Specific Tasks
In close collaboration with the Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service and UNICEF Child Protection Programme and under the general guidance of the Technical working Committee (yet to be established), the consultant will undertake the following activities:
1: Undertake Capacity Assessment and Analysis
While some of the challenges in terms of knowledge and skills with regards to services to children exist, it is envisaged that as a first step in this assignment, a comprehensive capacity gap analysis of the current strengths and weaknesses of the health sector (or of health services) for handling child victims of abuse including victims of sexual abuse is undertaken This is aimed at getting a better understanding of the factors that enhance or inhibit children’s equitable access to health services, establishing how the hospitals and health clinics handle cases of violence, abuse of children, including sexual violence; the challenges and reasons for delays in providing prompt medical attention to child victims of defilement/abuse and resources (including the requisite skills and knowledge) required for optimal performance. Aspects of opportunities for a role for health professionals at all levels with regards to prevention of child abuse shall also be explored.
Proposed methodologies for the capacity gap analysis include literature review, interviews and focus group discussions with main stakeholders (Directorates/ departments and units within the Ministry of Health/ Ghana Health Service). The assessment will also look at the referral and cooperation system between GHS and external actors (the Police, Community health system, social workers, judicial system and NGOs providing support services, etc.). Existing procedures, guidelines and protocols that might be of relevance will also be analysed for opportunities to make referrals. The assessment will also analyse and document current practices and processes, while also identifying bottlenecks in the system of data capturing, collation and analysis, including flow charts and statistics. To do this, the consultant will visit some selected Hospitals, health clinics and communities hold bilateral discussions with some key health workers/personnel, including community health workers.
It is expected that as a result of the capacity gap analysis, recommendations will be put forth to further enhance the overall capacity of the Ghana Health Sector to provide child-friendly health services that enhance the protection of children from harm.
2: Development of Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures for the Health Sector and conduct of training
In partnership with relevant stakeholders concerned and guided by the Technical Working Committee, develop Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures for Ministry of Health / Ghana Health service on child protection. The final guidelines/SOPs are expected to form the basis for training medical personnel on Child Protection.
The guidelines/SOPs are expected to be developed based on good international practice and standards as well as the practical reality of Ghana. The drafting process is expected to be an interactive process with extensive consultations with medical personnel and other key stakeholders at national, regional and district levels for purpose of relevance, ownership and sustainability. The methodology for undertaking these steps would thus involve literature review, drawing from experience from other countries where similar processes have been undertaken, consultation workshops, sharing of draft guidelines/SOPs for comments with Health Sector at national and regional levels; and validation meetings.
The final draft guidelines/SOPs are expected to be validated and endorsed as required by the senior officials of the Health Sector.
3: Develop capacity-strengthening Plan and support its initial implementation
The consultant will develop a training programme plan and then assist with its initial roll-out in selected hospitals and health clinics and associated training programmes.
Apart from specific trainings and orientation for health professionals, opportunities to integrate guidelines/SOP into curricula of Schools of Nursing and Schools of Medicine will be explored.
4: Development of training manual for training health personnel to enable implementation of guidelines/SOP at various levels
Based on the guidelines/SOP, develop interactive and detailed training modules/training session plan and all accompanying background material for the delivery of training workshops on the effective prevention of and response to child abuse within the hospitals and communities. This should include proposals for joint/separate workshops with justification regarding different modules for different actors/service providers and/or interdisciplinary workshops.
The training material shall include components on the detrimental effects of violence and abuse on children, short and long term consequences (educational achievements, productivity, mental and psychological health), provision of age and gender sensitive support to victims, , family/parenting consultations and social work including family mediation, child-sensitive examination/interviewing, communication skills, inter-sectoral collaboration and coordination of various sectors in providing response and ensuring effective prevention. Special attention shall be paid to gender sensitivity in provision of necessary support especially in cases of sexual violence.
Deliver training of trainers (ToT) for selected health personnel in line with guidelines/SOP and based on the training manual and materials developed and work with the Trainers in the subsequent roll-out of the capacity strengthening plan.
5: Monitoring and assessing impact – recommendations for sustaining the efforts
Throughout the assignment, it is expected that an assessment and documentation of results of the change process will be undertaken. As a final step under the assignment, it is expected that an ‘end- assignment’ report containing results from the training programme and other steps in the process will be prepared with recommendations for possible follow-up.
The Consultant must possess the following qualifications and experiences:
· At least a Master’s Degree qualification from recognized institution in medicine, social science, law, criminology or related field.
· Minimum of five (10) years’ experience in relevant areas.
· Strong knowledge and practical experience of child protection and understanding of health sector responsibilities for welfare of children.
· Extensive experience in research design, analysis, report writing, training and facilitation.
- Excellent writing and presentation skills and excellent command of the English language
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested individuals who meet the minimum requirements should please submit their application (indicating the title of the consultancy in the subject line) with a copy of their CV and P11 form to,
‘hrghana@unicef.org****’****by Wednesday 5 August 2015
Candidates are also required to indicate their fees for the services to be provided in dollars. The fee should be expressed as a monthly rate.
