Nurses

In 2004, Malawi’s health care situation was described as ‘dangerously close to collapse’. Poor pay, difficult working conditions and lack of support meant that an alarming proportion of health workers were leaving the health service to work abroad. Things have improved a lot since then, with the Malawian Ministry of Health, the Department for International Development, VSO and other non-governmental organisations working together to ensure that Malawian health workers stay in Malawi and get the financial and professional support they so desperately need.

Trinity Nursing School is of part of Trinity Hospital and was founded in the mid-1960s. They school is looking for a qualified nurse with teaching experience to provide quality clinical instruction and supervision to nurse students. You’ll make a direct contribution to strengthening the skills of health professionals in the country.

What does the role involve?

• Planning, implementing and evaluating student timetables and clinical objectives
• Demonstrating, supervising and assessing nursing procedures in tutorial practical teaching and on the ward
• Writing reports on students’ performance and preparing students for examinations
• Building strong relationships with other teaching staff and participating in in-service training

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll need to be a qualified and registered nurse with at least three years’ post-qualification experience. A teaching qualification is also required and you should have experience in supervising student nurses. As with all VSO placements you’ll need to be patient and flexible and have the ability to work creatively with limited resources.

And the rest...

Malawi is a land-locked country whose area is one-fifth covered in water. Magnificent Lake Malawi is Africa’s third largest lake with astounding sub-aqua life. The climate is generally hot, although in winter, between May and October it can get quite cold at night. October to December is the hot dry season when temperatures can rise to over 40°C. Most of the rainfall happens between December and March.

You’ll live in an apartment on the hospital campus, close to Blantyre, Malawi’s largest city in the Southern Region of the country. Malawi is fortunate in having quite a variety of food available all year around and well stocked supermarkets and specialist shops are available in Blantyre.

Years of civil conflict and the Tsunami have taken their toll on mental health in Sri Lanka. Stigma against mental ill-health is strong. Until recently, services were concentrated in the capital, and relied on an institutional, medical model of care. For the past 10 years, VSO volunteers have been working with partners across the mental health system, helping develop quality community-based services. Sri Lanka developed a new national mental health policy in 2005, but much work is needed to implement it. At the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre in Deltota, staff are seeking support to improve their services and start income-generation activities that will help residents recover.

What does the role involve?

• Supporting staff to continue improving the management of the centre
• Supporting staff to develop care planning and discharge planning
• Training and coaching staff to improve their knowledge, skills and confidence
• Supporting staff and residents to set up income-generation activities for residents
• Supporting staff to work with families to improve reintegration and fight stigma.

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll be an experienced mental health practitioner, either a community psychiatric nurse or mental health occupational therapist, with at least five years’ experience in a community setting, which should include managing and training others. You’ll need patience, flexibility, and the ability to work with a wide range of people: from vulnerable service users, to senior health officials.

And the rest...

You’ll be based in Perideniya, a small town in Central Province, and travel to the rehabilitation centre in Deltota, located in the beautiful hills of the country. At work your support will be primarily from the medical officer in charge of the centre, in addition to peer support from other mental health volunteers working across Sri Lanka.

We’ll ask you to commit to 24 months to make a sustainable contribution to improving mental health in Sri Lanka. In return, we’ll provide you with extensive training before your placement. Our financial support includes living allowance, return flights, accommodation, health insurance, and more. NHS employees can volunteer with continued membership of the NHS pensions scheme.

Children and teenagers who use mental health services are among the most marginalised young people in Tajikistan. Stigma against mental illness is strong. Services are concentrated in urban centres, and follow an institutional, medical model of mental health care. The National Centre for Mental Health for Children and Teenagers is the only government-run service provider for young service-users in Tajikistan. The new director has asked for help in moving the centre away from an approach that treats young people on a purely medical basis. His vision is a centre that is more holistic in its services, and which encourages recovery and social reintegration.

As a mental health nurse at the centre, you’ll introduce staff to new ways of working with young people and their families. You’ll build the confidence and capabilities of your Tajik colleagues, and act as a role-model, coaching and mentoring staff to change their attitudes and practice. Advocating for the rights of the young people who use the centre, you’ll help make changes that mean more of the Centre’s children can fulfil their potential.

What does the role involve?

• Sharing your experience of working with children, young people and their families in the community
• Reviewing service provision at the centre and identifying areas for development
• Role-modelling and introducing new ways of working and new services
• Assessing the training needs of staff and developing and delivering training
• Upgrading the knowledge, skills and practice of the centre staff
• Challenging discrimination against young people at the centre and advocating for the rights of service users

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll be a registered mental health nurse with at least 3-5 years’ post-qualifying experience, including working with children and young people using mental health services. Experience within a community setting is important, as you’ll be demonstrating how to support young people to reintegrate into society. You’ll need to be able to train others and set up services, so previous experience of managing teams or services would be helpful.

