Foster Care Consultant (national). Rome, Italy, Child Protection, 6.5 months, remote work with travel
Strengthen integration of foster care for unaccompanied and separated children.
Overview
Strengthen integration of foster care for unaccompanied and separated children.
You have:
- Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Pedagogical sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Political Sciences or related disciplines.
- At least 5 years of experience with refugees, migrants, or vulnerable children along with extensive experience in protection and foster care.
- Proven experience working with local authorities.
- Fluency in Italian.
- Proficiency in English.
- Proven knowledge of the national context regarding the reception, protection, and inclusion of migrant and refugee children, including the foster care system.
Contract
This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The purpose of this assignment is to strengthen the integration within the project team of a dedicated expert acting as focal point on foster care for unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). The Consultant will provide specialized technical support, with a particular focus on capacity-building and continuous accompaniment of the team of case managers deployed in certain Prefectures under the FAMI Protect+ project, led by UNICEF.
If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0002763 External ToR Template.pdf
Minimum requirements:
Education: Bachelor's degree Psychology, Pedagogical sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Political Sciences or other related disciplines.
Work Experience:
- At least 5 years of professional experience with refugees and migrants or vulnerable children along with extensive experience in the field of protection and foster care
- Proven experience of work with local authorities
- Proven experience in foster care
Skills:
Proven knowledge of the national context with regards to reception, protection and inclusion of migrant and refugee children, including foster care system
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in Italian
- Proficiency in English
For every Child, you demonstrate...
This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):
- An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
- Cover letter
- A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) TMC0002763 Financial proposal template.docx
Remarks:
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advanced to the next stage of the selection process.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
Potential interview questions
| Can you share a time when you successfully implemented a capacity-building program for case managers? | We want to understand your practical experience in skills development and support. | Detail a specific program, discussing the objectives, strategies, and outcomes. |
| What strategies do you use to advocate for the rights of separated and unaccompanied children? | We are assessing your approach to child protection and advocacy. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you ensure a collaborative approach with local authorities in your work? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your experience with foster care systems in Italy or similar contexts. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What is your understanding of the challenges faced by migrant and refugee children in foster care? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you discuss a challenging case you managed involving vulnerable children? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you stay informed about policy changes affecting child welfare and migration? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What role do you believe capacity building plays in improving outcomes for vulnerable children? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |