Internal/External Vacancy Announcement

The Center for Victims of Torture works toward a future in which torture ceases to exist and its victims have hope for a new life. We are an international nonprofit dedicated to heal survivors of torture and war trauma. We provide direct care for those who have been tortured, train partners around the world who can prevent and treat torture and war trauma, research and advocate for human rights and end the practice of torture. We are headquartered in Minnesota, USA with offices in Africa and the Middle East.

Objective: To provide physiotherapy services in CVT’s Shire Healing Center and in partner centers or as part of a mobile team. To support individuals, groups and communities to recover from physical difficulties resulting from the effects of torture and war trauma. To assist the rehabilitation process by developing and restoring body awareness, self-regulation, and body systems, in particular the neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems resulting from the effects of torture and/or war trauma. To work under daily supervision of clinicians as a part of an interdisciplinary team. The key goals of treatment are to improve functional ability, decrease pain levels, improve management of specific conditions such as incontinence, stress, poor sleep and pain, improve social participation and functioning, improve coping and outlook, and improve body awareness and self-regulation. When appropriate, the physiotherapist will support in the training of other healthcare professionals and advocate on behalf of CVT.

Key Performance Areas & Performance Indicators

Under the supervision of the Physiotherapy Trainer and in close collaboration with other disciplines:

The Physiotherapist primary physiotherapy responsibilities include:

• Provide appropriate physiotherapy assessment to clients (adults and minors) throughout their period of care at CVT in order to continuously evaluate their progress and their changing needs for intervention and establish treatment goals and plan.
• Determine appropriate treatment techniques for war trauma and torture survivors based on solid clinical reasoning. Interventions could include education, exercise therapy and manual therapy in the context of group work or within individual sessions for both adults and children. This will include demonstration of physical exercises in some cases to both male and female clients in workshops.
• Educate and advise clients and their caretakers about prevention and/or self-management of their condition, this includes minor clients and their caregivers.
• Take responsibility for maintaining professional development by keeping up-to-date with evidence-based practice for managing CVT clients.
• Assist in the daily clinical operations to ensure clients are given appointments in a timely manner, group-work activities and room designation is scheduled and coordinated fairly, and equipment is shared and organized appropriately.
• Maintain up-to-date clinical records and statistical data and ensure that all required documentation is completed and stored in a timely and professional manner.
• Ensure that all work with clients observes CVT’s confidentiality policies and that ethical practices are observed at all times and are in accordance with the WCPT standards.
• Provide interpretation between clients and other CVT staff members and assist with translating written material when needed.
• Ensure the cleanliness of treatment spaces and equipment used with clients as well as maintain a clean, professional appearance.
• Is proactive and participatory in developing the physiotherapy service and in helping support/orientate colleagues.
• Attend all regularly scheduled trainings, supervision and meetings necessary for professional development and team coordination and upon request.
• When necessary to accommodate programmatic needs, work after hours or on weekend days when requested.

The physiotherapist’s primary responsibilities working as a multidisciplinary team member include:

•  Adhere to the guidance of the Clinic Manager and follow all CVT IDT client procedures to ensure smooth and coordinated treatment for clients.
•  Case manage clients’ interdisciplinary care through regular communication with CVT’s counselors (PSCs), Psychotherapist/Trainers and social workers to best identify clients’ ongoing needs.
• Consistently communicate prior to and throughout client sessions with other disciplines to supply and receive relevant information about the background and progress of clients as well as refer those who require additional attention.
•  Provide and attend internal trainings to orient new staff and provide on-going interdisciplinary understanding and discussion.
•  Complete assessment and documentation in a timely manner to ensure that all disciplines have appropriate access to client files.
• Recognize and respect boundaries between disciplines and establish regular communication mechanisms to address client urgent and/or on-going concerns.

The Physiotherapist’s primary responsibilities to develop community awareness, understanding and engagement relating to the rehabilitation needs of individuals who have experienced war trauma and/or torture include:

•  Assist with CVTs community outreach and awareness, education, and sensitization campaigns and programs when needed.
•  Liaise with CVT incentive staff to identify children, teenagers, men, and women whose physical functioning may have been affected by war-related experiences and encourage them to approach CVT for support.
•  Assist in designing, planning, implementing and facilitating external training programs for community leaders, community members. local and international NGO’s, and government staff on trauma and health issues in order to develop a more supportive environment for people whose physical functioning has been affected by experiences of torture and war trauma.
•  Contribute to completing the documentation and reporting of external trainings.
• Assist with developing referral systems and encourage collaboration between local groups and leaders, local and international NGOs, and government ministries.
• Attend interagency meetings to improve service delivery to our client groups and access opportunities to forward CVT’s work.

The Physiotherapist’s primary responsibilities to promote self-care through support and supervision include:

•  Attend regular support, debriefing, case conferences, and/or supervision meetings to ensure information and skill-sharing.
• Set and follow through on a personal self-care schedule to avoid burnout and vicarious traumatization.
• Recognize and seek support when needed from internal and/or external resources to address concerns of secondary trauma in an expedient manner.
• Provide formal feedback to colleagues when requested for ongoing performance evaluation and development.

General conditions

•  Maintain neutrality regarding any sensitive issues such as religion, ethnicity, disability, minority or political affiliation
• Strong commitment to serve beneficiaries of CVT’s project regardless their religion, gender, minority affiliation or ethnic/political background
• Is strictly committed to respect CVT’s confidentiality policy and refrain from using any information that s/he will know about a client outside of CVT
• Will not approach (potential) beneficiaries for their involvement in non CVT activities without prior approval of CVT supervisor.
• Keep absolute confidentiality on all information managed. Obligated to report any information to the supervisor when the security of CVT staff and/or of CVT beneficiary might become an issue.
• This job profile can be adapted and changed according to the evolution of CVT activities.

Report to: Physiotherapist/Trainer

Supervisees: No supervisory responsibilities in this position.

Terms of Employment: the contract is effective from February 2022 through January 2023 depending on funding availability.

Location: CVT Healing Center in Shire, Tigray, Ethiopia. Travel to additional CVT field centers as necessary.

Duration: 1-Year employment agreement 

Number of Individuals Recruited: Six (6)

Job Requirements

Required

• University Degree in physiotherapy.
• At least 2 years of relevant experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Tigrinya and English
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Experience working in local and regional contexts, knowledge of local areas and communities is desirable
• Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to changing requirements and needs
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Able to work in stressful environments

Preferred

• Physiotherapy practicing license
• At least 4 years of relevant experience
• Experience working in humanitarian response

How to Apply

Qualified applicants are invite to submit their applicants in person at The Center for Victims of Torture Mekelle ZOA Office, located on the road from Amdna Hotel to Adi-Hawsi Saint Marry Church, two corners then left or in Shire, Aksum and Mai-Tsebri or Mai-Tsebri Branch Offices or in Sheraro/Shire at Action for Needy in Ethiopia (ANE) Office, located in Sheraro town, next to ELPA Office or via Email: CVTETHR@CVT.ORG (E-mails with attachments should not exceed a total of 1MB.)

NB: Submit applications with the subject title “Physiotherapist Application [Your Name]”. Please write an English letter of application stating clearly, what motivates you to apply for the above position and how your qualifications and experience are relevant to the post. Include a copy of your CV, application letter, and the names and contact information of three references. Do not bring original documents, as these will not be returned to you. Submitting false information will result in your application being disqualified. Exam date: written and interview exams will be administered the weeks of January 17 and 24 respectively. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a written exam and/or interview. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: January 10, 2022 before 5:00pm