UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT

Preamble:

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.

In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.

In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

1. UNV Assignment Title : UN Volunteer Nurse

2. Type of Assignment : National UN Volunteer

3. Project Title : Health Promotion for UN staff in Thailand

4. Duration : Initial period of one year; possible extension for additional year

5. Location, Country : Bangkok, Thailand

6. Expected Starting Date : 25 May 2015

7. Brief Project Description : Support of UN Medical Service in areas of clinical and occupational health

8. Host Agency/Host Institute : UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

9. Organizational Context : The UN Medical Service is a shared service providing clinical, occupational health, and medico-administrative support to staff and other clients of some 24 UN funds, programmes and agencies, including UN Volunteers working in Thailand. The Medical Service is hosted by ESCAP and is part of the Human Resources Management Section, Division of Administration. The Service is headed by a Medical Officer who is supported by a Team Assistant. The UN Volunteer Nurse would work as a member of the team and report directly to the Medical Officer.

The work of the UN Volunteer would support the raising of awareness of occupational health risks among UN personnel, and to deliver appropriate clinical, preventive, and occupational health services.

10. Type of Assignment Place : assignment with family

11. Description of tasks :

Under the direct supervision of the Medical Officer the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

     A.  Perform clinical assessment of patients visiting the walk-in clinic: provide care/advice accordingly or facilitate referral to the Medical Officer or to an outside physician, as indicated.
     B.  Contribute to awareness and readiness of clients to travel on mission and reassignment, including administration of appropriate vaccines for international travel, and other travel medicine-related functions.
     C.  Support the development and maintenance of a health provider network within Thailand, and the Asia-Pacific region, including advocacy for volunteerism and collaboration within the UN system.
     D.  Design and deliver health education, training, promotion and awareness programmmes, liaising with national and local authorities as well as partner non-governmental organizations with a view to improving occupational health for UN staff. Share programmes with communality-based and national counterparts for use at the local and national levels.
     E.  Assist in developing and maintaining an efficient inventory and stock control of medical supplies; check expiration dates of drugs; and recommends acquisition of fresh supply to support daily operations.
     F.  Provides other regular nursing services, such as emergency or urgent care, medico-administrative tasks, and general support of the Medical Officer.
     G.  Perform other related duties as required

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

12. Results/Expected Output :

• Health promotion for UN staff in Thailand (clinical, preventive, and occupational safety and health aspects)
• Health awareness and education programmes developed for use by local and national health providers
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

13. Qualifications/Requirements :

• Five years of experience in nursing or related area.
• First level university degree in nursing.
• National registration and license.
• Fluency in English and Thai languages.
• Relevant IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office and web-based applications.
• Experience in designing and delivering training and briefing programmes on medical and occupational health issues is desirable.
• Experience administering immunizations, malaria prophylaxis, etc. is desirable.
• Experience working in an occupational health setting is desirable.
• Experience working in a multicultural environment is desirable.

14. Conditions of Service

A 12 - month contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) THB 29,805 intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, (monthly amount is determined by the regulations of UNV); settling-in-grant (if applicable); life, health, and permanent disability insurance; return airfares (if applicable); resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Interested candidates please submit your application letter and CV to unv.th@undp.org

The closing date of application is Thursday, 30 April 2015.