UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND
REQUIRES
International consultancy
For the provision of technical assistance to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in the revision of individual care plans of children in Children’s Home “Mladost”
(The Child Care System Reform IPA 2014)
Minimum Requirements:
· University degree, preferably advanced, in social work or a related field;
· At least 5 years of direct work experience in applying case management and in care planning for children;
· Thorough understanding of child rights and international standards in the area of alternative care of children;
· Knowledge about the social and child protection system in Montenegro will be considered as a strong advantage;
· Previous work experience with UNICEF will be considered as an asset;
· Excellent command of Montenegrin language (both spoken and written), knowledge of English will be considered as an asset;
· Excellent communication and writing skills.
If you are a dynamic person who would like to contribute to delivering of long-lasting, positive changes for Montenegro’s children, please apply with
· a CV,
· P11 form,
· financial offer and
· cover letter
by email, mail or fax quoting the position “revision of individual care plans” to the following address:
UNICEF, UN Eco House, Stanka Dragojevica bb, 81 000 Podgorica
Fax: +382 20 447 400
Email:
Terms of Reference for the position and P11 form can be found on the website www.unicef.org/montenegro or picked up at UNICEF Montenegro office.
Closing date for applications is 10 November 2015 C.O.B.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
U N I C E F I S A S M O K E F R E E E N V I R O N M E N TTerms of Reference
International consultant to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in the revision of individual care plans of children in Children’s Home “Mladost”
(The Child Care System Reform IPA 2014)
Background and Context
Observance of human and child rights represents an essential value of the European Union and an important part of the enlargement policy for Montenegro and the Western Balkan countries. Montenegro recognized the need to undertake relevant measures to implement institutional, legislative and administrative reforms in order to make sure that the rights and needs of each individual child are observed and protected in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse is an integral component of protecting their rights to survival, growth and development. The approach of UNICEF is to create a protective environment, where girls and boys are free from violence, exploitation, and unnecessary separation from family; and where laws, services, behaviours and practices minimize children’s vulnerability, address known risk factors, and strengthen children’s own resilience.In Montenegro, the overall goal of the UNICEF Country programme for 2012-2016 signed with the Government of Montenegro is to accompany the country’s efforts towards increasing equity and ensuring the inclusion of children and women who are in need of special protection, live in poverty, or are socially marginalized so that they can enjoy and exercise their rights.
A crucial segment of the on-going Country programme for 2012-2016 is the continuation of the Child Care System Reform initiative implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MoLSW) in partnership with UNICEF with the financial assistance of the European Union (IPA 2010 followed by IPA 2014). The reform follows a systematic approach to child protection, targeting all levels of the system and covering the areas of law reform, development of child protection standards and monitoring mechanisms, capacity building of professionals in the child protection system, deinstitutionalization and the transformation of residential institutions for children, the development of prevention mechanisms and family and community based services for children and families.
The Government of Montenegro has committed to the process of deinstitutionalization. A crucial milestone in the reform was the adoption of the new Law on Social and Child Protection (Official Gazette of Montenegro 27/2013), which is broadly aligned with international standards, and which prohibits the placement of children under 3 in institutions (except under exceptional circumstances), provides that children may be placed in residential care as a measure of last resort, and prescribes the transformation of existing residential institutions. As prescribed by the Law, a Plan of Transformation of the largest child care residential institution in Montenegro, the Children’s Home “Mladost” in Bijela was developed, and adopted in July 2015. Other notable policy documents which support deinstitutionalization are the Strategy on the Development of the Social and Child Protection System 2013-2017, the Strategy for the Development of Foster Care in Montenegro 2012-2016, the National Plan of Action for Children 2013-2017, Action Plan for Chapter 23 Judiciary and Fundamental Rights (in the EU accession process) etc.
In addition to revising the legislative and policy framework, strengthening of the institutional framework has been a vital component of the overall reform, and in turn, of the process of transition from institutional to family- and community-based care. MoLSW has engaged in a thorough reform of CSWs across Montenegro which includes changes in the organization of the network of CSWs and internal staffing structures and introduction of contemporary work methods such as case management methodology, which is instrumental for strengthening social work interventions and gatekeeping mechanisms. Furthermore, the Institute for Social and Child Protection, which will play a complex role in the development of the social and child protection system including of the social welfare workforce, and perform advisory, research and other professional activities, has been established and is functional since early 2015.
Commitment to deinstitutionalization has also been reflected in the development of preventative services and care options as alternatives to institutionalization. Preventative work has intensified, evidenced by the signing of the Protocol on intersectoral cooperation for the prevention of child abandonment in April 2014 by MoLSW, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education. In addition, UNICEF has supported MoLSW in piloting the family outreach worker service to prevent family breakdown. The reform has seen a rapid expansion of the day care centre service for children with disabilities which has helped prevent breakdown of families of children with disabilities (there are nine functional day care centres across Montenegro by September 2015, compared to only 2 in 2010). As regards the development of family-based alternative care, as mentioned above, the Strategy for the Development of Foster Care in Montenegro was adopted in 2012 for the period 2012-2016. The number of children in foster care has been increasing over the years (by 20% since 2010) with 331 children in kinship care and 42 children in non-kin foster care in December 2014, as a result of capacity building of professionals and awareness raising campaigns. Finally, when it comes to the provision of residential care which is in line with international standards, a new service for children without parental care – the small group home with a capacity of maximum 8 children, has been established in Bijelo Polje. The first small group home will accommodate children with disabilities.