As English is not spoken in Tajikistan, you’ll need to have the communication skills to work through an interpreter, and build good relationships across language barriers. VSO provide language training and the commitment to learn the Tajik language is key. As with all VSO placements, you’ll need to be flexible, patient and creative to work effectively with limited resources.

And the rest...

Tajikistan is the smallest landlocked Central Asian country. The country is spectacularly mountainous, and ancient cities dot the Silk Road trading route, which crosses an area known as ‘the Roof of the World’. You’ll be based in the capital, Dushanbe, a tree lined city with a mild climate that is home to 600,000 people. You’ll be among the first VSO volunteers to work in Tajikistan, so you’ll have a vital role in shaping the future of our work in the mental health sector.

We’ll ask you to commit to 24 months to make a sustainable contribution to the centre. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. NHS employees can volunteer with continued membership of the NHS pensions scheme. When you return home, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

Despite being rich in resources, the vast majority of Sierra Leone’s 5.9 million people are living in poverty. Plagued by civil war from 1991, there has been remarkable progress in consolidating peace and rebuilding the country’s infrastructure since the end of the conflict in 2002. However with the average life expectancy at 41 and the second highest child mortality rate in the world, there is still a lot to be done, particularly with regard to healthcare. As a nurse practitioner working at the Makeni District Hospital, you’ll build the capacity of nursing staff at the hospital through on-the-job training, strengthening clinical skills.

What does the role involve?

• Developing the confidence and skills of nursing staff through providing on-the-job training and clinical supervision
• Coaching and training nurses in effective in implementation of effective nursing processes
• Devising and developing a training programme for student nurses based at the Hospital, delivering workshops and training sessions as appropriate
• Sharing best practice to improve the overall standard of nursing care in the hospital

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll be a registered nurse with at least three years’ post-qualification experience, ideally in hospital setting. Experience training and mentoring colleagues and the ability to work effectively with limited resources would be beneficial. You’ll have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and well-developed sense of humour is a must for all VSO volunteers.

And the rest...

Situated in West Africa, Sierra Leone was named by the Portuguese for the resemblance of its peninsula mountains to a crouching lion. It borders Liberia to the southeast, the Republic of Guinea to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. You'll be situated in Makeni town, 115 miles away from the Country’s Capital Freetown. There are many shops and markets where you’ll be able to stock up on fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, as well as the popular palm wine and ginger beer.

We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

Over the past 15 years Mongolia has experienced tremendous change as a result of exchanging a communist regime for one dominated by democratic processes and market forces. As the economy flourishes, some sections of society struggle to keep up. Healthcare as well as social welfare have declined for some. Due to Mongolia’s small population, the potential impact of each volunteer placement is great. You’ll contribute to reducing common illnesses in provinces in and around the capital Ulaanbaatar and assist the Nursing Association in developing an improved training programme for local nurses.

What does the role involve?

• Providing training for Mongolian nurses and advising on the improvement of the Association’s existing
  post-graduate training programme
• Assisting in the training of nurse trainers at the Association
• Working with local colleagues to upgrade clinical nursing standards and assisting them in their professional English
• Developing links and networks for cross-organisational learning and sharing of information and skills

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll be a registered nurse with a minimum of three years’ post-qualification experience. Knowledge of participatory needs analysis, strategic planning and the ability to work creatively with limited resources is essential. You’ll also need the knowledge and confidence to advise on the improvement of nursing standards and training programmes. Experience of training other nurses is also essential. Patience and flexibility are important traits, as there is little forward planning in Mongolia and everything often happens at a moment’s notice. You’ll need to be able to adapt your skills and knowledge to different circumstances and a new cultural way of working.

And the rest...

Sandwiched between Russia and China, Mongolia is one of the largest and highest countries in the world, with 40% of its territory covered in mountains. Pristine steppe and extensive forests stretch out for thousands of kilometres, representing one of the world’s most unspoilt landscapes. The country has a unique nomadic culture that still forms the backbone of national identity today. The climate in Mongolia can be harsh and temperatures often drop down to minus 40°C in January. The air however is exceedingly dry so the cold doesn’t feel as bad as it sounds! Summers are lovely with pleasantly warm temperatures in June and August and July can be very hot. You’ll live in a small but comfortable apartment with central heating in the capital Ulaanbaatar.

Although remarkable progress has been made in rebuilding Sierra Leone since the end of the conflict in 2002, the decade-long civil war has caused extensive damage to social sectors. The country currently has some of the worst health indicators in the world, with 283 children out of 1,000 dying before they reach the age of five. This is mainly due to inadequate basic health services and malnutrition.

