1)     General objective

The objective of the assignment is to develop methodological recommendations for building a sustainable system of professional development for social sector specialists in Ukraine. The focus is on professionals who provide services to families raising children with disabilities. The work also includes developing approaches to strengthen support for such families through the development of a respite care service for parents or guardians of children with disabilities, and development of parenting skills and mutual support systems among parents of children with disabilities.

2)     Specific objectives

1.     Conduct an analysis of the French experience in the area of social worker training, including:

-       Identifying the necessary training programs and highlighting best practices from the French experience;

-       Describing the competencies formed during the training process;

-       Analyzing the accreditation system for training programs and providers;

-       Summarizing best practices in quality assurance and stimulating continuous professional development.

2.     Conduct an in-depth study of approaches to social work with families raising children with disabilities in Ukraine, including:

-       Analyzing the needs of such families;

-       Studying effective mechanisms for providing support services in France (respite for parents, parenting schools, mutual support systems);

-       Identifying success factors in the studied models.

3.     Develop methodological recommendations for:

-       Adapting and implementing respite care services in Ukraine for parents or guardians of children with disabilities;

-       Developing parenting skills programs for parents of children with disabilities;

-       Mechanisms for supporting parental mutual aid systems;

-       General approaches to social work with this category of families.

4.     Prepare an analytical report with methodological recommendations for the development of policies and institutional decisions in the field of professional development and support systems for families with children with disabilities.

3)     Anticipated results

1. Preparation of an analytical note describing the French experience in the professional training of social workers, including: a list of recommended training programs and best practice examples; a description of key professional competencies formed through training; an analysis of accreditation systems for programs and providers; a summary of approaches to ensuring quality and promoting continuous learning.

2.  Identification of success factors of these models in the French context (timeline: to be determined);

3.  Participation in the development of new training programs for social workers aimed at implementing child care and support system reforms;

4.  Preparation of an analytical note based on in-depth analysis of approaches to working with families raising children with disabilities, including: identified needs of such families; analysis of effective support service models (respite, parenting schools, mutual aid systems);

5.  Development of methodological recommendations for strengthening in Ukraine: respite services for parents of children with disabilities; parenting skills programs for such parents; mutual aid support mechanisms; general approaches to social work with these families.

IV.Coordination

The Expert's work will be coordinated by the Project Manager for the Development of a System of Continuing Education for Social Sector Specialists in cooperation with the National Social Service and the Coordination Center for the Development of Family Upbringing and Child Care. The final results will be approved by the National Social Service.

Close collaboration must take place with National Social Service of Ukraine personnel from assignment preparation right up to completion. Regular exchanges must take place with Expertise France on assignment progress, monthly reporting and any difficulties that may be encountered.

On November 26, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Strategy No. 1201-р on ensuring the right of every child in Ukraine to grow up in a family environment for 2024–2028 (hereinafter – the Strategy) and approved the operational plan of activities for 2024–2026 to implement it. The Strategy defines ensuring the right of every child in Ukraine to grow up in a family environment as a key task of state policy, which is of critical importance for preserving and developing Ukraine’s human capital and achieving membership in the European Union. It envisions reforming the child care and support system to ensure the best interests of the child.

Every year, thousands of children are placed in institutions providing institutional care and upbringing. Among the factors leading to children being placed in such institutions is a shortage of social workers and specialists in social work at the level of territorial communities. This results in the identification of families with children in difficult life circumstances only at the stage of serious crisis or emergency. Another factor is the low availability of social services for families with children, particularly in rural areas. A similar situation exists with the shortage of specialists in child protection services (according to the State Service of Ukraine for Children’s Affairs, the shortage is about 25%). Additionally, a challenge is the insufficient level of professional training among child protection workers, which limits their capacity to ensure the right of every child to be raised in a safe and development-conducive family environment, including through the creation of a system to support children and families, reintegration of children into their families, and development of family-based care.

Without competent and well-resourced personnel, it is impossible to fully protect children or provide them and their families with the necessary quality services that prevent separation and promote “safe and caring family care in an atmosphere of happiness, love, and understanding” (Preamble to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child).

Given the above and to consolidate the efforts of stakeholders responsible for implementing the Strategy, including international partners in the area of child protection, it is advisable to begin developing a unified system of continuous professional training and support for social workers. The priority focus is on social service providers, social work specialists, specialists in social protection departments responsible for organizing social services for families with children, and staff of institutions implementing child-related social policies, in particular child protection services (hereinafter – social sector workers).

To this end, the Coordination Center, with support from the French government, will engage an expert to work with the National Social Service of Ukraine on adapting the French experience into the system of continuous professional training of social sector workers (hereinafter – the Expert), who will provide technical support for adapting international experience into the professional training system, particularly in the area of social work with families raising children with disabilities (hereinafter – the Concept).

1)     Number of experts per assignment: 1

2)     Profile of the designated expert(s) responsible for contract execution

A.     Qualifications and skills:

-       Masters’ degree in public management and administration, social work, law, political science, sociology, pedagogy or other related specialties.

-       Excellent qualities/capacities in:

·     Analytical thinking

·     Strategic planning

·     Communication

·     Responsibility

·     The ability to make informed managerial decisions

·     The ability to work effectively in a team and plan activities

·     The ability to work in a multitasking environment and under tight deadlines.

B.     General professional experience

-       At least 5 years of experience, of which at least 3 years have been in civil service, local government, international organizations or technical assistance projects in the field of public policy, social protection, barrier-free and inclusive environment, strategic planning or program/project management.

-       Experience in assessing the needs of vulnerable groups, including families raising children with disabilities.

C.     Specific professional experience

- In-depth knowledge of the French model, including an understanding of the legal framework in the field of social policy, the system of vocational training, the provision of social services to families with children raising children with disabilities, as well as knowledge of international standards and best practices in the relevant field;

- Practical experience in developing strategic and methodological documents, including concepts, guidelines, action plans, competency frameworks, curricula, etc;

- Knowledge of accreditation, certification, curriculum development and evaluation procedures will be an advantage;

- Fluency in Ukrainian (oral and written); English language skills sufficient for working documentation and communication with international partners are desirable. French language proficiency will be a strong asset.