SOS Children’s Village - Staff recruitment in the project “Addressing Systemic Gaps–Support to Child Welfare System Reforms

27 декември 2022

SOS Children’s Village – Staff recruitment in the project “Addressing Systemic Gaps–Support to Child Welfare System Reforms

Terms of Reference

ToR

Position: „ Consultants for the development and piloting of modules for specialized foster care for persons with disabilities”

SOS Children’s Village – North Macedonia

SOS Children’s Village North Macedonia (SOS CV) is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit organization, registered under the Macedonian law on Associations and Foundations (reg. number 5521734). SOS CV believes that every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security. The organization builds families for children in need, helps them shape their own futures, and shares in the development of their communities. SOS CV helps children, young people and their caregivers through services in Care, Education, Health and Emergency Response. SOS CV are focused on family support, long-term care for the children who lost the possibility to live with their biological families. In SOS CV village, children can once again find supportive environment and love, growing in homes until they become young independent individuals.SOS CV gives support to all children at risk, especially to those who have lost their parents or live in very hard conditions. Basis of our work and our prime goal is respect, promotion and raising our voice for children rights. Through our activities, we are trying to inform public and our associates for all the problems that these children are facing and to appeal for taking measures that will promote the welfare of these children around the world. Parallel with our lobbying activities, we encourage the children to take active part in processes that determines their lives.

SOS CV has 20 years of project experience in several areas:

“A loving home for every child” is the overall objective of SOS Children’s Villages. The organization offer care, protection and support for children who lost their biological parents or that cannot stay with them due to family problems. SOS CV gives these children the opportunity to grow up in a stable and caring environment that enables them to live a self-determined life. This includes: childcare in more then 60 foster families with more then 120 children supported by SOS Foster Families Support Centre, 4 small group homes for youth care in municipalities (Butel, Karposh, Zelezara and Vlae) for 28 youth without parental care (aged 14-18) and one SOS Semi-Independent Living support Program (Skopje) for 30 young people without parental care that leaving alternative care (aged 18-25).
In addition, SOS CV has established counselling services for families at social risk whose face family violence, child abandonment and conflict relations within the family. Activities aim to stabilize these families and provide children the opportunity to grow up safely with their biological parents. The objective is to avoid break-up of families and the placement of children in alternative care systems. Moreover, this social service aim to support self-help capacities of vulnerable families to allow parents to take responsibility for the wellbeing of their children. They are implemented in two municipalities (Shuto Orizari and Gazi Baba) in the capital of Skopje with more then 110 beneficiaries. Besides the activities in its core business, SOS CV implements various project, initiatives and analysis supported by different donors.

Project Background

This Global Programme entitled “Addressing Systemic Gaps – Support to Child Welfare System Reforms in Albania, Armenia, Belarus, North Macedonia and Ukraine” aims to improve children’s rights with a specific focus on supporting the reform of alternative childcare systems and the de-institutionalisation process in 5 target countries: Albania, Armenia, Belarus, North Macedonia and Ukraine. The project executing agency is the HGFD e.V. / SOS Children’s Villages Worldwide, the direct implementation of the measures is carried out by the 5-member associations (MAs) of the Federation SOS Children’s Villages International.

The aim of SOS Children’s Villages is to protect children and young people without parental care, to support their development and to address their special needs. SOS Children’s Villages develops services and programmes aimed at strengthening families and preventing child neglect, partners with local communities to provide education, health care and responds to emergencies.

The main areas of activity include the following:

De-institutionalisation: SOS associations advise and support national and local governments in reforming childcare and protection systems and closing institutional childcare facilities, providing new family and community-based placements for children, and establishing services to provide preventive support to vulnerable families within communities.
Advocacy: Their decades of work and experience as pioneers of alternative care form the basis for the commitment of the 5 SOS associations. They approach political decision-makers in governments, parliaments and authorities in their respective countries to sensitise them to children’s rights. With their expertise, they provide information about the situation of children in need and call on those with political responsibility to take action. They combine their practical programme work with political work as advocates for children’s rights. Based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, they advocate for the best interests of children and the social participation of all children.
Family like care: Children and youth who no longer have parents or who cannot stay with their biological parents due to family problems live in the SOS provided alternative care services or services that support and monitor alternative care providers. SOS enables these children to grow up in a stable and child-friendly family-like environment and offers them the chance to lead a self-determined life.
Prevention: Family strengthening programmes focus on socio-economically disadvantaged families whose daily lives are characterised by factors such as poverty, dysfunction and violence. The measures aim to stabilise these families and enable their children to grow up in the care of their biological parents. The aim is to prevent the break-up of families and the separation of children from their parents, while at the same time strengthening the self-help capacities of families in need.
Education: SOS Children’s Villages supports children’s educational pathways through early childhood education services, kindergartens, schools and vocational training programmes, as well as the socio-economic integration and promotion of labour market skills of youth and young adults.
Emergency aid: In humanitarian emergencies, SOS Children’s Villages provide emergency and transitional aid for children, youth and families (for example, in the context of refugee movements in the Balkans).

