Physiotherapist for Nairobi Program

The Center for victims of Torture is an international nonprofit dedicated to healing survivors of Torture.

Position:Physiotherapist for Nairobi Program 

2 Positions

Objective: To provide physiotherapy services in CVT’s Nairobi center and at various outreach sites in Nairobi to individuals, groups and communities to recover from physical difficulties resulting from the effects of torture and war trauma. 

To assist the rehabilitation process by developing and restoring body awareness, self regulation, and body systems, in particular the neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems resulting from the effects of torture and/or war trauma under daily supervision of clinicians; provide training to other health professionals and advocate on behalf of CVT.
                       
Report to:     

1st Line: Physiotherapist/Trainer
 

2nd Line: Country Director     

Key Performance Areas & Performance IndicatorsUnder the supervision of the Physiotherapy Trainer and in close collaboration with other disciplines:

The Physiotherapist primary physiotherapy duties include:

• Provide appropriate physiotherapy assessment to clients throughout their episode of care at CVT in order to continuously evaluate their progress and their changing needs for intervention and establish treatment goals and plan.
• Determine appropriate treatment techniques for war trauma and torture survivors based on solid clinical reasoning.  Interventions could include education, exercise therapy and manual therapy in the context of group work or within individual sessions.
• Educate and advise clients and their care takers about prevention and/or self-management of their condition.
• Take responsibility for maintaining professional development by keeping up to date with evidence based practice for managing CVT clients.
• Assist in the daily clinical operations to ensure clients are given appointments in a timely manner, group work activities and room designation is scheduled and coordinated fairly, equipment is shared and organized appropriately and follow other CVT client procedures.
• Maintain up- to- date clinical records and statistical data and ensure that all required documentation is completed and stored in a timely and professional manner.
• Ensure that all work with clients observes CVT’s confidentiality policies and that ethical practices are observed at all times and are in accordance with the WCPT standards.
• Provide interpretation between clients and other CVT staff members and assist with translating written material when needed.
• Ensure the cleanliness of treatment spaces and equipment used with clients as well as maintain a clean, professional appearance.
• Attend all regularly scheduled trainings and meetings necessary for professional development and team coordination and upon request.
• When necessary to accommodate programmatic needs, work after hours or on weekend days when requested.

The physiotherapist’s primary responsibilities working as a multidisciplinary team member include:

• Case manage clients’ interdisciplinary care through regular communication with CVT’s psychosocial counselors (PSCs), Psychosocial Trainers and social workers to best identify clients’ on-going needs.
• Consistently communicate prior to and throughout client sessions with other disciplines to supply and receive relevant information about the background and progress of clients as well as refer those who require other specific medical attention.
• Provide and attend internal trainings to orient new staff and provide on-going interdisciplinary understanding and discussion.
• Recognize and respect boundaries between disciplines and establish regular communication mechanisms to address client urgent and/or on-going concerns.

The Physiotherapists primary responsibilities to develop community awareness, understanding and engagement relating to the rehabilitation needs of individuals who have experienced war trauma and/or torture include:

• Assist with CVTs community outreach and awareness, education, and sensitization campaigns and programs when needed.
• Liaise with CVT PSCs to identify children, teenagers, men, and women whose physical functioning may have been affected by war related experiences and encourage them to approach CVT for support.
• Assist in designing, planning, logistics, implementing and facilitating external training programs for local decision makers, community members and local and international NGO’s, and government/ministry staff on trauma and health issues in order to develop a more supportive environment for people whose physical  functioning has been affected by experiences of torture and war trauma.
• Contribute to completing the documentation and reporting of external trainings.
• Assist with developing referral systems and encourage collaboration between local groups and leaders, local and international NGOs, and government ministries.
• Attend interagency meetings to improve service delivery to our client groups and access opportunities to forward CVT’s work.

The Physiotherapists primary responsibilities to promote self-care through support and supervision include:

• Attend regular support, debriefing, case conferences, and/or supervision meetings to ensure information and skill-sharing.
• Set and follow through on a personal self-care schedule to avoid burnout and vicarious traumatization.
• Recognize and seek support when needed from internal and/or external resources to address concerns of secondary trauma in an expedient manner.
• Provide formal feedback to colleagues when requested for on-going performance evaluation and development.

Qualifications:

• Diploma in physiotherapy (university degree in physiotherapy preferred).
• 3 to 5 years of relevant experience. 
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English is essential. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills. 
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Has current Certificate of Practice
• Registered member of Kenyan Society of Physiotherapy
• Basic knowledge of Somali, Amharic or French preferred 

Interested candidates are requested to email their  applications attaching their updated CVs, including  contract  email and telephone contacts of 3 referees to cvtjobs@gmail.com  not later than 24th March, 2013.  

Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.