10532936
AVI Reference Only
ABN 88 004 613 067
71 Argyle Street (PO Box 350) Fitzroy VIC 3065
Telephone +61 3 9279 1788
Facsimile +61 3 9419 0976
Assignment Description
Hospital Management Specialist
Employer
The Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS), Solomon Islands
Location:
National Referral Hospital (NRH)
Background
Since 2008 the Solomon Islands MHMS, with the support of development partners, has led a
Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) to the delivery of medical services in Solomon Islands.
Australia is the lead donor in the health sector providing approximately AUD$20million p.a. to the
MHMS. Australia and other SWAp partners have aligned their support to the objectives of the
Solomon Islands National Health Strategic Plan 2011-15. Other development partners in the
health sector are: WHO, World Bank, SPC, UNICEF, UNFPA, JICA and the EU. Global Fund,
KOICA and ROC Taiwan are also major donors but are not formal SWAp partners.
The National Referral Hospital (NRH), located in Honiara city, provides secondary care for the city
and Guadalcanal province and tertiary care for the nation. It has 286 beds, accounts for a
significant share of total outpatient visits for the country (because in many cases it is easier to
access the NRH than the relevant provincial hospital), consumes approximately 20 per cent of the
health budget, and employs 75 per cent of all practicing doctors in the public sector. Currently,
inpatient services range around 10,000 p.a. and outpatient services at around 130,000 p.a. There
are total of 730 staff at NRH, which is one third of the nation’s entire public sector health
workforce. As the principal clinical centre for the nation the NRH provides inpatient and outpatient
care and a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services, as well as providing an important
base for the training of health professionals.
The NRH has recently struggled to maintain services standards as a result of increasing
pressures, including treating a growing Non-Communicable Disease burden and a turnover
problem which has resulted in the loss of over half of all senior clinicians over the last two years.
The hospital faces further pressures with the introduction of Cuban trained graduates starting in
July 2014, the possible development of a private ward, the formalisation of dual practice rights,
and administrative autonomy. Australia is funding a new Hospital Management Specialist to
support the NRH Executive team with the ultimate aim to improve the efficiency, equity and quality
of health care services at the NRH.
Assignment objective(s)
The key objectives of this assignment are to:

Improve hospital administration and operational efficiency within the NRH: Support
the NRH Executive team and their staff to improve hospital efficiency as demonstrated
through improved management of clinical inpatient and outpatient departments, better
support services, improved human workforce management and supervision activities,
and more efficient and effective use of all hospital resources.

Improve financial management in the NRH: Provide support to the NRH Executive and
operational teams helping to prioritise budget allocation on essential core service quality
expenditure items (goods, works and services) and comply with recently revised Solomon
Islands Government (SIG) Financial Instructions, MHMS Financial Procedures Manual
and SIG Procurement Manual.
Ref: Document1 / page 1

Develop Capacity within the NRH Executive team: Build capacity in the NRH
Executive and administration teams through mentoring, training and identifying
professional development opportunities and other technical assistance needs as they
arise.
Length of assignment:
The assignment will commence from January 2015 for a 2 year period. There is a possibility of
extension for a further period depending on assessments and requirements.
Reports to:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Referral Hospital
Counterparts include the NRH Executive team members (Chief Executive Officer, Medical
Superintendent, Hospital Secretary etc)
Duties and responsibilities:
Draw on the support of MHMS teams in Human Resource Management, Policy and Planning, HIS,
Finance, Pharmacy as well as the support of development partners to help facilitate better working
relations between the NRH, MHMS and other Ministries (Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of
Finance and Treasury, Ministry of Development, Planning and Aid Coordination).
The specialist is required to carry out the following major activities:
Hospital administration and operations
1. Support the NRH Heads of Division to provide better services to patients at both the NRH and
throughout the provinces, including through better communication.
2. Review existing administration structures, procedures, management and staff capacity to
support NRH implement improvements that will create technical efficiencies and improve the
quality of essential services within the NRH in the given budget;
3. Provide operational support and management advice to the NRH Executive team, including
mentoring and leadership support to manage their heavy workloads and provide training as
needed;
4. Identify existing and future workforce challenges and opportunities and support the NRH
Executive team and HRM Division to improve human resource management, including
identifying more transparent and effective approaches to professional development, training,
monitoring and supervision;
5. Support the CEO and relevant teams to complete regular Health Information System reports,
annual operational plans, budget submissions and other operational functions on time and in
adequate quality and integrate these into the national DHIS;
6. Assist the NRH Executive team to prepare for and manage the integration of the returning
Cuban trained graduates, implementing an internship program and supporting their clinical
training program;
7. Identify partnership opportunities for the NRH to improve operational efficiency (eg twinning
arrangements, maintenance contracts, multi-year infrastructure or maintenance contracts);
8. Improve the governance and functioning of various NRH Committees including the NRH
Executive Committee, Biomedical and Hospital Disaster Committee;
9. Identify opportunities to support the implementation of the role delineation policy, including
provincial health service support through locum visits to the provinces.
10. Support implementation of SIG Policies as they develop, including the possibility of
developing a private-pay ward within NRH, regulations to formalise dual practice rights, and
preparations for administrative autonomy to help ensure high levels of equity within the
Solomon Islands health care system remain;
11. Assist NRH prepare for natural disasters, major disease outbreaks or other mass casualty
events.
Financial Management:
Ref: Document1 / page 2
12. Act as delegated financial officer for Donor Partners in close cooperation with the MHMS to
co-authorise financial commitments, payments and procurements, alongside the NRH
executive and accounting and administration officers;
13. Work with the NRH accounting team, MHMS Finance Unit and MHMS Planning Unit to
maintain and improve financial management and reporting systems within NRH;
14. Identify potential fiduciary risks and propose approaches to manage these risks.
Capacity Development:
15. Build hospital planning, management, oversight and leadership capacity in the Senior
Executive NRH team.
16. Develop basic competencies of key staff in program management, financial, human
resources, and procurement procedures.
Selection Criteria