In order to secure quality service provision and care for the children without parental care or at risk of losing it, the North Macedonia project will introduce different working methodologies and approaches.

Scope of work

The consultants (experts) will lead the process and develop a training program for specialized foster care. This includes the development of a Manual for specialized training of caregivers/foster parents (for trainers), a Guide for specialized care (for caregivers/foster parents) and a Brochure/Guidebook for childcare professionals.

The consultants (experts) will work closely with the working group compiled of care professionals, experts, practitioners, and foster parents who will participate in the development of the program based on the previous analysis. The working group will consist of 10 participants. In a frame of 5 working meetings, this group will contribute to the development of the training program.

The process of implementation will go in the following stages:

First stage:

Desk analysis – The consultants will analyse the disability types and specialized care competencies will be defined according to the types of disability. Existing services for people with disabilities that will be included as a resource in this training program will be mapped.
Development of training program – Two consultants (experts) (one with practical experience and one methodologist) will lead the process of preparing the training programme in a total of 60 working days. In this process, the consultants (experts) need to develop a Manual for specialized training of caregivers/foster parents (for trainers) a Guide for specialized care, as well as the development of brochure on the specifics of childcare with different types of disabilities

Second stage:

Training of the master trainers – The participants will be selected from the three foster care support centres (SOS FFSC and two government centres) in the country and the Institute for Social Activities, according to developed criteria. The training for the 15 participants will last 5 days and will be conducted by the two consultants (experts) who developed the training materials.

Third stage:

Pilot the training program with a sample of foster parents – Furthermore, a team of two Master Trainers will pilot the developed training program with a sample of 6 foster parents. Experts from the Institute for Social Activities will monitor the piloting of the program and provide feedback. Based on their feedback and the feedback of the foster parents and the trainers, the program and the training materials will be adapted and finalised accordingly. The trained master trainers will provide further training for foster parents during and after the project

Main Tasks:

To analyze the existing materials in the country regarding childcare with disabilities
Share the outcome of the analysis with the working group.
Regular coordination with the contracting authority and the working group.
To design the training program.
To develop the first draft of the training program and receive feedback from the working group
Development of the final draft of the training program and receiving feedback from the working group.
To prepare a master training program (agenda, materials, etc.)
Delivery of the master training program with the master trainers.
To prepare training report
Couching of the master trainers during piloting training sessions through support and supervision;
To conduct pre and post-evaluation questionnaires for the knowledge progress of the master trainers.
Regular submission of time sheets as appropriate for the phase of the consultancy work delivered
Development of a manual for specialized training of caregivers/foster parents (for trainers)
Development of a Guide for specialized care (for caregivers/foster parents)
Development of a Brochure/Guidebook for childcare professionals.

Location

The Trainer will work on one or more of the following locations:

– Skopje

Number of days:

Mapping of the existing materials in the country regarding childcare with disabilities and existing specialized social services (10 days)
Qualitative analysis of data regarding specialized childcare needs of children with disabilities, child development disorders and mental health challenges; (5 days)
Development of training programme including Manuel for professionals and guide for foster parents; (20 days)
Development of brochure for different types of disabilities for more frequent disabilities in alternative care (material for professionals for addressing disability in the planning process); (10 days)
Conducting ToT for 15 potential trainers on how to use developed materials and implementation of trainings. (10 days)
Regular consultations with the working group (5 days)

Expected deliverables:

Implementation plan;
Short report of the desk analysis regarding disability types, specialized childcare needs of children with disabilities, child developmental disorders and mental health challenges and existing services for people with disabilities, 15 days after signing the contract;
Manual for specialized training of caregivers/foster parents (for trainers);
Guide for specialized care (for caregivers/foster parents);
Brochure/Guidebook on the specifics of childcare with different types of disabilities that will aim to help professionals in the social protection system;
Conduct training for master trainers including preparation of materials and reports;
Training supervision in the first piloting phase;
Final training report that contains summarized and documented information on each step of the training implementation. Group dynamic and progress achieved.

