PROJECT MEDICAL REFERENT / SURVIVORS OF TORTURE PROJECT/ PALERMO

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) translates to Doctors without Borders. We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - bound together by our charter.  Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation. MSF was founded in 1971 in Paris by a group of journalists and doctors.

Project Context specificities 

In 2020 MSF OCB has handed over the responsibility for the implementation of their operations in Italy to MSF Italy, with the mandate to focus on migration.  

In Palermo, MSF has been running a Survivor of Torture (SoT) project since 2021 with a service for the rehabilitation of survivors of torture and intentional violence. The overall objective of the intervention is to reduce morbidity and mortality among migrants and refugees by providing those who have experienced torture and other serious forms of intentional violence with access to dedicated care services based on their needs. The ultimate goal of the project, through a multi-year program (lasting a minimum of 3 years), is the creation in Palermo of a centre of national and international significance dedicated to torture survivors, integrating a comprehensive clinical component of primary and secondary/tertiary care, with a teaching and research component. This meant to be achieved through the signing of two separate memorandum of understanding with the Policlinic (AOUP) "Giaccone" and the University of Palermo. The model of care developed with the ASP of Palermo in 2021 and 2022 and revised in 2023 will be developed within the "Giaccone" Polyclinic, maintaining the multidisciplinary and integrated approach among the different professional figures - medical and non-medical - involved in the care of patients. 

Position in the Organization

Reports to (Hierarchical): Project Coordinator

Reports to (Functional): Deputy Medical Coordinator

Job Family: Medical and Paramedical

Supervises (Function): Psychologists / Patient Support Supervisor / Social Worker

Main Purpose

Participates in defining, planning and monitoring medical activities and programs in the project in accordance with MSF's protocols as well as coordinates human and material related resources needed in order to ensure the quality of care provided by MSF.

Specific accountabilities 

• Supervising and managing the team working in the SoT service under his/her direct supervision mantaining the multidisciplinary approach and checking on its implementation. 
• Ensuring that MSF medical guidelines are followed, in collaboration with the mental health and sexual reproductive referents and in coordination with the Deputy Medical Coordination.  
• Leading the medical meetings, including the clinical cases discussion and the first assesments. 
• Ensuring capacity building among our partners is done and, when necessary, directly providing medical assessments and follow up consultations as a member of the multidisciplinary team responsible for the survivors of intentional violence’s rehabilitation process.  
• Ensuring relantionship (referral/follow-up) with the SoT patients’ NHS GPs and with the medical personnel of AOUP Giaccone “Ambulatorio di Medicina delle Migrazioni”. 
• Referring patients in need to AOUP Forensic Medicine Unit and ensuring a proper follow-up (including the certificate issuance). 
• Ensuring that educational activities are designed and gradually implemented specifically on SoT-related issues in collaboration with the University of Palermo (UniPa) and other partners. 
• Supporting initiatives focused on public sector capacity building and targeting trainees (e.g. specialist doctors, psychologists in training, ...), in collaboration with the Project Coordinator. 
• Developing specific SOPs for multidisciplinary services addressed to SoTs within AOUP "Giaccone" and constantly revising/adapting them. 
• Ensuring health education and orientation to local health services are provided by MSF. 
• Ensuring medical data are properly collected trough the electronic medical record system and the medical monthly SITREP is done. 
• Contributing in raising the awareness about the violence and trauma suffered by migrants and refugees in countries of origin, transit, and arrival and the gaps related to their general protection and access to dedicated health services and reception facilities.

Education

Medical doctor with specialization and registered in the Italian Register of Doctors.

Experience

Essential: previous working experience in medical project management and stakeholders’ partnership building.

Essential: previous experience with migrants/migration context

Essential: knowledge of the Italian National Health Service

Essential: at least 1 year’s working experience in team management.

Strongly desirable: previous experience with Survivors of Torture programs.

Strongly desirable: knowledge of the Academic System.

Desirable: previous working experience with MSF or relevant similar jobs in other NGO’s.

Languages - Essential mission/local language (Italian) and English.

Knowledge - Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Competencies

Strategic Vision L3

Planning and Organising L3

Teamwork and Cooperation L4

Leadeship L2

People Management and Development L3

Conditions

Contract: Fixed term contract of 12 months, Full-time. Level I of Italian CCNL of Commerce. Candidates should hold a work permit to work in Italy.

Gross Annual Salary Range:  Euro 36.380,88 – 43.657,00 depending on the MSF seniority of the selected candidate.

Duty Station: Position based in Palermo (Siclily)

• Compensation and benefits:
• Health Insurance: health insurance will be granted through the Italian National Health Care System plus an extra medical coverage (Sanimpresa) for contracts with a duration equal and/or greater than 90 days, which covers medical costs, illness and hospitalization, permanent invalidity and death (100k);
• The staff will be entitled to a deferred luncheon voucher worth €5 for each day (monday to friday) worked for the entire period of his/her contract ; 
• Accommodation for relocated (meaning with residency more than 100km away from the project location) staff only: MSF provides accommodation in the form of collective housing (shared accommodation with specific contributions based on the housing solution);
• Transport: MSF will cover a round trip ticket at the beginning and at the end of the contract and an additional round trip ticket will be paid by MSF between the place of domicile and assignment location every 12 months of contract for non-Italian residents.

Deadline for application: 31/05/2024

Desired starting date: 15/06/2024

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Applicants not invited for interview within 4 weeks from the closure of the vacancy may consider their applications unsuccessful.

MSF Italy is an inclusive employer that fosters diversity and engages systematically to ensure that equal employment opportunities are provided without regard to age, race, creed, religion, sex, disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin or any other legally recognized status entitled to protection under applicable laws.