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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, commitment.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

UNICEF and DG Reform are supporting Ministry of Labour Social Affairs and Family of the Republic of Slovakia to strengthen inclusion of children with disabilities in the substitute care system. An assessment of the system of substitute care has been conducted and a pilot project is underway which includes a component to increase availability of family-based substitute care for children with disabilities an complex medical needs, especially for babies and infants.

This task is focused on strengthening the training on disability provided to professional subsitute carers by the Centres for Children and Families (CDRs, former children’s homes) in order to increase the confidence of both staff and substitute caregivers in their abilities to provide substitute care for children with complex medical needs or disabilities.

Scope of Work

Develop training modules that build understanding among CDR professionals and professional substitute parents of a social and rights-based model of disability and the needs of young children with disabilities and complex medical conditions. Train CDR staff and licensed NGOs to deliver the training modules as part of preparation of professional substitute parents.

Tasks:

1. Brief review of good practice internationally in training foster carers on disability inclusion.
2. Review existing guidance and materials used by CDRs for training professional substitute families and identify where additional guidance and materials could be added to support inclusion of children with disabilities in the system of family-based substitute care.
3. Design 4-5 training modules that can build confidence of CDR staff and professional substitute carers of their ability provide care for children with disabilities. The training modules should:

• Fill gaps in the existing training programmes relating to disability and complex medical needs
• Challenge a medical model of disability and promote understanding of a social and rights-based model – myths and facts of various types of disability,
• Build understanding of the importance of family care for children with disabilities, especially in early childhood
• ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ of working with families caring for children with cognitive, sensory or physical functional difficulties

Other topics or additional topics can be proposed – this is an indicative list – the exact structure and composition of the modules can also be proposed hence the estimate of 4 or 5 modules depending on length, content and delivery mode.
4. Deliver online training of trainers (CDR and NGO staff) to equip them to deliver the modules to candidates for professional substitute families.

Outcomes:

• CDRs are better equipped to recruit, prepare and support professional substitute families to care for children with disabilities, especially very young children and babies.
• Professional substitute families have more confidence in their ability to look after children with disabilities and complex medical conditions in their homes
• MLSAF, HQLSAF and CDRs have materials they can further adapt to ensure disability inclusion in the system of substitute care for children.

Work Assignment Overview

Estimated Duration of the Contract

12 working days in October 2024.

Consultant's Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based with no travels foreseen.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 12 working days to undertake this assignment.

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

• Master's degree in International relations, political or social sciences, statistics, human rights, or comparable academic qualifications or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum seven (7) years of relevant work experience.
• Extensive experience of disability inclusion for children and a strong understanding of a social and rights-based model of disability is required.
• Knowledge and experience of preparing and delivering training for foster carers is preferred and access to existing materials that can be adapted rapidly to the needs of this assignment is desirable.
• Understanding and experience of inter-active training techniques to support adult learning are also preferred.
• Fluency in English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family 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:

Please include a full CV and a Cover Letter in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.