Consultancy - “Development of a National Guideline on Self-care for Focal Points of the State Welfare Organisation’s Social Emergencies Unit”

Consultant Programme & Policy

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, Protection

Consultancy on

“Development of a National Guideline on Self-care for Focal Points of the State Welfare Organisation’s Social Emergencies Unit”

Type of Assignment: Individual Contract

1. Background

Successful completion of this assignment will contribute to the objectives of Activity 1.2of the joint 2021-2022 work plan between UNICEF and the State Welfare Organization (SWO) i.e. Support capacity development of Social Emergencies Unit focal points on self-care during social emergencies and natural and man-made disasters, including COVID-19.

Humanitarian and social emergency field works are acknowledged to be high-risk occupations that have their own challenges and exposures to hazards and trauma which affect the safety, health, and wellbeing of frontline workers. These challenges include burnout, sadness and depressive feelings, anxiety, relationship problems, and emotional exhaustion, amongst others. Chronic exposure to occupational trauma, although considered normal and expected in these types of professions, can cause significant issues if not dealt with properly.

Every workplace has a responsibility to ensure that the mental health of its workers is promoted and supported. This responsibility is highly critical for first responder organisations, given their unique and often challenging work environments. The nature of emergency services work (both social and natural hazard emergencies) means first responders are likely to be regularly exposed to potentially traumatic events, which may impact their mental and physical health. Like other workers, they may also experience common workplace stressors, such as excessive workloads, inadequate support, etc. These organisations must be aware of their risk profile and adopt strategies to monitor exposure to trauma and manage mental health, wellbeing and negative risks arising from their work. Caring for staff and volunteers is an important responsibility for organisation responding to crisis situations.

Frontline workers are also responsible for enhancing their knowledge about the risks associated with their work and engaging actively in self-care preventive and supportive measures provided by their organisation. Chronic exposure to occupational trauma, long hours on shift work schedules, working during weekends and holidays, etc. can significantly affect their mental and physical health and may have negative impact on quality of their work, family life and their other social relations.

Provision of preventive and supportive self-care interventions and active engagement in these practices are shared responsibilities of both organisation and staff members.

2. Objective

In light of the above, this consultancy will contribute to achieving the following key objective:

• To strengthen SWO’s capacity to promote and support the mental health of staff serving in the Social Emergencies Unit through development of a locally-adapted guideline on self-care and establishment of a supervisory programme on self-care.

To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the consultant should conduct the below activities:

• Develop a national guideline on self-care for focal points of the SWO Social Emergencies Unit, focusing on three main areas of individual, family and organizational interventions;

• Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework including indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification, enabling SWO experts to monitor and evaluate the above-mentioned interventions;

• Conduct training workshops for focal points of the Social Emergencies Unit in four selected provinces;

• Provide supervision to focal points of the Social Emergencies Unit and pilot a supervisory programme on self-care in the selected provinces for a period of six months;

• Incorporate feedbacks from the pilot programme and finalize the guideline.

3. Methodology and Technical Approach

In line with the above-mentioned objectives, the consultant will use scientific methodologies to develop a national guideline on self-care for focal points of SWO’s Social Emergencies Unit. The guideline should provide practical measures on self-care for social/mental health workers serving in both humanitarian contexts (i.e. earthquake, floods, and public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 outbreak) and social emergencies contexts (i.e. provision of services to cases of child maltreatment, family/domestic violence, etc.). To conduct this consultancy, the following steps should be taken into consideration:

Guideline:

• The consultant should conduct a desk review of relevant scientific theories, global researches, and standards; s/he should also review evidence-based global and national guidelines from organisation with similar mandates and successful experiences;

• The consultant should conduct a mapping of the existing internal rules and regulations, structures and policies which contribute to enhancement of preventive and supportive self-care interventions;

• The consultant should benefit from participatory methods (such as interview, focus group discussion, etc.) and facilitate participation of social/mental health workers serving in the Social Emergencies Unit as well as relevant managers and policy makers to identify protective and risk factors and develop an organizational risk assessment and relevant recommendations;

• The guideline should be developed in close consultation with other first responder organisations such as the Iranian Red Crescent Society and the Ministry of Health.