Provide a report to DFAT through the PACTAM Managing Contractor detailing the work plan
approximately 8 weeks after commencing in the position;

Provide progress and completion reports to DFAT when requested

Undertake other duties as requested
Qualifications

Post-Graduate qualifications in health administration, medicine, nursing, or related health
disciplines.

It would also be advantageous to have qualifications in accounting or financial management
Skills and Experience

Minimum 5 years’ experience in hospital administration and management

Demonstrated financial management skills within the hospital administration field

Demonstrated experience working in a rural or resource-constrained setting

Demonstrated ability to approach issues in hospital reform in a pragmatic and strategic
manner

Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team to achieve organizational priorities and build
institutional and individual capacity (particularly in a cross-cultural setting);

Previous experience living and working in a developing country (particularly in the Pacific or
small island states) is desirable but not essential.
Personal attributes
Allowances:

High level interpersonal, leadership, representation and communication skills;

Commitment to teamwork, coaching and mentoring other people and ability to build
constructive and effective relationships;

Patience, tolerance and flexibility;

The ability to live and work in a new cultural setting;

A supplementary allowance of AUD$133,000 per annum will be provided to the deployee by
DFAT via the PACTAM Managing Contractor

The deployee and accompanying dependants, where applicable, will be provided with airfares
at the commencement and completion of the placement, plus basic travel insurance and
emergency evacuation insurance

A dependent child allowance to a maximum of AUD$15,600 per annum in total for a maximum
of two accompanying dependent children (less than 21 years of age) ~.
Ref: Document1 / page 3

An establishment allowance of at least AUD$7,200* will be provided to assist with predeparture medical, vaccinations, relocation costs, passport fees and costs of setting up incountry

A return allowance of at least AUD$2,400* to assist with the return transportation of goods to
home and return medical/s will also be provided
~ Allowance is set dependent upon the number of accompanying children
*Allowance will vary depending on whether deployees are single or accompanied
Accommodation and
utilities
Work hours/days
Additional information

The deployee will receive an Accommodation Allowance of up to AUD$39,600 per annum,
provided to the deployee by DFAT via the PACTAM Managing Contractor;

Utilities (gas, electricity, water and telephone) are at the expense of the deployee.

Official work hours are Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4.30 pm.

Sick leave provision for Solomon Islands Government employees is 21 calendar days (3
working weeks) per annum;

Annual leave provision for Solomon Islands Government employees is 42 calendar days (6
working weeks) per annum;

In addition Solomon Islands observe a number of public holidays.

Deployees and any accompanying dependents will take part in a pre-departure briefing run by
the PACTAM Managing contractor;

Additional support will be given to the deployee by the PACTAM Project Coordinator for
Solomon Islands. Apart from communications via letter, email, telephone and fax, the
PACTAM Project Coordinator will meet at least once with the deployee in country;

Confirmation of appointment is subject to:
 Formal approval from the employer and DFAT;
 Procurement of visa and work permits;
 A satisfactory medical examination for the applicant and accompanying dependants;
 A satisfactory criminal record check by the Australian Federal Police for the applicant and all
accompanying adults;
 Professional Indemnity insurance will be discussed at interview.
Background
Applications

The Government of Solomon Islands has asked for assistance in recruiting and supporting the
above position through the Pacific Technical Assistance Mechanism (PACTAM).

PACTAM is funded by the Government of Australia through its official Aid Agency, DFAT.

PACTAM places skilled personnel to work with Host Organisations within the Pacific Region
to assist in meeting their human resources needs, and to respond to emerging development
needs.
This assignment description contains information AVI has obtained from the employer at this point
of time and is subject to change.
Applications are preferred via our on-line application form. If you are applying by email, please
type the position name in the subject line of your message and address to Ann Ray,
aray@australianvolunteers.com
In your cover letter, please address the selection criteria outlined in the assignment
description. A current curriculum vitae, including the names and contact details of one personal
and two professional referees should also be included. Referees will not be contacted without prior
consent.
Ref: Document1 / page 4
Australian Volunteers International is strongly committed to protecting the rights of children. We
adhere to laws in Australia and foreign countries regarding child exploitation and support
Childwise and ECPAT International.
Ref: Document1 / page 5