Consultant To Develop Respite Care Model

TERM OF REFERENCE

CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP RESPITE CARE MODEL

Overview

The International Center (formerly known as Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation -VVAF) is a humanitarian organization that has addressed the consequences of war through advocacy and service programs in Vietnam for the last three decades. As a cofounder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, IC-VVAF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. Now The International Center (IC) focuses on disability support, landmine removal, and mental health programs.

The Moving Without Limits Project

Under the financial support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), IC is implementing the Disability Support Project named “Moving without Limits” in the three provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh. The project aims to improve people with disability’s access to quality assistive technologies or devices (AD/AT) in the target provinces, thus enhancing their independence in activities of daily living and participation in social activities

Three specific objectives include:

Improved availability of quality assistive technologies/devices (AT/AD) for people with mobility impairments in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh;
Improved capacity for the health sector workforce at the national and sub-national levels,
Improved advocacy for policies/regulations and information sharing related to AT/AD.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, a wide range of activities are implemented in the three project provinces as well as at the central level. AT/AD service provision is implemented following the full range of provision including need assessment and proper prescription, AD procurement, fitting, user training and follow-up, maintenance and repair in order to ensure that people with mobility disabilities receive appropriate and quality AD they need. The integration of health care for people with disabilities (PWDs), including AT/AD service delivery into the existing health care system, mobilizing the non-specialists at the community level to recognize, assess, manage and follow-up of care for PWDs will be promoted in this project.

Being aware of the big gap in human resource for rehabilitation services, especially for AT/AD related services for PWDs, taking into account the practical solution for filling the gap, the project applies mixed approaches: (i) build capacity for both high skilled health professionals at the national level for providing technical assistance towards complicated cases and support building capacity for lower level service providers when needed; and (ii) task shifting, defined as the delegation of tasks to existing health staff and technicians to deliver AT/AD services. With this IC works to support developing and improving the capacity of rehabilitation and AT workforces for both national and provincial levels working particularly for with health and rehabilitation hospitals in three selected provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh, as well as at Bach Mai Hospital rehabilitation center. . .

With what have been done for AT/AD services delivery and capacity building on the ground, the project works closely with the line ministries, other involved partners to formalise the service model into the policy framework, such as National Rehabilitation Strategy 2021-2025 as well as advocacy to include more AT/AD covered by the health insurance scheme. In addition to that, IC support to improve information sharing, awareness raising on AT/AD related issues.

I. CONSULTANCY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF RESPITE CARE MODEL (RE-POST)

Context of Assignment

One of the main target beneficiaries of the project is children with mobility impairments in which majority is children with cerebral palsy (CP) whose life remarkably depends on the caregivers. Their quality of life is much influenced by physical and mental health of the caregivers, and by the ways the caregivers treat their children in daily life. One of the objectives to support for children with CP is to support their care givers and their families with improved health and wellbeing.

Purpose of the Assignment

IC is seeking for the consultancy services to conduct a cross-sectional survey on the current status, the needs, the coping strategies of the caregivers in caring for children with CP and its associated factors; and develop an appropriate and feasible model of support for caregivers to be better resilience in caring for their children based on the survey findings. This model is expected to improve health and well- being of the caregiver’s in which the caregiver’s burden of care is shared, their capacity in managing child/ behavior is strengthened with consultation from health workers and a social support network is created.

1. DUTY STATION

Duty Station: Hanoi and Hue
Duration of Assignment: April 2021 – July 2021

2. OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

To conduct an assessment on the current status of care for children with CPs, the needs, coping strategies of the caregivers of children with CP and its associated factors and develop an appropriate and feasible model of support for caregivers to be better resilience in caring for their children in Thua Thien Hue

3. SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLE

The consultant(s) would be expected to carry out the following activities

Identify the current status, the needs, and the coping strategies of the caregivers of children with CP and its associated factors through a cross-sectional survey
Develop a model of respite service with technical approaches for enforcement of the model. To be specific, two key deliverables include (i) a respite care model is developed basing the findings from the assessment, and (ii) an action plan for enforcement of the model, outlining technical approaches for enforcement, to support for caregivers to be better resilience in caring for their children.

Note: These deliverables should be in Vietnamese. The consultant would provide proof reading to make sure that the translated reports are consistent with the original Vietnamese version. Evidence of input can occur in the form of emails, track changes in documents and reports. 4. SUPERVISION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:

The consultant will work under the direct supervision and evaluation of the Project Officer and Project Managers with support from other technical staff.

5. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications and Experience Required:

Post Graduate Degree in social science, social work, public health or relevant areas.
At least 5 years of experience in research/ survey and development of intervention model with comprehensive rehabilitation services using social work practices/approach.
Experience in working with children with disabilities and respite care model is an asset.

Language requirements:

Excellent Vietnamese writing skills
Fluent in English.

Competencies:

Teamwork, professionalism, flexibility and an understanding of working with people with disabilities, and with people from diverse backgrounds.
Having a vision, dedication and ability to learn, high sense of responsibility.
Understanding the health care system

III. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Individual/ group of individuals/ firms interested in this are invited to submit Technical proposal, your letter of expression of interest and CVs demonstrating relevant capacity and experience in English, including references, either by email (to icvietnam@theintlcenter.org ) or by post (to The International Center, R.103-203, B3 Building, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam).

Please state “Application for the _ position”in the subject line or on the envelope. The short-listed candidates will be contacted.