Joseph Thomas

As a sociable and detail-oriented Community Health and Development professional, excelling in engaging with individuals from different backgrounds in a bid to gather detailed information that assists in making a community better as well as supervising the performance of the field community workers, for a variety of projects. My competencies lie in carrying out field visits, community health and development, community mobilization, leadership and supervision, data collection and project management. As a visionary leader, I am a highly capable change- agent who consistently refines and revitalizes strategies initiates change and facilitates solutions-driven team collaboration.

Led by my strong communication, interpersonal, problem- solving and organizational skills, I have established a unique ability to steadfastly manage and delegate duties and responsibilities to workers pertinent to the growth of a company. Moreover, I am flexible and can work in a fast-paced environment and in high-pressure situations. Given my passion for undertaking fieldwork and experience in engaging with individuals from varied socio-economic backgrounds, I am looking for a Field Supervisor position where my leadership skills and experience will be utilized in Field Work to improve processes and execute projects.

• Community Health and Development: An expert in administering community health and development to the community through reaching out to patients through clinics and supporting community groups.
• Community Mobilization: Excellent in finding out the most appropriate data collection instrument and conducting detailed research with the appropriate information, I have been engaged in going out to the field and gathering and mobilizing community members to participate in the research and as a result realizing the objective of the project.
• Field Visit: Proficient in conducting spot checks on field visits, CHV enrolment logs and referrals for home deliveries, home miscarriages and health facility deliveries.
• Project Management: Acquired knowledge in project planning by ensuring all strategies and plans outlined in its initial levels are implemented and all policies developed for its success are complied with.

• Leadership and Supervision Skills: Excellent in leading and supervising community workers, setting goals for the team and ensuring quality and efficient work is executed.
• Team Working Skills: Capacity to manage and coordinate a team by mentoring them and ensuring that all team members walk in the same direction.
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Gained skills in interacting with people on the phone and in field assignments all of which are interactive and effective.

Flexibility: Ability to change easily and adapt to different conditions and circumstances as they occur.

LIVINGGOODS LIMITED

Community Health Manager; 2018 – To March 2022

• Drived overall monthly branch Key Performance Indicators through proper planning, supporting and coordinating my team to achieve results.
• Supervised 8 staff and 183CHVs in Bunyala sub-county to deliver quality health services which include: assessments, treatments and referrals of children under the age of 5 years, pregnant women and newborns.
• Organised and coordinated outreaches to provide health education and public awareness on disease prevention.
• Recruited and trained CHVs on ICCM including Malaria, pneumonia, Diarrhea and Malnutrition to equip them with adequate knowledge to enable CHVs to deliver quality health services to the communities they serve.
• Ensured that the CHVs are digitally equipped, empowered, supported and compensated on time to keep them carrying out their duties and feel motivated.
• Took charge of inventory management by ensuring proper stock reconciliation to avoid shrinkage.
• Successfully excelled in doing staff performance management, including quarterly appraisals, monthly check-ins and support, coaching and mentorship programs.
• Effectively managed communication process to different departments within the organization including county and sub-county teams in mastering the art of collaboration

Community Health Supervisor; 2016 to 2018

• Supervised community health volunteers to deliver quality health services to their communities.
• Provided technical support to CHVs whenever they are faced with challenges in the field.
• Offered monthly health training to CHVs to boost their skills in ICCM.
• Delivered health products and essential medicines and tools needed by CHVs to efficiently carry out his/her duties.
• Managed investment including stock reconciliation to curb shrink.
• Worked closely with community health assistants at the sub-county level to promote community strategy.

Key Achievements

• Awarded certificate of service 5 years in 2021 while working with Livinggoods Kenya.
• Achieved most Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) putting my branch to be amongst the top performers.

Field Officer

Busara Centre for Behavioral Economics; July 2015 to January 2016

Duties and Responsibilities

• With the support from the Village Elder, I allocated, enrolled and interviewed study participants after obtaining informed consent.
• Collected accurate research data using smartphones on the ODK application.
• Wrote and submitted timely reports as per the project guidelines.
• Attended and actively participated in weekly meetings organized by the research associate or senior field officer to help us deliver better results.

Community Interviewer

KEMRI/CDC; 2007 to 2015

Duties and Responsibilities

• Mobilized clients to participate in research programs.
• Enrolled study participants into the program after obtaining informed consent.
• Mapped study sites using GPS units.
• Carried out daily quality data collection using PDA, Smartphone and netbooks.
• Solved data discrepancies and client differences making sure that they are satisfied.
• Supported in sample collection (blood, sputum and stools) in Nested studies like TB and STH.

Key Achievements

Promoted to skilled Community Interviewer MR5 in 2010 for having collected high quality data.

• Bachelor's Degree of Science in Community Health: Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University (on-going)
• Diploma in Community Development: Kenya Institute of Development Studies
• Certificate in Computer Applications: Mashirika Computer College

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education: Omboga High School

Immunization, Family Planning, Covid-19 and Possible Bacterial Infection (PSBI)

• Trained on awareness creation, and prevention of PSBI and Covid-19.
• Trained on awareness and providing health education guidelines in child Immunization and Family Planning in women of reproductive ages.

Branch on Operations, People's Management, ICCM and TOT

• Trained on warehouse management and stock reconciliation.
• Trained on staff management and coaching.
• Trained on doing staff check-ins and appraisals for staff development.
• Trained on Integrated Community Case Management (Malaria, Pneumonia, Diarrhea, Pregnancy and Malnutrition) providing health education to households/homesteads for healthier communities.
• Underwent TOT training hence well equipped with training skills.

Data Collection, Mapping Study Sites, Emerging Infectious Diseases and First Aid

• Trained on quantitative and qualitative data collection skills in the research field using PDA, Smartphone and ODK.
• Trained on mapping research sites using GPS gadgets.
• Trained on causes, prevention, treatments and management of emergency infectious diseases including
• Tuberculosis screening.
• Trained on Fire Marshall and Emergency First Aid procedures.

Life-skills Education on Men as Partners on Gender and Sexuality

• Skills on awareness of Sexuality and Domestic Violence.
• Skills on sexual health, STIs including HIV and AIDS (awareness prevention and treatment).