Terms of Reference for organize education in supervision for professionals in social work from three areas: Republic od Srpska, Brcko district and Montenegro

Terms of Reference

for organize education in supervision for professionals in social work from three areas: Republic od Srpska, Brcko district and Montenegro

1.     INTRODUCTION

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In northwest Balkans and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. When crisis strikes and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard.  We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

2.     RATIONALE

Street involved and at-risk children present one of the most jeopardized groups in the state of social need that, due to the poverty and lack of work, stay excluded from all relevant social systems. The number of street-involved children has increased rapidly over the past few years. Most street-involved children live below the poverty line, often part of a cycle of poverty that is generationally passed on. As a group, street-involved children have to a large extent been 'hidden' from the public eye as well as the main spheres of political, economic and social life in B-H. 

The opening of Drop-in centers (DiC) for street-involved and at-risk children was on several occasions characterized as the only positive example of support provided to this population. Strengthening existing and replicating quality services for street-involved children has become the basis of the ENVISION project. Within this Project, Save the Children has established strategic partnerships with governmental institutions and NGOs in Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja Luka, Brcko and Bihac in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Podgorica and Nikšić in Montenegro. 

This service consists of several components: specialized programs for children and families, legal assistance, psychological counseling, educational activities, school inclusion, and access to welfare benefits.

Besides services defined through DiC methodology, additional specialized programs have been developed and tested during 2016-2018. The Family Strengthening Program (FSP) was developed in 2016, and by the end of 2019, it was piloted in all 7 DiCs. Additionally, this Program has been integrated and piloted in 3 CSW (Bihać, Banja Luka and Nikšić). In a relatively short period of time, FSP showed significant results in supporting and strengthening families. The FSP program offers a working model with vulnerable families and boys and girls.

To additionally strengthen families and young boys and girls, the FSP program will be expanded with one more component - Economic Empowerment of Families and Youth (EEFY) in 2021. This Program component will be piloted in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro and will be primarily implemented by DiCs and introduced to Centers for social welfare (CSW).

This comprehensive and highly responsible professional work in social care can cause burnout of DiCs and CSW employees which can cause decrease in quality of the services. To prevent burnout, improve job satisfaction and ensure the best quality of the service for the beneficiaries, new professionals will be educated to provide supervision for DiC and centers for social welfare during 2021.

The purpose of this Program component will be to organize comprehensive training for professionals from centers for social welfare and strengthen their capacities to provide supportive supervision sessions to DiCs, and CSW employees. Supervision encourages open, two-way communication and building team approaches that facilitate problem-solving. It focuses on monitoring performance towards goals, using data for decision-making, and regular follow-up with staff to ensure that new tasks are being implemented correctly.

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

Objective

To organize training for two groups of new supervisors in social work and provide supervision and mentoring process for DiC and CWS in the following areas: Republic of Srpska, Brcko district and Montenegro.

SCOPE OF WORK

A consultant is expected to carry out the following activities:

·        Hold an initial meeting with Save the Children to finalize the work plan agreement.

·        Deliver training for new supervisors from three areas: Republic od Srpska, Brcko district and Montenegro. Provide guidance and mentoring support to newly educated supervisors during their practice in DiCs and CWSs.

·        Submit the final Report to the SCI staff.

WORK METHODOLOGY

The Consultant will submit a technical and financial offer, which includes the description of the methodology and detailed work plan. During the engagement, the Consultant will mainly work with Save the Children staff in Sarajevo. In order to adequately prepare for the creation of defined consulting assignments, it is crucial to review all the relevant documents of the respective subject area. Since Save the Children has been long involved in dealing with issues related to children on the move, it is necessary to carefully study and consult the documentation available on the website of our organization (https://nwb.savethechildren.net). 

Location and official travel involved

The Supplier will organize its own time in its own facilities during the time of engagement. The Supplier will be required to travel to other locations. Any required travel will need pre-approval by SCI in accordance with SCI's Travel Policy and applicable RO/CO Expense Policy.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Save the Children staff based in Sarajevo will be the main focal point for the Consultant.

Duties of Consultant:

·        The Consultant is required to maintain the contact with the Save the Children staff over the entire process and inform them, on a regular basis, of the process and seek information and guidance as necessary. 

·        The Consultant has a general managerial responsibility for the implementation of the Consultancy tasks.

·        The task of the Consultant will be to develop required documents and deliver activities and submit the final drafts to Save the Children for comments and suggestions, if any, within the agreed timeframe.

·        The Consultant is required to include the feedback information as given by Save the Children in the final version of the document, as necessary.

