Position:                               Physiotherapist (1 position)

Duty Station:                          Hargeisa, Somaliland

Duration:                                One Year (possibility of extension)

Start Date:                              04 January 2025

Issue Date:                             26 December 2024

Closing Date:                         02 January, 2025

Background

The University of Hargeisa was founded in 1998 and became operational in 2000. Today, it holds a paramount role in the educational landscape of Somaliland as the national university, established under a presidential charter. As a publicly chartered institution, it operates under the legal framework provided by this charter, signifying its magnitude and authority within the nation’s higher education sector.

The main objectives established at the university include teaching, research, and community outreach services.  The Legal Clinic, Human Rights Unit which is under the umbrella of the University of Hargeisa, was established in 2002 by the UNDP and today is the leading department that provides, university community outreach services, especially Legal aid services, GBV, Child protection and community-based protection services to the Forcibly displaced persons, Host community and people with specific needs.

Legal Clinic was become a Partner for UNHCR in 2006. Since from that period Legal Clinic works with UNHCR as partner. This makes Legal Clinic, Human Rights Unit one of the oldest local partners of the UNHCR Somaliland office today.  During that period, the Legal Clinic , Human Rights Unit have been committed to the community-driven protection throughout the regions of Somaliland.

In 2025, the Legal Clinic, Human Rights Unit in partnership with UNHCR will implement the “Strengthening the Protection Environment for Refugees through Targeted Assistance” project. The project will focus on GBV, child protection, justice (legal assistance), community-based protection, and support for individuals with specific needs. This project aims to improve the protection environment for refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, IDPs (forcibly displaced persons), and stateless persons.

The University of Hargeisa Legal Clinic, Human Rights Unit, seeks applications from competent and experienced candidates for the following positions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Peaceful Co-existing Centre (PCC)  Coordinator  and the overall supervision of the Program Manager  of the project,  the incumbent will undertake the following responsibilities:

1. Provide physiotherapy services to people with specific needs (PSN) and helping patients recover from accident, illness or injury
2. Organize therapeutic physical exercise sessions to (PSN)
3. Providing, counselling and key massages to PSN
4. Diagnose, assess and treat their physical problem/condition
5. Provide referral mechanism services to PSN with other health service providers specialist, electrotherapy, ultrasound or other health centers.
6. Conduct community outreach, home visit and follow up services to PSN
7. writing reports
8. liaising with other health professionals such as doctors, nurses, other specialist such as occupational therapists and social workers, to exchange information about the background and progress of patients, as well as to refer patients who require other medical attention;
9. providing education and advice about exercise and movement to PSN
10. keep up to date with new techniques and technologies available for treating patients and with the latest advancements in the profession
11. Help patients who have a range of conditions, including neurological, neuro musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory, sometimes over a period of weeks; assess, diagnose and treat their respective conditions and physical problem/condition;
12. Develop and review treatment programs that encourage exercise and movement by the use of a range of techniques;
13. Involve parents and carers in the treatment, review and rehabilitation of patients;
14. Educate patients and their carers about how to prevent and/or improve conditions;
15. Write patient case notes and reports and collect statistics;
16. Schedule exercises and therapies for the patient
17. Document patient medical progress and treatment; record notes to update medical conditions
18. Monitor, follow up patient and manage clinical risk.
19. Distribute essential mobility devices for the PSN including children.
20. Performing all key functions with regard to Physical therapy and additional, other related functions as directed when appropriate and also adhering to standards of performance as required by the institution.

Key Skills and qualification for physiotherapists

• Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma in physiotherapy/ occupational
• Valid license for practicing
• Minimum 3 years of direct experience in providing physiotherapy and treat with PSN or other vulnerable populations
• Passionate about the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
• Excellent knowledge of safe identification and referral principles.
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Somali language
• Good understanding and experience of working with refugees will be a definite advantage.
• Good time management
• The ability to build a rapport with patients from a variety of backgrounds and communicate with their relatives and carers
• Tolerance and patience
• Good physical health and fitness
• Interpersonal skills
• Teamworking skills

COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS

• Delivers timely and appropriate results
• Plans, prioritizes and performs tasks well without needing direct supervision
• Understands the link between his/her work and the organization’s objectives
• Gathers the right information and uses critical thinking to make effective and timely decisions
• Knows when to involve others in a decision
• Simplifies processes and procedures wherever possible
• Delivers work that reflects a good knowledge and application of technical and professional standards
• Ability to liaise with a variety of people successfully and effectively in a multicultural setup.
• Keeps up to date with trends in their work area Maintains ethical and professional behaviour

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Qualified and interested applicants are encouraged to submit curriculum vitae, testimonials and a letter of interest stating suitability for the position to vacancies.hr@uoh.edu.so with the subject heading “Social Worker” before or on 1 January, 2025.