Scope of Work:
The TFU Pediatric Specialist / TFU In-Charge is responsible for the overall clinical and operational management of the Therapeutic Feeding Unit (TFU), ensuring quality implementation of health, nutrition, and MHPSS activities according to national and WHO IMAM/CMAM guidelines.
JOB PURPOSE
Overall clinical and managerial responsibility for the Therapeutic Feeding Unit (TFU), ensuring high-quality integrated care for children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), including medical, nutritional, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), and MHPSS components in line with national IMAM/CMAM protocols and WHO standards.
The TFU Head Doctor is the final responsible authority for clinical decision-making, quality of care, and overall performance of the TFU team.
OBJECTIVE 1: Clinical Leadership, Quality of Care and Technical Oversight
• Ensure effective implementation of all TFU activities with full compliance to national IMAM/CMAM and WHO protocols for management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications.
• Provide overall clinical leadership and ensure high-quality, life-saving medical care for all admitted patients.
• Conduct daily ward rounds, review all critical cases, and ensure timely clinical decision-making for complicated patients.
• Ensure integration of MHPSS considerations into clinical management and patient-centered care.
• Supervise, mentor, and technically support all TFU staff including doctors, nurses, nutrition staff, and support teams.
• Conduct regular clinical case reviews, mortality reviews, and quality improvement (QI) activities to improve TFU performance and patient outcomes.
• Ensure availability and implementation of clinical guidelines, protocols, and standard treatment procedures.
• Ensure effective referral and counter-referral system between TFU, MHNTs, health facilities, and community nutrition services.
• Identify operational and clinical gaps in TFU functioning and implement corrective actions in coordination with program management.
• Provide on-call and emergency clinical coverage for life-saving interventions when required.
OBJECTIVE 2: Management, Human Resources and Supervision
• Provide overall leadership and supervision of TFU staff including medical, nursing, nutrition, and support teams.
• Assign duties, approve duty rosters, and ensure adequate staff coverage for 24/7 TFU operations.
• Conduct performance monitoring, supportive supervision, and regular staff evaluation in coordination with HR guidelines.
• Identify training needs of TFU staff and organize capacity-building sessions (theoretical and on-the-job).
• Ensure discipline, teamwork, and professional conduct within the TFU team.
• Support the Nutrition Officer and project management in HR, logistics, and operational planning for TFU functioning.
• Ensure proper communication, coordination, and task delegation among multidisciplinary teams.
OBJECTIVE 3: Reporting, Monitoring and Supplies Management
• Ensure timely preparation and validation of daily, weekly, and monthly TFU reports.
• Oversee accurate data collection, verification, and analysis of TFU performance indicators, including:
- Cure rate
- Death rate
- Defaulter rate
- Average length of stay
- Bed occupancy rate
• Ensure accurate documentation of all patient records, admissions, treatment, and discharge data.
• Supervise compilation of reports from medical, nursing, and nutrition teams.
• Ensure collaboration with M&E department for data quality assurance and reporting compliance.
• Ensure proper forecasting, stock monitoring, rational use, and availability of:
- F-75, F-100, RUTF
- Essential medicines
- Medical and nutrition supplies
• Prevent stock-outs, wastage, and expiry through effective consumption monitoring and coordination with pharmacy/logistics teams.
OBJECTIVE 4: Coordination, Partnerships and Safeguarding
• Represent TFU in internal and external technical meetings related to nutrition, health, and MHPSS.
• Ensure strong coordination with MoPH, DoPH, and relevant health and nutrition stakeholders.
• Support project management in sharing TFU performance updates with relevant partners and donors.
• Ensure adherence to safeguarding, child protection, confidentiality, and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policies across all TFU activities.
• Promote accountability, ethical practice, and patient-centered care within the TFU.