·        The Consultant is required to abide by the time frame set for the consultancy work.

Responsibilities of Save the Children:

·        Provide all background materials for the Consultant on time.

·        Monitor adherence to specified deadlines, facilitating access to required information.

·        Provide guidance throughout all phases of implementation, approving all deliverables, and facilitating, access to any documentation (or any person) deemed relevant to the process.

·        Share deliverables with stakeholders.

·        Ensure cooperation from partner organizations.

·        Perform quality control of all deliverables, as required.

DELIVERABLES

·        Detailed plan for supervision trainings for new supervisors and monitoring tools (in one of the local languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Latin alphabet,  A4 format, Gill Sans MT, font-size: 11)

·        The final report on completion of the task submitted in English and local language.   

TIMEFRAME

In order to perform all scheduled tasks, an independent Consultant shall be hired for the period March 17^th    2021 – December 20^th 2021 in a duration no longer than 60 days. The Consultant will prepare and implement the work plan in consultations and with the support of relevant Save the Children staff.

* The time frame can be changed in consultation with the relevant staff of Save the Children

REQUIRED EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE

Consultant should possess the following expertise and skills as a minimum:

·        PhD or Master’s Degree (or relevant specialist studies) in the area of human services and a minimum of two-year field experience working in child welfare and/or with multi-problem families -OR-

·        A Bachelor’s Degree in the area of human services and a minimum of four (4) years of field experience working in child welfare and/or with multi-problem families.

·        Extensive knowledge and proven practice in providing supervision support in the field of social services.

·        Extensive knowledge in MHPSS (mental health and psychosocial support)  recommendation and guidelines by international organizations such as WHO, IASC and IFRC.

·        Demonstrated knowledge and experience in conducting need assessments and developing training modules/curriculum, training materials etc.

·        Demonstrated experiences and skills in facilitating stakeholder/working group consultations and training.

·        Fluency in English and local language

·        Strong analytical and communication skills.

BUDGET

The consultants must indicate the prices he/she is offering to Save the Children as part of the contract, including the currency in the Bidding Response document as well as SC-PR-10-Request for Quotation if applying on behalf of a company or organization. Provide a narrative clarification of each budget activity demonstrating how they relate to the proposed methodology and work plan. The budget headings and specific budget lines are obligatory within proposed budget.

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount (including a breakdown of costs for fee, travel, and number of working days). Payments will be made in installments based upon key outputs, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the ToR.

·        30% on signing the contract and submission of a blueprint including work-plan and methodology for the assignment (in English)

·        40% on submission of the first part of the Consultancy.

·        30% on completion of all agreed activities and submission of final report (in English).

APPLICATION AND BIDDING PROCEDURES

Interested consultants or companies/organisations should develop and submit the bidding proposal (accompanied with relevant annexes) in English language to respond to above mentioned specific tasks. The bidding proposal should include: 1. Package for Consultants companies OR 2. Package for Consultants Individuals:

Package for Consultants individuals (complete if applying as an individual):

1. Bidder Response document - individuals;

2. CVs format - individuals (maximum 3 pages) emphasizing relevant experience.

3. Reference list and example of a Research Paper/ Analyses/Evaluation in English

SELECTION CRITERIA

 Essential:

·        Meet minimum requirements

·        Agency/Individual bidder provided all documentation

 Capability (60 points)

 ·        Education (PhD or specialistic studies  in relevant field– 20 points, Master degree in relevant field – 15 points, Bachelor in relevant field 10 points)

·        Minimum 3 years expirience in relevant field (3 years of experience 10 points, 5 years of experience 15 points, more than 5 years of experience 20 points)

·        Metodology (draft plan for training course 10 points, draft plan for monitoring and mentoring - 10 points)

 Commercial 40 points

 ·        Price

 SC will make a decision on the most successful bidder, subject to the available budget, based on the following criteria:

• Relevant education;
• Relevant experience;
• How well the proposal meets the requirements set out in the Terms of Reference;
• Value for money.

No person working on any task for or behalf of Save the Children may in no way whatsoever be involved or related to child abuse or exploitation as defined in the Save the Children's Child Safeguarding Policy. The contracting authority also requires that the personal data of all evaluation participants must be protected and stored in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation - (EU) 2016/679 and the national law on personal data protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH Law on Personal Data Protection, Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 49/06).

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Interested candidates should send their applications to info.nwbalkans@savethechildren.org no later than March 12^th 2021. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Detailed necessary forms can be downloaded at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Z3Q3bTkM_epW2z75ZE5vik3Nd8epqzo/view?usp=sharing