VSO opened its health programme in 2008 and volunteers are working to improve the availability of essential health care in rural areas. As a nurse trainer you can contribute to this goal by training the next generation of Sierra Leonean nurses. Working at the Eastern Polytechnic in Kenema District, which opened in 2004, you’ll ensure that more local nurses can train, and ultimately practice in their home communities.

What does the role involve?

• Teaching state-enrolled community nurses at the School of Nursing
• Monitoring and advising staff and students on clinical rotation in the district hospitals and peripheral health units
• Providing ongoing supportive supervision to nurse students
• Participating in curriculum development and training syllabus for courses

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll need to be a registered nurse with at least five years’ experience in nursing including teaching, training and mentoring of others. Confidence in your skills and the ability to work independently without supervision are essential. Patience, flexibility and a positive attitude will help you to adapt to live and work in a resource-poor developing country. You’ll also need good interpersonal skills to develop strong relationships with your colleagues and students.

And the rest...

Sierra Leone borders Liberia to the southeast, the Republic of Guinea to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the West. You’ll be based in Kenema, the district’s capital, located about 200 miles from the capital Freetown. There are plenty of shops and the town has a 24-hour electricity supply, piped water as well as UNICEF water wells, in case of shortages.

We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our support package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

Although Cambodia today is enjoying peace and stability the country is still recovering from war, displacement and massive depletion of its human resource base during the Khmer Rouge period. Of the 1,000 doctors trained prior to 1975, less than 50 survived the regime. Health indicators in Cambodia are poor compared to the rest of Southeast Asia. Often, illness and death occur from conditions that are preventable or treatable. The government lacks the professional skills needed to develop public health services and staff are poorly trained.

As a volunteer at Kratie Provincial Health Department you’ll strengthen the knowledge and skills of nursing staff in hospitals and community health centres and make a direct contribution to strengthening public health services in the province.

What does the role involve?

• Coaching and training nurses in the implementation of effective nursing processes
• Training health care staff in the delivery of health education messages and nutrition education
• Supporting quality improvement projects for improved hygiene and infection control procedures
• Assessing training needs of nurses and health centre staff and delivering training sessions and workshops

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll need to be a registered nurse with at least three years’ post-qualification experience, ideally in a hospital
setting. You’ll have excellent communication and interpersonal skills with experience in training and teaching others and basic knowledge of nutrition would be an asset. You should also have good organisational skills and the ability to work on your own initiative. Patience, flexibility and a good sense of humour are important traits in all VSO volunteers as is a sense of adventure, as you’ll travel between health centres by motorbike (we will provide training).

And the rest...

Cambodia is a small country in Southeast Asia, bordered in the west by Thailand, in the east by Vietnam and in the north by Laos. Most of the country's area is flat and only 10-30 metres above sea level.

You’ll be based in the small and idyllic town of Kratie on the Mekong, one of the world’s major rivers, running from Tibet through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The friendly town is dominated by a busy market place surrounded by charming French colonial houses. The local market offers an extensive variety of fresh fruit, vegetables and fish and Cambodia produces some excellent coffee.

In 1990, 70 years of Soviet-style communism were abandoned and replaced by a market economy. While many households have benefited from more liberal policies, one-third of Mongolia’s population lives below the poverty line. The old health system was run on the model of treating illness rather than preventing it, and this has contributed to a general lack of healthy living awareness among the population.

As a public health educator you’ll help to improve the quality of the health education and promotion provided by the Darkhan Health Department at community level. This will involve developing a health promotion campaign focusing on illness prevention in the community and encouraging health professionals to adopt client-centred approaches.

What does the role involve?

• Supporting the Darkhan Health Department with the planning, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation of a national programme of illness prevention in the community
• Improving health services through strengthening management structures, promoting a client centred approach and building technical skills around nursing
• Promoting the use of information, education and communication materials, and developing appropriate communication channels
• Support the Darkhan Health Department in training trainers in new methodologies to improve the quality of health education in the community

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll be a qualified health professional (for eample, a midwife, community nurse, medical doctor) with at least three years’ experience of working in the public health sector, preferably in a health education/promotion role.

You’ll be confident in leading and training others and have experience of working in a community setting. In addition to this, you’ll be able to work effectively and creatively with limited resources and have strong interpersonal and communication skills. You’ll be proactive and innovative and have the ability to work well in a cross-cultural environment.

And the rest...

Sandwiched between Russia and China, Mongolia is one of the largest and highest countries in the world, with 40 per cent of its territory covered in mountains. The country has a unique nomadic culture that still forms the backbone of national identity today. You’ll live in a small but comfortable apartment with central heating in Darkhan, the second largest city in Mongolia.

We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.