Management

The consultants (experts) communicate with the Project Manager referring during all stages in the consultancy work.

Any concerns related to the realization of the consultancy work should be communicated with the Project Manager or the National program development director.

The consultants (experts) are obliged to report any irregularities or issues, which might endanger the delivery of the consultancy work, to the Project Manager or the National program development director as soon as possible.

Facilities and equipment to be provided by the contracting authority and/or other parties

The facilities will be provided by the Contracting Authority. The equipment required for the implementation of the modules will be pre-defined by the implementer and the SOS Children’s Village (including the time period for providing it) and will be part of the contract for the implementation of the consultancy work.

Requirements related to trainer’s qualification and experience

Bachelor in social sciences in the field of special education, alternatively, social sciences like psychology, social work or medicine with extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of disability.
Master or Ph.D. studies will be considered as an advantage.

Has taken part or lead research/projects on topics regarding disability.

In the past 3 years has been involved in different activities related to different types of disabilities, specialized childcare and existing services for children with disabilities.
Has continuity in attending trainings and/or can show continuous professional development in the field of non-formal education;
Has been involved in at least 5 training activities (training courses, seminars, etc.) as trainer or facilitator;
Experience in managing a group/team composed of members with different ethnic, social or cultural backgrounds.
Fluent in English language
Ability to work in MS office programs

Technical and Financial Proposal/Documents

Technical proposal should include a detailed and interactive consultancy program, sessions plan a detailed implementation plan in accordance with the scope of work, expected outputs, and deliverables provided for herein. The frequency of the engagement, and time schedule, should be integral parts of the proposal.

Note:

The final schedule of the consultancy should be agreed between the consultants and SOS CV. The total number of working days approved, will depend on cost of the day and availability of the budget within the project duration.

Financial proposal must forecast the cost of preparation, implementation and reporting. These should be included in the payment for the day/s of the consultancies.

The Service Providers will be evaluated in terms of the quality of complete coverage of all aspects of the terms of reference, as well as compliance with qualifications as provided for herein.

Financial proposal should be submitted in the attached template (Annex A), take the following explanations into account during the submission of the price proposal:

You are required to propose a number of working/days/time schedule with the main duties description indicated in the Terms of Reference;
You are required to propose your professional daily fee rate in gross amount, which will be multiplied by the number of working/days to establish the total contract amount;
The fee rate should be indicated in euros.

Payment Schedule

Payments are based on satisfactory completion of tasks assigned, upon submission of timesheet and Monthly progress report for the number of hours worked.

The payments to be made will be calculated on the actual number of working/days to be invested and reported (through timesheets and progress reports) by the consultant for fulfilment/delivery of corresponding activities/deliverables. The number of working/days to be reported by the consultant cannot be more than the number of working/days approved for the fulfilment/delivery of corresponding activities/deliverables.
Once proposed and accepted, the fee rate cannot be changed.

The final payment will be after the submission and approval of the Final report.

Submission of the proposal

The deadline for submitting the proposal is 22 January 2023!

Bids from the interested Company/Team of Experts/or Expert should be submitted in two sealed envelopes. One inner envelope enclosing the entire offer with the necessary documentation and an outer envelope containing the inner envelope.

The name of the bidder is stated on the inner cover.

The outer envelope states that it is an offer upon request for the submission of an offer for procurement no. 05-1284/1 from 26.12.2022 and it should be sent to the address Risto Shishkov no. 31 by January 22, 2023 at the latest.

Documents delivered within the proposal:

A clear proposal document (technical and financial) explaining methodology and approach;
An expression of interest to provide the consultancies explaining how the Expert/Consultant experience match the qualifications required and, if any, previous experience in organising planned activities with similar stakeholders;
CV highlighting the expertise of the Company/Team of Experts/Expert.

Filled and signed Financial proposal (Annex A)