As a result of the above, and the ongoing reform in the education system towards inclusive education, since 2010 there has been a 34% reduction in the number of children in residential institutions in Montenegro and Montenegrin children residing in institutions in neighbouring Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (from 310 children in 2010 to 204 at the end of 2014). The number of children in the largest institution for children, the Children’s Home “Mladost” in Bijela has decreased by 46% in the last 7 years (from 175 children in 2008 to 95 in September 2015). The number of children aged 0-3 was steady between 2008 and 2011 averaging at 25 children resident in a year, subsequently, the number began decreasing dramatically, with 8 children resident in September 2015.
In order to support the process of further downsizing of child care residential institutions, technical assistance is required to support the MoLSW in revising the individual care plans of children resident in the institution “Mladost” in line with the introduced case management methodology. Namely, the evaluation of the child care system reform conducted in the middle of 2014 observed that the quality of individual care plans of children in “Mladost” could be significantly improved which would in turn enhance the quality care planning for children in line with deinstitutionalization principles. The evaluation observed several shortcomings, including the lack of participation of educators directly responsible for children in the preparation of the plans, as well as of the children’s parents and children themselves, which is contrary to the principles of the reform and prescribed practice.
International technical expertise (individual or a team of 2 consultants) is required for this assignment.
Purpose and Objective
The purpose of this activity is to support the MoLSW in further downsizing of child care residential institutions, with special focus on children residing in the institution “Mladost”.
The objective of this assignment is to provide technical assistance and guidance in revising the individual care plans of children residing in the institution “Mladost” in line with the introduced case management methodology and international standards.
Methodology and Technical Approach
The methodology will include desk review; review of individual care plans; facilitation of a 3-day work session/workshop for relevant professionals; consultations with the MoLSW and UNICEF; writing of a brief mission report etc.
The consultant(s) is(are) expected to work both from home and in Montenegro.
Further details can be found below in the sections Activities and Tasks and Key Deliverables and Timeframe.
Activities and Tasks
The consultant/(s) is(are) expected to complete the following tasks with the following tentative breakdown of the number of working days:
Task / No daysTo review the following documents in preparation for the mission: relevant policies, legislation and reports on Montenegro in the area of alternative care, including The Law on Social and Child Protection and relevant bylaws notably the “Rulebook on the organization, norms, standards and methods of work of the centres for social work”, Official Gazette of Montenegro 58/2013 and “Rulebook on conditions, norms and minimum standards for placement of children and youth in residential care institution and small group home”, Official Gazette of Montenegro 43/2014, Plan of Transformation of “Mladost” Bijela, the Family Law including proposed amendments to the Family Law, the Strategy on Social and Child Protection 2013-2017, the Strategy for the development of foster care in Montenegro 2012-2016, draft “Strategic Review of the system of caring for vulnerable children in Montenegro” from 2010 by the NGO Lumos, “Final evaluation of the Child Care System Reform project IPA 2010”, and draft report “Leaving institutional care: Analysis of policies, institutional framework and practices”; / 3 days, home-based
To review a sample of approximately 30 individual care plans of children resident in “Mladost”, and selected by child care professionals in Montenegro based on the following criteria:
1. Children aged 0-3;
2. Children with more severe disabilities;
3. Children for whom an alternative to placement in “Mladost” has been planned but not executed for a long period of time;
4. Children leaving care.
And based on the review of plans prepare a three-day workshop for relevant professionals from CSWs and “Mladost” where the consultant will provide guidance to professionals with a view to improving the care planning process and outcomes for children in line with case management methodology and international best practice. Special attention should be paid to the following:
1. Participation of children in the care planning process.
2. Permanency planning.
3. Through review of the family circumstances with a view to reintegration with biological family whenever possible.
4. Provision of family-based alternatives whenever possible (kinship care, foster care, adoption) if reintegration with biological family is not an option.
5. The process of preparation of children for leaving care. / 6 days, home-based
To deliver the abovementioned 3 day workshop. The workshop should be as interactive as possible, possible short lectures need to be accompanied by case studies, exercises through work in small groups etc. The final session (half day on the third day of the session) should involve individual consultations. / 3 days, in Montenegro (in the week of 7-11 December)
Prepare a report with recommendations to MoLSW for enhancing the care planning process / 3 days, home-based
To communicate with UNICEF on a regular basis in order to receive in-depth guidance / n/a
To provide other related assistance as required / n/a
TOTAL DAYS / 15 days
Key Deliverables and Timeframe
The consultant(s) will be engaged for 15 working days, with the following deliverables by the following tentative deadlines:
Task / DeadlineDetailed agenda and materials for the 3-day workshop to be submitted to UNICEF / By 30 November 2015
Facilitation of the 3 day workshop/work session in Montenegro / In the week of 7-11 December 2015
Mission report with recommendations to be submitted to UNICEF / By 18 December 2015
Management and Organisation
Management: The consultant(s) will be supervised by the UNICEF Child Protection Officer.
Organization: International Consultancy, individual (at P-3 level), with considerable experience in the case management and care planning is required for this assignment.
Schedule: This assignment will commence on 18th November 2015.
Budget and Remuneration
The total duration of the consultancy is 15 working days.
The candidates are requested to submit their financial offer consisting of fee for the services to be provided, travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.
The fee may be reduced if the assignments/deliverables are not fulfilled to the required standard. In a case of serious dissatisfaction with the consultant’s performance the contract may be terminated in line with UNICEF procedure in such matters and as spelled out in SSA.
1