LAMRN Kenya

Particulars of Appointment

                                 Research Co-ordinator: NIHR Global Health Research Group on stillbirth prevention and management in sub-Saharan Africa, The University of Manchester

    Vacancy Ref: No 1

Salary: Research Co-ordinator the salary will be competitive (it will be consolidated)

Hours: Full-time

Duration: Fixed-term, until 31 July 2020 

Location: LAMRN Kenya 

Responsible to: LAMRN Chair (Professor Grace Omoni), Programme Chief Investigator (Professor Dame Tina Lavender) and Programme Manager (Mr Roy Daley)

The post is derived from a collaboration between LAMRN and the University of Manchester.

Lugina Africa Midwives Research Network (LAMRN)

The Lugina Africa Midwives Research Network (LAMRN) is a network dedicated to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes, in Africa, through improving evidence-based practice. LAMRN supports midwifery research, information sharing, networking and training activities in six countries in the region including Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Working across the 6 countries, LAMRN brings together a network of dedicated midwifery researchers, teachers, practitioners and other health partners.

LAMRN’s priority areas include:

• Supporting senior midwifery partners to develop research leadership skills
• Working with midwives in target countries to identify country-level maternal health research priorities
• Providing training for midwives to improve research and evidence-based practice skills
• Developing a mentorship system for midwives to develop research projects in national and regional priority areas for improving care and outcomes for women and their families.

The network is based on a partnership model that encourages research skills and knowledge sharing through direct programme support as well as an innovative ‘buddy system’ mentorship programme ensuring that research coordinators are partnered with experienced counterparts in the UK to support knowledge sharing and skills transfer.

For further information, please access the website, www.LAMRN.org

The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is the largest single-site university in the UK with around 38,000 students and more than 11,000 staff. The project collaboration is with the Centre for Global Women’s Health, within the Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, which is recognised for delivering world-class teaching and research across nursing, midwifery, social work and related disciplines.

We currently provide undergraduate and postgraduate education to more than 2,000 students in close partnership with the NHS and are among the top ten universities in the world at which to study nursing (QS World University Rankings 2016). Our research excellence was recognised by the results of REF 2014 and is underpinned by the production of collaborative, high-quality and impactful research which aims to improve health and social care at local, national and international levels. We have a worldwide reputation for high-quality research in nursing, midwifery and social work, including extensive national and international collaboration with a wide range of partners.

The University of Nairobi

The University of Nairobi is the oldest university in Kenya with a student population of 84,000 and more than 2,052 academic staff. The School of Nursing Sciences is situated within the College of Health Sciences at The Kenyatta National Hospital Campus within which the LAMRN offices are situated.

The School of Nursing Sciences offers undergraduate, Masters and PhD nursing and midwifery studies. We have over the years trained for the region and within the country. We are the leading School of Nursing within the country. LAMRN has collaborations with other research institutions both locally, regionally and internationally. Our research has focused on evidence based research trying to get solutions locally, member states and internationally.

 

Job Description

The Research Co-ordinator will work on a project related to stillbirth. Globally, 2.6 million babies die just before or during birth each year; 98% of stillbirths occur in low and middle income countries. Stillbirth is a tragedy for women and families, who suffer long lasting grief for their baby and are at high risk of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder; most have little support and care. In low income countries, including Sub-Saharan Africa, over half of stillbirths happen during labour. Many women also have associated health problems. In all countries, women who are from minority groups, are poor or have limited education are far more likely to experience the death of their baby. Stillbirth also affects health services, through increased costs for care and treatment and health staff stress and burnout when supporting bereaved families. Many stillbirths are preventable with good quality maternity care, e.g. identification, monitoring and managing a mother whose baby is failing to grow during pregnancy, can result in a positive outcome. Unfortunately progress in preventing stillbirth has been far too slow to reach international targets and many women still do not receive basic humane care after their baby dies.

A major problem is the lack of understanding of causes, how to change practice and provide better care in the countries most affected.

In this research project we will bring together leading researchers, with expertise in stillbirth prevention and bereavement care to work with colleagues who have long standing experience and skills of working in maternity care in low and middle income countries. The team includes midwives, obstetricians, paediatricians and research methods experts.  The project will tackle 3 areas of care. We will  a) gain understanding of the issues in improving stillbirth prevention, childbirth and bereavement care in low income settings b) develop culturally relevant studies for further investigation, and c) establishing itself as a catalyst for change.

The focus of the Research Coordinator’s work will be on ensuring that the research group objectives are met. This will include a range of activities including mentoring of research assistants across 6 countries, gaining ethical approvals, contributing to datadata analysis, data management, providing progress reports and liaising with the wider team. Additional research activities may also be required, according to the needs of the project.

Overall Purpose of the job 

• To support the PI and Programme Manager in programme planning and implementation.
• To ensure timely delivery of research group objectives.
• To support and supervise in-country research activities across 6 partner countries.
• To contribute to project reporting, dissemination and publications. 

Key responsibilities, accountabilities or duties 

Research

• To contribute to the development of research protocols.
• To secure local ethical and international ethical approvals.
• To supervise the project deliverables 12 research assistants.
• To provide research training to 12 research assistants.
• To support the PPI teams across all partner countries.
• Contribute to analysis of data.
• To engage with key stakeholders.
• To write research progress reports.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation activities. 

Team work

• Assist in the co-ordination of national and international meetings.
• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings.
• Contribute to activities outlined in the Communication Plan. 

Planning

• Coordinate and ensure the implementation of the project activities and according to the action plan.
• Manage own activities and support others to meet deadlines.

Communication

• Communicate research information, orally, in writing and electronically.
• Provide regular updates to the University of Manchester team
• Report monthly to the research co-ordinator on project activities.
• Provide written progress reports, as required.
• Disseminate research findings, locally, nationally and internationally, through oral presentations.
• Contribute to research publications.
• Build internal contacts and join external networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future collaboration.
• Oversee the maintenance and updating of the project website
• Contribute to project profile on social media

Person Specifications

Essential

Knowledge, skills and experience

• 1^st or upper second-class honours degree in relevant subject
• Master’s degree in a relevant subject will be an added advantage
• Experience of recent working in maternity care
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working
• Research experience in an academic and/or relevant health care setting
• Experience of coordinating a range of projects in an academic or health care setting
• Experience of quantitative and qualitative methodology
• Good understanding of research methods and evaluation research
• Ability to read, critique and synthesise research literature
• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications
• Member of LAMRN.
• Experience of providing research training.
• Evidence of previous mentorship.
• Ability to understand and implement organisational and funder policies.
• Experience of budget monitoring and financial reporting.

Interpersonal skills

• Self-motivated and able to work flexibly either independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Able to liaise and work professionally, collaboratively and effectively with local and international partners.
• Experience in interactions with key stakeholders.
• Good communicator, maintaining a visible and accessible profile to all partners.

Project skills

• Information technology literate including high proficiency in using MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Attention to detail and highly developed organisational skills.
• Able to manage own work on a day-to-day basis.
• Able to prioritise workload and manage time.
• Able to work to tight deadlines and problem solve.
• Excellent report writing skills.

Other

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with a high level of attention to detail and ability to communicate to scientific, lay and stakeholder audiences.
• Commitment, motivation and flexibility.
• Knowledge of developments in policy and practice.
• Willingness to perform a wide range of tasks as directed and as required

Desirable

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Registered health professional.
• Previous work related to Stillbirth or Intrapartum care.

Send your applications to: info@lamrn.org  

Deadline for the applications will be 5^th October, 2017. All those shortlisted will be informed by email and short message.

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