IPC/EH Focal Point - Nurse – Belgian Projects

CONTEXT 

MSF's mission in Belgium aims to address through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach, the health needs and key social determinants of the most vulnerable segments of the migrant and refugee population including migrants in transit, undocumented migrants and unaccompanied minors, while proactively engaging in assessing main difficulties and promoting change through advocacy. 

Since 2015 MSF has been mainly providing first-line psychosocial and mental health services for migrants at the Humanitarian Hub and follow up for patients at the project offices. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a shift in the activities with the introduction of an outreach team initially focused on dealing with outbreak clusters and Covid-19 prevention. Since May 2024, the MH activities in the humanitarian HUB have been handed over to MDM. 

Currently, the outreach team focuses on providing a comprehensive package of activities including general medical consultations and referral to specialized care, health promotion & prevention and psychosocial support for migrants living in precarious situations in Belgium. Punctual support interventions focused on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Environmental Health (EH) are carried out in squats and shelters to support partner organizations and beneficiaries in maintaining safe living conditions.

MAIN PURPOSE

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC): Plan, organize, implement and supervise, monitor and analyze the results of an infection control program in a health project or facility, in accordance with MSF/MoH protocols, safety and IPC measures, to ensure quality of care and safety of patients, caregivers and staff.

Nurse: Providing nursing care, treatment and follow-up of patients, according to doctors’ prescriptions, protocols applied in service and universal hygiene standards/precautions, in order to ensure the quality and continuity of care for the targeted population

Specific mission: Combined position as IPC focal point/nurse to support the outreach team and external partners. Responsible for providing technical support and participating in the planning, implementation and coordination of activities aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases (TB, diphtheria…) and scabies, bedbugs and other vector-borne diseases among migrant populations living in precarious conditions such as squats. Support outreach activities from a medical point of view by doing general medical consultations and supporting explo activities and medical patrols (“maraudes”).

RESPONSIBILITIES IPC 

Focal Point

• Carry out the functions and tasks associated to the IPC.
• In collaboration with each service activity manager, maintain and support the day-to-day implementation by the ward supervisor of the standard precautions and risk assessment in health structures in all departments including sterilization, laundry and kitchen.
• Based on a given patient-diagnosis, evaluate the need and support the implementation, if needed, for transmission-based precautions (air, droplet and contact) in collaboration with the medical team and act accordingly.
• Implement and monitor adherence to transmission-based precautions for air, droplet and contact transmissible diseases when indicated.
• Provide clinical and technical supervision, training and support to the staff on IPC related issues using existing tools such as audits, checklists, surveillance.
• Support in the implementation as planned, the correct ‘clean and dirty flows’ inside the health facility. Ensure that organizational aspects in the facility are respected (bed spacing, number of handwashing stations etc.) and together with the Hospital Facilities Manager and Water health Sanitation Supervisor, that the essential requirements are available in the health structures.
• Guarantee compliance with aseptic care techniques and the correct use of antiseptics, detergent and disinfectants, through training and audits.
• Ensure and check the consumption and the quality of IPC materials and equipment, including cleaning materials and equipment, PPE, etc.
• As the Leader of the Infection Prevention Control Committee, make sure the meeting is regular, lively and proactive, supporting the development and following up the infection Prevention Control Action Plan.
• Participate in clinical management of nursing care in regard to IPC aspects
• Elaborate regular reporting, and meeting minutes in order to have updated and reliable information about IPC activities.
• Carry out administrative tasks together with HR in regard to staff recruitment, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, coaching, development and communication) in order to ensure both the level, the sizing and the amount of knowledge required.
• Organize and coordinate the supervision of the team under his/her responsibility and participate in the associated HR processes of evaluation.
• Share regular feedback/ reports to the concerned Supervisors, NAM, MAM, MTL, PMR and staff as needed on positive and points to be improved.

Note:

• IPC standard precautions include Hand Hygiene, risk assessment at point of care, appropriate patient placement, appropriate, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), prevention of accidental exposure to body fluids,safe and appropriate treatment of re-usable medical devices, sterilization, aseptic technique, safe handling of laboratory samples and waste, waste management, cleaning and disinfection of surface and environment, safe linen management, respiratory hygiene and individual hygiene for staff, caretakers and patients.
• IPC essential requirements include water supply, solid waste, medical waste management and water waste treatment/disposal, latrines and shower facilities, dead bodies management, and vector control.
• Transmission-based Precautions (TBP): are the second level of basic infection prevention control and are to be used in addition to standard precautions for patients who may be infected or colonized with certain infectious agents for which additional precautions are needed to prevent infection transmission (contact, droplet, airborne).

