of preliminary Cross-Learning Plan (CLP) co-designed by doctors, Eye Care Workers, and Eye Care Nurses in a joint workshop.
D. Description of the assignment
The Consultant’s key tasks are to:
1. Perform a desk review and in-country gap analysis in partnership with the Timor Leste NEC and RACS Timor Leste Country Office.
2. Deliver an in-country workshop with key stakeholders on findings of gap analysis and recommendations. Utilise gap analysis confirmed findings to facilitate development of preliminary Cross-Learning Plan (CLP) co-designed by doctors, Eye Care Workers, and Eye Care Nurses in a joint workshop.
3. Deliver a Gap Analysis Report and recommended Action Plan for consideration by NEC, HNGV, RACS TL Country Manager, FHF Australia and in-country AVI specialist.
E. Objectives of the Consultant
The Consultant should approach the Gap Analysis Report and Action Plan with the view to:
Equitably partner with in-country NEC staff and RACS Timor Leste representatives to ensure alignment of recommendations with the Timor Leste Ministry of Health national strategy and realistic actions for a developing country and health system.
• Create a thorough gap analysis and corresponding action plan that is reality checked and approved with NEC staff in-country during the in-country reflection on findings workshop.
F. Deliverables and timelines
The assignment will be for a 20-business day period with the following deliverables.
1. Submit a brief inception report based on the desk review/discussion, outlining the approach, including a structured table of actions and dates that will result in the development of the NEC Gap Analysis Report and Action Plan, in-country reflection workshop and Cross-Learning Plan Workshop with relevant national partners.
2. Upon acceptance of Inception Report, commence desk review and in-country gap analysis with support of RAC Timor Leste Country Office. At close of visit, deliver in-country reflection on findings of gap analysis in facilitated workshop with key partners. Utilise gap analysis confirmed findings to facilitate development of preliminary Cross-Learning Plan (CLP) co-designed by doctors, Eye Care Workers, and Eye Care Nurses in a joint workshop.
3. Submit draft version of the Report to RACS and FHF Australia team for review, including Cross-Learning Plan.
4. Incorporate feedback (if any) on the draft version of the Report from RACS and FHF Australia team.
5. Deliver final report for acceptance.
The Consultant will deliver the assignment as follows and payment done upon achievement of each deliverable/milestone:
Milestone 1
1. Submit a brief inception report based on the desk review/discussion, outlining the approach, including a structured table of actions and dates that will result in the development of the Gap Analysis Report and Action Plan and in-country reflection workshop and Cross-Learning Plan Workshop with relevant national partners.
Within 5 business days – 50% of the contract value
Milestone 2
2. Upon acceptance of Inception Report, commence desk review and in-country gap analysis with support of RAC Timor Leste Country Office. At close of visit, deliver in-country reflection on findings of gap analysis in facilitated workshop with key partners. Utilise gap analysis confirmed findings to facilitate development of preliminary Cross-Learning Plan (CLP) co-designed by doctors, Eye Care Workers, and Eye Care Nurses in a joint workshop.
3. Submit draft version of the Report to RACS and FHF Australia team for review, including Cross-Learning Plan.
Next 10 business days – 25% of the contract value
Milestone 3
4. Incorporate feedback (if any) onthe draft version of the Report from RACSand FHF Australia.
5. Deliver final report for acceptance.
Final 10 business days – 25% of the contract value
G. Qualification and experience
Academic Qualification
Relevant Master’s degree or higher in relevant health or evaluation field.
Experience
•At least ten (10) years of progressive experience within the eye health/health andinternational development environment.
•Experience in working in an international development sector. Previous workexperience in similar assignments with I/NGOs and/or UN will be given preference.
•Preferred experience in clinic management especially in low-resource settings.
•Highly developed cross-cultural interpersonal and communication skills with ademonstrated capacity to build positive relationships and networks, workingeffectively across a broad range of stakeholders.
H. Reporting and supervision
The Consultant will report to the RACS GH Head of Global Health during the entire period of this consultancy, with in-country oversight from the RACS Timor Leste Country Manager.
I. Time frame
The Consultant will be contracted for a period of 20 – 25 business days. The consultant will develop an inception plan covering the project scope.
Travel days are to be included in your quote. RACS Global Health coordinates all travel, accommodation, and transport. Consultants are provided with a set per diem @ country rate.
J. Application guidelines
Interested applicants should submit the following documents to Rajesh.P[email protected] by Friday 29th December at midnight AEST.
1. Detailed cover letter expressing interest in the assignment, including full contact details (name, telephone number, email).
2. An estimated costing based on the contracted period of 20 – 25 business days (and additional flight days).
3. Consultant’s detailed CV including the following:
i Evidence of undertaking similar consultancy work during the last 3 years.
ii Sample work of one (1) similar health gap analysis or related health management piece of work.
iii Two (2) pieces of documented evidence, e.g., contract award or reference letter, from clients stating scope of services and deliverables related to previously completed similar assignments.
iv A brief methodology of the assignment/interpretation to be used during the assignment.
v Work plan based on Table 1 required for the assignment.
vi Email and telephone contacts of at least two (2) relevant references.
K. Criteria for selection of the best offer
The Consultant will be selected in accordance with the criteria laid down in section G. Qualification and experience, and alignment of previous manuals styles as stated in section J. Application guidelines, point 3.ii Sample work.
