National consultant to conduct situational analysis of foster care in Georgia
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Deadline: 14 June, 6 PM Georgian time
The Government of Georgia has been implementing a substantial childcare system reform since 2005. A key component of the reform was the end of institutional care for children. Even though the reform has proved to bring positive changes on the lives of many children and their families, there are still challenges remaining in the process of deinstitutionalization1: children with disabilities (CwD) benefitted disproportionally less from the de-institutionalization process than children without disabilities, hence children with complex health needs and severe disabilities are still left in two large scale institutions (Tbilisi Infant Home and Kojori Institution).
In parallel, institutions managed by non-governmental organizations, local governments, as well as faith-based groups including the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Muslim Community are admitting children without any assessment and decision of the statutory social services. Successful completion of the deinstitutionalization reform cannot be accomplished without strong alternative care, a plethora of family support services and a strong social work system at central and municipal level.
Currently, around 1,700 children reside in foster care and 335 live in small group homes, managed by professional non- governmental organizations. However increasingly, the reports of the Public Defender’s Office2 and other studies indicate that quality of alternative care and residential services deteriorated; social work cannot perform gatekeeping functions properly3; and there is an increased risk as well as multiple facts proving that children living outside their families need more support, better care and supervision for their harmonious development.
The Code on the Rights of the Child mandates the Government to carry out all necessary legislative and administrative measures which involve the gradual replacement of residential care of children, including children with disabilities, by foster care and other family-based and community-bases services (Article 32). Therefore, UNICEF will work with Government (MoIDPLHSA and State Care Agency) and service providers to support enhancing quality of foster care and address the issues identified by the Public Defender in their report from 20194. The implementation of this activity will start with analysis of foster care in Georgia. Through a qualitative study, this analysis will focus on the quality of care provided to children, capacity of service providers, and case management procedures. It will also review the whole foster care process from provision of information to applicants, through training and assessment, matching, post-placement monitoring and support.
Based on the analysis, an action plan for enhancing foster care in Georgia will be developed in cooperation with all partners from Government and the NGO sector and further interventions identified. Depending on the results, UNICEF will provide technical assistance for: amending regulations and standards, development of a unified training programme (based on existing experience and identified needs), capacity building, setting up of proper monitoring and support capacity. Particular attention will be paid towards expanding the specialized foster care for children below 3 years of age and children with disabilities. This will reduce further demand for residential and institutional care.
Hence, UNICEF is seeking to involve a local consultant to support conduct a comprehensive analysis of foster care in Georgia and provide relevant recommendations to improve the quality of foster care in Georgia.
Scope of Work:
Overall objectives of the assignment:
The main objective of the assignment is to support UNICEF and the Government of Georgia provide a qualitative analysis of foster care in Georgia (1) and formulate specific recommendations for further interventions (2).
Specific tasks of the consultant:
The consultant will be expected to perform the following:
- Develop a comprehensive methodology and a work plan for the analysis
- Conduct the analysis covering the following main issues:
- Review the whole foster care process from recruitment of applicants, through training and assessment, matching, post-placement monitoring and support
- Explore the quality of care provided to children, capacity of service providers, and case management procedures.
- Explore the practices related to rotating children between different kinds of foster care
- Examine data collection and analysis practices in relation to foster care and identify the gaps
- Examine the practices related to monitoring and support to foster families after placement
- Identify areas that are performing well and areas for improvement
- Identify specific recommendations for the next steps
- Based on the analysis, an action plan for enhancing foster care in Georgia will be developed in cooperation with all partners from Government and the NGO sector and further interventions identified.
The consultant should conduct:
- Interviews and/ or focus groups with relevant stakeholders at national and local level, i.e. Ministries, Agency for State Care, UNICEF, service providers, social workers, foster families and others as identified;
- Desk review of documents and data, studies, national legislation;
- Presentation of the final analysis to the relevant stakeholders, collect their feedback and incorporate in the final document as relevant;
- Analysis should include all types of foster care in Georgia.
Deliverables:
- Work plan and the comprehensive working methodology (2 days)
- Analysis of quality of foster care in Georgia that includes review of every component of foster care process (recruitment, training, assessment, matching, post-placement support and monitoring), capacity of foster carers, case-management procedures, quality of care provided to children, data collection and analysis by relevant agencies, revealing best practices and areas for improvement (15 days)
- A set of recommendations as well as the contribution to the formulation of the action plan regarding amending relevant regulations and standards, development of a unified training programme, setting up of proper monitoring and support capacity (3 days)
The consultant will be hired for up to 20 days within the period 1 July 2021 – 30 September 2021.
The assignment will be mostly home based and will include various meetings outside and in UNICEF office. Location –
Tbilisi, Georgia.
Remuneration and entitlements
The consultant will be paid a daily fee negotiated between UNICEF and the consultant based on an initial offer of the consultant to be submitted with the application. The fee will be paid against the provision of deliverables to be approved in written by the supervisor.
The consultant has no entitlement for annual leave, sick leave, maternity, adoption or paternity leave or any other kinds of special leave. UNICEF will not undertake any liability for tax, duty or other contribution payable on payments made under this contract. UNICEF will not issue a statement of earnings.
Health insurance
UNICEF does not provide or arrange health insurance coverage for this position. The consultant will be required to provide a proof of health insurance for the duration of the contract.
Performance indicators
The performance of the consultant will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, and quality of the products delivered; also drive for results and a willingness to work within a team environment will be essential and will contribute to the performance evaluation.
Work Assignment Overview
Tasks/Milestone:
Deliverables/Outputs:
Timeline:
Consult with UNICEF and relevant partners to prepare the discussions with agencies and professionals and submit a detailed workplan (2 days)
List of issues and questions to be considered while consulting with stakeholders;
A detailed workplan.
Beg of July
Conduct an analysis of the quality of foster care covering various components
(15 days)
Report on the analysis of the quality of foster care
Mid- July/beginning of September
A set of recommendations as well as the contribution to the formulation of the action plan regarding amending relevant regulations and standards, development of a unified training programme, setting up of proper monitoring and support capacity
(3 days)
A set of recommendations as well as the contribution to the formulation of the action plan
September
Minimum Qualifications required:
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
- Advanced university degree in social sciences, social policy, social work and other related fields;
- At least 5-7 years of professional work experience in field of child protection, childcare, deinstitutionalization and alternative care, including 2 years working on the issues related to the children with disabilities;
- Demonstrated understanding of the childcare and child protection system in Georgia;
- Comprehensive knowledge of international and regional standards on child protection and alternative care;
- Excellent writing skills;
- Excellent analytical, communication and negotiating skills;
- Excellent team working skills and respect for diversity;
- Ability to work through networking and in partnership;
- Fluency in Georgian and English is required.
Location
Home Based
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.
1 Evaluation of results achieved through childcare system reform 2005-2012 in Georgia, EVALUATION REPORT, The United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) Country Office Georgia
2 MONITORING OF CHILD CARE SYSTEM – EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATIVE CARE SPECIAL REPORT; PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE, 2019
(HTTP://WWW.OMBUDSMAN.GE/RES/DOCS/2019051418581765162.PDF))
3 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF SSA SOCIAL WORK; Nelli Petrova-Dimitrova, report of the UNICEF Georgia consultant, December 2018
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The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...
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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:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.
Added 2 years ago
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Updated 2 years ago
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Source:
unicef.org
