New Consultancy - Adolescent Mental Health Service Package Update, 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, care

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

As part of the demonstration project, a mental health service package for adolescents was developed and tested in pilot areas. This service package aimed to provide both universal and targeted mental health support to address the most common adolescent mental health needs, using strategies like group sessions, 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 support. School based programs were strengthened, with counselling rooms at health centers as well as online counselling and referral service via a dedicated public health service hotline.

Since late of 2020, an independent assessment has been conducted by an international consultant to review the service package and delivery channel against international best practices. The key findings and recommendations from the assessment provided valuable insights to further improve the service packages. With this regard, UNICEF is looking for a consultant to provide expertise and technical support to update the service package.

Under the new Country Programme Document (2021-2025), the integration of adolescent mental health services into the National Primary Health Care Package will be a major advocacy and policy goal. To achieve this, results from a national large scale pilot using an updated service package is a critical next step.

How can you make a difference?

Specific tasks will include:

• Revising the adolescent mental health service package according to the recommendations raised in the independent assessment and two major evidence-based theoretical framework (The Social Emotional Learning framework and the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model);
• Developing the self-care mental health module for the teachers and health workers;
• Providing the recommendations on the integration of the minimum adolescent mental health service package into the National Primary Health Care Package.

Major Tasks, Deliverables & Timeframe:

Tasks

Deliverables

Timeline

1. Plan the consultancy (including the methodology, timeline, etc.)

• Inception report

• By 20 August 2021 (3 days of work)

2. Work with domestic technical team to revise the service packages as suggested in the independent assessment report, including

• integration of the different manuals
• formulation of the minimal service package required for adolescent
• development of the new mandatory sessions suggested to be added into the minimum package

• development of self-care mental health module for the teachers and health workers

• The revised outline of the different manuals

• The defined minimal mental health service package required for adolescent including a set of mandatory sessions, dose defined and clarification of the roles for health system and schools
• The developed modules of newly added mandatory sessions

• The developed self-care mental health module for the teachers and health workers

• By 15 November 2021 (40 days of work)

3. Provide recommendations on the integration of the minimum adolescent mental health service package into the National Primary Health Care Package

• The suggested adolescent mental health service components for primary health care system, and the recommendations on delivery modality

• Dissemination of recommendations to relevant policy makers and technical agencies

• By 30 November 2021 (7 days of work)

Methodology & Expected Output:

The Consultancy is not office based, but from time to time is required to send regular updates, meeting, emails and telephone calls. No specific travel required.

Expected key outputs are:

• The defined minimal mental health service package required for adolescent including a set of mandatory sessions, dose defined and clarification of the roles for health system and schools
• The suggested adolescent mental health service components for primary health care system, and recommendations on delivery modality

Start Date****: 15 August 2021

End Date****: 30 December 2021

Total Working Days: 50 days within 4.5 months

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 experience in adolescent mental health related program, materials development, training courses design and implementation;
• 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 the adolescent mental health service package is 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.

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.