Training and Supervision:

• The consultant should conduct a training workshop for minimum 30 focal points of the Social Emergencies Unit from four selected provinces. Depending on the COVID-19 situation, and in consultation with SWO, the training workshop will be conducted either in-person or remotely;

• The training workshop will be followed by a six- month in-job supervision on self-care for the same focal points;

• The consultant should envisage a consultative method to collect feedback from the pilot provinces for further incorporation in the guideline.

Additionally, the guideline should include, but will not be limited to the following topics:

• Impact of psychological adversities on front-line workers;

• Symptoms and self-assessment tools;

• Self-care techniques including techniques to deal with challenging cases;

• Mutual roles and responsibilities of frontline workers and their families;

• Promotional and supportive organizational policies and interventions such as peer support groups, awareness-raising, early identification and response, capacity-building and trainings, etc.;

• Guidance related to recruitment of social and mental health workers and volunteers serving in natural and social emergencies contexts including guidance on orientation, pre- and post-service briefings, etc.;

• Guidance on provision of self-care services for non-social/mental health workers serving in the Social Emergencies Unit;

• Monitoring and evaluation framework including indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification for the recommended interventions i.e. trainings, support groups, psychosocial services, etc.

4. Activities, Deliverables, Indicators, Timeframe, and Schedule of Payment

Activity 1: Conduct desk review and mapping of existing policies and services.

Corresponding Deliverable 1: Report of desk review and mapping

Indicator 1: Availability of deliverable 1

Timeframe 1: 20 days

Payment 1: 15 %

Activity 2: Develop guideline

Corresponding Deliverable 2: Guideline on self-care

Indicator 2: Availability of deliverable 2

Timeframe 2: 60 days

Payment 2: 40 %

Activity 3: Conduct

i) Training workshop

ii) Pilot supervisory programme

Corresponding Deliverable 3:

i) Report of training workshop

ii) 2 reports on the supervisory programme at three-month intervals.

Indicator 3: Availability of deliverable 3

Timeframe 3:

i) 10 days

ii) 180 days

Payment 3: 45%

N.B. #1: The timeframe to complete the consultancy is 270 days, out of which 240 days is considered as the working days.

N.B. #2: All reports and presentations will be submitted in Persian. The consultant is requested to submit the final report in both Persian and English.

5. Management and Organization

5.1. Management: The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Child Protection Specialist. The responsible government partner is the SWO Social Emergencies Unit.

5.2 Travel: Duty travel of the individual consultant for implementation of the consultancy within the country shall be included as part of all-inclusive quotation (lump sum) in which case the individual consultant will be responsible for his/her travel arrangement.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, all travel related to implementation of this consultancy requires UNICEF’s approval prior to the trip.

5.3. The consultant will be responsible for organizing and coordinating meetings with the counterparts and stakeholders as required.

6. Budget and terms of payment

The consultancy fee shall be paid in three installments, upon approval of relevant deliverables by UNICEF and the responsible government partner, based on the above schedule.

7. Conditions of Work

The consultant shall use his/her own facilities to manage the work, but, where circumstances demand otherwise, shall be allowed to make use of available UNICEF office space, computer and internet facilities with prior notification and arrangement with the supervisor and UNICEF Admin/ICT. The provision of these facilities by UNICEF shall be subject to their availability.

8. Qualifications

The consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• Minimum Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counselling or related disciplines;

• Minimum three years of working experience in the context of natural and/or social emergencies;

• Minimum three years of working experience in clinical supervision;

• Proven experience in development of protocols and guidelines;

• Previous working experience with UNICEF/UN is an asset.

9. Ethical Note

All the products developed in the course of this consultancy are the intellectual property of UNICEF and SWO. The consultant may not share these products without the expressed permission and acknowledgment of UNICEF and SWO.

10. Evaluation:

The minimum score for technical competency (qualification plus technical proposal) is 70. The applicant should submit a technical and financial proposal, outlining methodology, proposed technical team members, timeframe and financial breakdown.

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.

Apply now

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org