Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist: Hoi An, Vietnam

Status: Flexible time scales
Start Date: Flexible as ongoing project

Lifestart Foundation is looking for Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists to work at our centre in Hoi An on an ongoing basis.

Essential attributes to bring to this role:

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Comfortable in dealing with people with complex and profound levels of disability.
• Willingness and ability to be flexible in work practice and accommodating of new or different concepts of health and health delivery
• Ability to work independently and as a sole practitioner,
• Ability to cope with professional isolation and organize strategies for establishing & maintaining home country and/or international professional support network
• Ability to be innovative, think laterally and problem solve where resources are limited.
• Ability to set aside personal views and expectations and consider new perspectives.
• Demonstrate comfort with 'Capacity Building' in a developing country
• Willingness to deliver a health outreach service to the disadvantaged & disabled population of Hoi An & Quang Nam province.
• Ability to work in a client-focused model where the client's therapy goals are identified and targeted
• Willingness to use local public transport as required.
• Willingness to work with the Lifestart Foundations strategic plan and within resource availability.
• Willingness to be accountable to Lifestart Foundation founder including weekly reporting and record keeping.

Professional Knowledge

The following areas of professional experience would be of most use to this role:

• Experience in assessment and treatment of people with complex disability
• Neurological physiotherapy or related skills
• Splinting
• Wound management
• Amputees and prosthetics
• Seating assessment and prescription
• Experience working with adults with cerebral palsy
• Experience with any of Polio, undiagnosed neurological conditions, effects of Agent Orange, effects of long term joint contractures.

Required Key-Skills and Practical Requirements

• Ability to work independently on own initiative
• Desire to help others to help themselves
• Diplomatic in difficult situations and able to work well under pressure
• Hardworking and committed
• Proficient IT skills (including MS Word, MS Excel)

Local Conditions

Hoi An is a small town with a focus on tourism 30km away from the nearest airport in Da Nang City in central Vietnam. More information on living in Hoi An is available in the Lifestart Foundation Pre-Departure Information.

About the Lifestart Foundation Disability Community Centre

The Lifestart Foundation Free Disability Community Centre provides people living with disabilities in central Vietnam with new and improved opportunities. The Centre works directly with adults whose complex disabilities are a result of issues such as polio, war injuries, cerebral palsy and accidents. The Centre offers expert professional one-on-one assessments and depending on the patient's special requirements they will receive a supervised rehabilitation exercise plan, information on nutrition, posture and details of locally based services. In addition, referral to a local hospital for surgery or prosthetics is provided for those who require specialist medical treatment.