Georgia: International Consultancy on Pre-Service Training for Social Workers in Abkhazia, Georgia

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Introduction

In 2016 UNICEF, in cooperation with local partners and with the assistance of a group of international social work experts, developed a Conceptual Framework for Social Work Practice in Abkhazia and a training curriculum for social workers. It was also agreed that UNICEF would support the launch of social work in three pilot districts of Abkhazia. Consequently, a group of 15 social workers was recruited to operate in the three pilot districts. Before assuming their duties, social workers took a pre-service training course on social work with children and their families (216 hours). At the same time, efforts were made to develop collaboration between the social workers and other specialists of relevant central and district level structures providing services to vulnerable children and their families.

Since May 2017 the first group of social workers has been working on child protection cases, providing assistance to vulnerable children and their families in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in Abkhazia with the operational and financial support of UNICEF. Social workers from the three districts have also been receiving signals from non-pilot districts during their work and there has been a demand from the local authorities and NGO sector for the expansion of the service to the rest of Abkhazia.

Against this background, UNICEF plans to further strengthen social work in Abkhazia by expanding the social work programme to the remaining districts and by continuing the provision of methodological support to social workers. For this purpose, UNICEF in collaboration with local partners will select interested professionals to become future social workers in the five districts of Abkhazia not covered by the previous phase of the programme. As social work is not yet developed as a profession in Abkhazia, specialists will be selected from among interested and motivated candidates representing relevant professions (psychology, pedagogy, social sector, health etc.) and possessing necessary skills, which will be assessed during individual interviews. The newly recruited specialists will be required to take a pre-service training course on social work with children and families which will take place from April to June 2019. The total number of trainees from all districts of Abkhazia will be approximately 22. Besides this core group of trainees (future social workers), participation of other professionals working with children in Abkhazia in some training sessions will be facilitated to raise their awareness on the concept of social work, encourage their collaboration with new social workers and enhance their professional capacities to deal with child protection cases.

Objective

UNICEF seeks to engage several international consultants to undertake, in close cooperation with UNICEF's Sukhumi Field Office and relevant stakeholders in Abkhazia, the preparation and implementation of the pre-service training course for future social workers on social work with vulnerable children and families. Interested experts can apply individually or as a team of consultants for the whole consultancy or for specific parts.

Deliverables and Timelines

The previously developed Training Curriculum for Social Workers in Abkhazia is divided into 4 units consisting of 18 modules and includes 1 additional unit for social work supervisors. In the framework of the previous phase of UNICEF's child protection programme in Abkhazia and in preparation for the pre-service training of the first group of social workers carried out in 2017, a detailed training session plan and materials (including PPTs and additional reading materials), as well as pre and post training evaluation questionnaires were developed by a group of international experts on child protection and social work.

Below is an overview of the curriculum, and approximate number of days necessary to deliver training under each module.

UNIT 1: Social Work Introduction and Framework

Module 1: Course Introduction and Pre-test (1 day)

Module 2: Social Welfare and Child Protection Policies (2 day)

Module 3: State of Child Welfare in Abkhazia (1 day)

Module 4: Social Work in Abkhazia; Ecological/Empowerment Frameworks (1 day)

UNIT 2: Social Worker Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Module 5: Child Development from Birth to Adolescence (1 day)

Module 6: Interpersonal Skills of a Social Worker with Children and Families (2 days)

Module 7: Biopsychosocial Assessment and Individualized Intervention Plan (2 days)

Module 8: Case Management (1 day)

Module 9: Working with children and families (3 days)

Module 10: Termination, Follow up and Self-care (1 day)

Module 11: Child Abuse and Neglect (3 days)

Module 12: Gender based violence (1 day)

Module 13: Guardianship and Adoption (2 days)

UNIT 3: Social Work Knowledge and Skills for Advocacy, Documentation and Supervision

Module 14: Advocacy and Community Awareness Raising (1 days)

Module 15: Documentation, Evaluation, Reporting (3 day)

Module 16: Supervision (1 day)

UNIT 4: Final Presentations and Course Evaluation

Module 17: Presentation of Final Assignment (1 day)

Module 18: Overview, Evaluation of Training, and Post-test (1 day)

UNIT 5: Advanced Training for Social Work Supervisors (2 days)

This task and the allocated work days will include work on the review, revision and enhancement - in close consultation with UNICEF - of the previously developed training plans and materials. Adjustments and updates will be made based on the social workers capacity building needs and priorities identified during the first phase of the social work pilot project in Abkhazia. This activity will also address the need to strengthen gender mainstreaming within the project which includes the provision of gender-sensitive training materials.

Deliverables: Adapted training sessions plan and enhanced gender-sensitive training materials of good quality;

Delivery Period: 1 April - 15 June 2019

Number of Working Days: 15

Location: from home

Based on the updated and adjusted training materials, the consultant will be required to deliver the training to new social workers as well as other relevant professionals in close coordination with UNICEF and its partners in Abkhazia. The total amount of time needed to deliver the course is up to 30 working days. It is suggested to divide the course into several parts/phases with intervals in between. The number of training parts/phases, the exact schedule, as well as the required number of the consultants' visits to Abkhazia, will be identified in consultation and coordination of UNICEF with the consultants and local stakeholders.

Deliverables: Good quality training;

Delivery Period: 15 April - 30 June 2019

Number of Working Days: 30

Location: in Abkhazia

Total Number of Working Days: 45, including 30 working days in Abkhazia

Qualifications/experience required

Supervision and Reporting Responsibility

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of UNICEF's Chief of Sukhumi Field Office and the National Child Protection Officer, and in close cooperation with the Child Wellbeing/Protection Assistant.

Remuneration

Applicants are required to submit a financial proposal for the requested services and travel costs. The remuneration will be negotiated between the applicants and UNICEF on the basis of an initial proposal of the applicants. While travel costs can be paid before the actual travel, the consultancy fee will be paid in one or several installment(s) upon finalization of one or several deliverables including good quality report(s) with recommendations, as well as their approval by UNICEF.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=520563