Consultancy - Adolescent mental health service package review, Beijing, China

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, health

China’s National Health Commission (NHC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have been jointly implementing the Adolescent Health and Development Demonstration Project in 14 counties (districts) of 11 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) from 2016 to 2020. The project focuses on the main health issues faced by adolescents, including mental health and offers evidence-based interventions that being implemented in schools, health facilities and other community centers across the pilot sites.

To implement the program and expand care, a service package was developed with input from key technical agencies and national experts. Specific actions that were meant to address the most common and important adolescent mental health needs were introduced as part of the overall services in project areas (see annex). This service package aimed to provide both universal and targeted mental health support for adolescents, and used strategies like group sessions, mental health courses and adolescent camp activities in schools. The package also called for additional capacity for early screening, counselling and referrals for adolescents who might need additional care and treatment. School based programs are strengthened, with counselling rooms at health centers and schools as well as online counselling and referral service via telephone and new media with a dedicated public health service hotline.

Since introducing and implementing the service package in pilot areas, we have learnt that the acceptance of the different components has been varied. Service content and delivery channel of some components are appropriate to meet the needs of target population, yet there is room for further improvements. In 2021, under next country programme, the integration of the mental health services into routine health care services across sectors will be a major advocacy and policy goal. To support the scaling up of the service package, it is necessary to review it and assess if the service content and delivery channel are in alignment with international best practices, the discrepancies clearly articulated. This comparison will help to provide international evidence for the service package and identify the possible perspectives to improve it.

How can you make a difference?

The objective of the consultancy is to review the current content and delivery of the adolescent mental health package against global guidance, to provide expertise and technical support to review the adolescent mental health service package and to identify gaps and challenges in accessing mental health services, as well as differences in evidence, content and approach in the implementation across pilot areas. To that end, the consultancy will document the following:

• The extent to which the service package is in alignment with global best practices
• Does the service package balance targeted and universal service[1] provision?
• Is the service content and/or delivery channel appropriate for adolescents in different settings (including education and health settings, and online media, etc.)?

[1] Universal services focus on competence enhancement provided to all adolescent, including those with or without mental health or behavioural problems or other disabilities and illnesses; targeted services designed to support adolescent who have learning, emotional, or life experiences that place them at risk of engaging in problematic behaviour or developing mental health challenges.

For more details on this terms and conditions for this role, please visit the TOR - TOR Consultancy on AMH service package review - for VA.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Minimum Academic Qualifications required and disciplines:

  • Master’s degree in relevant field, with at least 10 years of professional experience in adolescent mental health, research or programmes.

• Knowledge/Experience/Expertise/Skills required:

  • Strong technical expertise, management and review experience in adolescent mental health related program, materials development, research and studies;
  • Demonstrable technical knowledge and experiences on public health, including training, research or programmes;
  • Familiarity with the UN, in particular the Human Rights Conventions and a rights-based approach to policy, country programming process and management systems;
  • Excellent communication skills, including strong English speaking and writing skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment. Familiarity with the China context and ability to work in Mandarin and English an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.