Reports to: Project Director
Number of Positions: 1
Tenure: 36 Months
Time: Full time (5 days a week)
Location: AutismCare Nepal Society, Harisiddhi, Lalitpur
Selection Process: Written exam and Interview
Salary and Benefits: As per ACNS’s policies

About the Project:

NAMASTE is a research project which aims to design and implement a flexible evidenced pathway towards universal health coverage for children with autism, through a programme of research, training and capacity building across India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. This is a collaborative research project, led by the University of Manchester in the UK and India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. In Nepal, the ACNS collaborate to conduct this project in Godawari Municipality, Lalitpur district. The major objectives of NAMASTE project are as follows:

• Enhance the capacity of staff and non-specialist service providers working in community level health posts for early detection of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and autism
• Provide an evidence-based intervention for parents and caregivers to address theunique, behavioral, intellectual and communication needs of children with  neurodevelopmental disorders and autism
• Develop community engagement materials for public awareness in Nepal in collaboration with families and self-advocates to improve access to care and intervention for neurodevelopmental disorders and autism

About the Role:

ACNS is seeking to recruit Research Associate for NAMASTE. The Research Associate will be managing various research activities like supporting the designing of data collection tools and implementation of program activities, administering clinical tools and supporting the development and review of associated clinical and research documentation in English and Nepali. We will expect the candidate to: 

Training on detection tools

• Complete the training on the administration of detection tools
• Support the Master Trainer in conducting the training of Non Specialist Providers (NSPs) in using detection tools
• Coordinate and support in the implementation of detection tools as per the protocol
• Supervise NSPs in implementing the detection tools and organize meetings as required

Tools and documentation development

• Support the Project Director and Detection Team in designing the data collection tools and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Support the translation, adaptation and documentation of survey measures, training slides and any other program documents into Nepali (from English).
• Draft program activity plans and reports as per the protocol under supervision.

Data collection

• Get training in evaluation measures to be administered.
• Assess the detection outcomes in collaboration with the data management and the Detection team and communicate with families to link to intervention programs as per the detection pathway protocol.
• Conduct pre- and post-intervention evaluations and upload the data in REDCap based on the Evaluation protocol.
• Communicate and coordinate with caregivers and NSPs, counsellors and Master Trainers as required.
• Ensure day-to-day data entry of the collected data.
• Follow and ensure confidentiality of data and ensure secure and timely data transfer to

Data Management Team.

• Support the Community Engagement and Inclusion team as required.
• Coordinate and collaborate with community stakeholders for the implementation of Detection and Intervention programs.

Other

• Support the implementation of formative phase and definitive phase Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) activities in the program.
• Participate in joint program activities including meetings, academic activities with the program team.
• Coordinate and Collaborate with the various program teams: Detection, Intervention, Community Engagement and Inclusion, Data Management, Recruitment, Admin and Finance.
• Report to Project Manager and Project Director and provide as well as receive regular feedback on all activities.

Qualifications & Experience:

Essential:

• Bachelors/Masters in Psychology, Social Work, nursing, public health or other health- related field.
• Skills of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Minimum experience of 2 years of working in research program.
• Demonstrated experience of writing reports.
• Fluency in English and Nepali oral and written communication.
• Proficient in using digital tools (Mobile phones, laptops and audio/video recorder etc.)
• Proficient in MS-Office with excellent MS-Excel knowledge, internet, outlook and email.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Commitment of minimum of 3 years

Desirable:

• Experience and knowledge in mental health research.
• Willingness to travel field sites within Godawari Municipality.
• Knowledge of data analysis software viz., SPSS, STATA, Nvivo, etc.
• Previous experience of working with participant population (Autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities)