Clinical Officer

• Deadline: Expired

JOB TITLE: Clinical Officer

EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY: Fixed three month contract with a possibility of renewal

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full time

JOB LOCATION: Kisumu, Kenya

Organization Background

Formed in September 2020 in Kenya, VIBRI’s goal is to accelerate the translation of promising innovations from the laboratory bench to the clinic in the community. The institute provides a dynamic platform for global health research, training and education by bringing together knowledge and resources to address the most important global health issues relevant to Africa.

Working in collaboration with global health partners, VIBRI is committed to the pursuit of knowledge, discovery and clinical development of public health interventions that have a major impact on global health in Africa.

Africa faces a double burden of infectious and chronic diseases. While infectious diseases still account for the highest burden of morbidity and mortality on the continent, age specific mortality rates from chronic diseases as a whole are actually higher in sub Saharan Africa than in virtually all other regions of the world, in both men and women. Over the coming years, the continent is projected to experience the largest increase in disease and death rates from cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and diabetes.

To tackle these global health challenges in Africa, VIBRI aims to support epidemiological research and clinical development of innovative healthcare and medical technologies with the ultimate goal of improving healthcare at both local and global levels.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Research Medical Officer, the Clinical Officer is responsible for increasing the number of patients participating in clinical trials. The incumbent is expected to contribute to the assessment and management of the care pathways for patients and cares in the clinical trials. This entails recruitment, education and monitoring of trial patients and the collection and documentation of accurate data. The Clinical Officer will be working with lead nurses and multi-disciplinary teams within the wider research team, assisting with the management of a caseload of clinical trials patients.

Additionally, the incumbent will assess and carry out clinical procedures for patients/ participants and will be considered part of the clinical team during the participant’s involvement with the study. He/she will provide advice and maintain records within various settings

Qualification Requirements

Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery from a recognized institution.

• Valid professional practice license from the Clinical Officers’ Council.
  Certificate of registration from the Clinical Officers’ Council.
• At least a year of demonstrable working experience post internship, preferably in a medical research organization.
  Proficient in computer applications especially MS word, excel, outlook and power point.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• • Fluency in English and Swahili. Dholuo is an added advantage as it is the local language of the duty station.

• Ability to work well in a team and collaborate with colleagues.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Clinical and Professional Responsibilities

• Assist in the management of a caseload of clinical trial patients, whilst working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, carers and professionals to ensure high quality service delivery.
• Use relevant clinical knowledge to identify patients suitable for clinical research using inclusion and exclusion criteria and visiting wards and outpatients.
• Act as a resource and role model for all aspects of research clinical practice in order to optimize patient care and clinical practice which may include carrying out physical assessments, conducting sample retrieval and processing, providing or coordinating interventions and treatments within relevant sphere of practice.
• Ensure the environment is suitable for patient care and research processes recognizing the importance of privacy, dignity and diversity.
• Responsible for the care of research patients within the relevant sphere of practice and use opportunities to provide health promotion and patient education.
• Maintain accurate documentation of patient events in medical notes and Case Report Forms
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of treatment options, treatment side effects and disease processes to support patients in making an informed treatment choice.
• Provide ongoing information, education and support to participants regarding clinical trials and specific trial treatments.
• Ensure that trial specific investigations are undertaken as required by the trial protocol and obtain results in order to establish eligibility and safety to enter the trial.
• Assess and manage any adverse and serious adverse events occurring whilst the participant is in the research study and provide relevant information to the Pl through the Clinical Research Coordinator in line with the study protocol.
• Provide continuity of care to patients and their carers throughout the trial program by giving specific advice and support as appropriate. Refer to the other specialists as required to ensure optimum patient care.
• Maintain accurate patient trial documentation, complete incident report forms including the use of electronic data capture systems and evaluate relevant information as recorded in patient medical notes.
• Contribute to the monitoring of clinical standards within the research team.
• Utilize information governance guidance for the handling of sensitive patient data.
• Develop additional clinical skills to meet the needs of individual studies.

2. Research

• Ensure that the delivery of studies meet requirements with regards to the government’s and VIBRI’s Research Governance Framework for Health.
• Contribute to the Expression of Interest/ Study Selection Process.
• Contribute to study set up, recruitment planning and study delivery.
• Be responsible for promoting appropriate referral and recruitment of patients to clinical research studies.
• Work with research teams and investigators to develop strategies to overcome barriers to recruitment and to solve other problems relating to specific studies.
• Coordinate and run study visits including off site visits.
• Work with other departments within VIBRI to ensure that trial specific investigations and procedures are undertaken as required by the trial protocol, in order to establish eligibility and safety of patients within research.