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Nurse

•  Knowing, promoting, implementing and following up the universal hygiene standards/ precautions, bio-hazard prevention and infection control, security rules and other protocols and procedures in the medical premises and ensuring high standards of hygiene of his/her working environment. Respecting medical confidentiality at all times.
• Organizing and carrying out care and treatments according to medical prescriptions, and assisting during consultations, daily rounds and other medical procedures.
• Carrying and supervising administrative procedures and documents (fill in patient’s files, forms, consumptions, statistics, registers, health files, etc.), ensuring an appropriate written/oral handover, and reporting any problematic situations and cases that may arise. Participating in data collection and keeping doctors/supervisors informed.
• Participating in the department-related pharmacy and medical equipment control, consumption follow up and maintenance (quality and its functioning, storage conditions, follow-up of expired drugs inventories, stock takes of medicines and material at every team changeover ensuring no material is taken out of nursing area/wards without prior authorisation, etc.)

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

As IPC/EH Focal Point:

• Carry out technical assessments of the environmental health (EH) situation in squats, intervention sites and in shelters, and propose recommendations to improve infection prevention and control.
• Lead and carry out IPC/EH interventions (decontamination interventions for scabies and bedbugs mainly) in squats and shelters whenever required. Ensure full documentation of IPC/EH interventions. Ensure full training of staff and volunteers involved in IPC/EH interventions.
• Participate in awareness-raising and training of project staff members to strengthen the team's capacity to manage vector-borne/infectious diseases.
• Ensure infection control in line with MSF protocols and infection prevention and safety measures, to ensure quality of care and safety of patients, caregivers and staff.
• Control the availability and quality of materials and personal protective equipment, including cleaning materials and equipment for donation to squats.
• Provide support and training for local organizations when required on all topics related to EH and IPC (including infectious diseases as TB).
• In collaboration with PMR, maintain regular exchanges and good partnerships with local organizations (MdM, Lafontaine, Doucheflux, Athena, Samusocial, BelRefugees, Plateforme Citoyenne, Croix-Rouge, etc.). 

 As Nurse:

• In close collaboration with the other nurse and the medical doctor in the outreach team, support in carrying out medical consultations in squats and shelters during regular activities and support in explo activities as medical focal point.
• Inform the beneficiaries of the existing service offer on their territory, in line with their request and refer them to those services (+ follow up when possible/necessary). Liaise with concerned medical and non-medical actors if necessary to do so.
• Replace the nurse of the project when absent and absorb their main tasks: follow up of the pharmacy and monthly orders, organization of the medical bags and take over consultations in shelters and squats. 

General:

• Participate in the elaboration of the medical strategy for the outreach activities together with the team.
• Ensure data collection and contribute to the capitalization reports of the project / use the data and observed trends to improve approach.
• Participate in potential working groups on the problems encountered in the sector. Support outreach team to share medical expertise with partners.
• Contribute to the mapping of referral actors in Brussels and others areas of intervention.

REQUIREMENTS

Education 

• Essential Bachelor’s in Science of Nursing 

• Essential recognized nurse diploma in Belgium and permit to practice Nursing in the country

• Preferable: Certificate or Degree in IPC

Experience

• Essential 2 years of previous relevant experience with MSF.

• Desirable 2 years of previous relevant experience and previous experience in other NGO’s working in multidisciplinary team

• Experience in IPC, OT, or Intensive Care Unit is an asset

Languages

• Essential: English and French 

• Dutch and other languages are an asset.

Competencies

• Behavioural Flexibility 

• Stress Management

• Results and Quality orientation

• Teamwork and Cooperation

• Commitment to MSF’s Principles

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: ASAP

• Location: BRUSSELS BELGIUM 

• Contract type: CDD contract

• Contract duration: Until 31st of December 2025 

• Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid

• Meal Vouchers - Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs

• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment

• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: 30/04/25

How to apply?

➢ Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button    

➢ Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter in English ready to upload (preferably in PDF format)

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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