Call for Staff Care Consultant

MAP Staff care consultancy Terms of Reference 

Contracting organisation: Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
Location of the assignments: Lebanon (South Lebanon Saida and Tyre, Beirut, North Lebanon and Bekaa)
Local partner organisation: Association Najdeh, General Union of Palestinian Women, National Institution for Social Care and Vocational Training, Solidarity Association for Social and Cultural Development and Development Action without Borders

1.Organisation

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. MAP is the leading UK charity delivering health and medical care to those worst affected by conflict, occupation, and displacement, in the occupied Palestinian territory and Palestinian refugee camps of Lebanon.

MAP’s vision is of a future in which all Palestinians can access an effective, sustainable and locally-led system of healthcare and the full realisation of their rights to health and dignity.

To achieve this, we work in collaboration with Palestinian communities and trusted local partners to answer a wide range of health and social needs, from providing vital medical aid in emergencies, to developing better health services for the long term. We also uplift the voices of Palestinians, and campaign for an end to the barriers to health and dignity that come from living through occupation, displacement, discrimination, and conflict.

Medical Aid for Palestinians MAP  has a zero tolerance with regard to Safeguarding including Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.  Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is the responsibility of everyone, and all selected candidates will undergo background checks against PSEA,  and will be required to always comply with MAP safeguarding policy,  PSEA  and Code of Conduct.

2.About the program

MAP has been a lead INGO of five local partners implementing, in partnership with UNICEF, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) interventions to the most vulnerable population groups in the framework of a project titled “Strengthening Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Child Protection, Child Development, Gender Based Violence Prevention and Response Services for populations living within the Palestinian Camps and Gatherings in Lebanon”. The project’s services encompass Community based Psychosocial Support, Focused Psychosocial Support, child protection case management (CPCM), sexual and gender-based violence case management, and multidisciplinary specialized services. The program delivers response and prevention services based on four layers of MHPSS IASC pyramid.

The five sub-partner local NGOs are in charge of service delivery through their community centres (total of 23 service gateways)

3.Context /background

The Program staff live in Lebanon and are exposed to stress caused by the frequent threats of escalations of the conflict at the country’s southern border. They are regularly following up news related to the war in Gaza and South Lebanon – which without a doubt impacting their wellbeing. The staff care activity aims to give them some time out to re-focus their attention to positive aspects and help them cope against an extra layer of non-work-related stress on their well-being.

The program recognizes the need to support staff who might be experiencing stress themselves- related to working in a humanitarian context and as they are often part of the population affected by that context.

4.Summary staff care facilitation activities.

The total number of staff care activities to be facilitated is 10; 10 full days to be delivered to estimated 10 groups, one full day per group. The staff care activities will be conducted in different locations/regions where the staff are located, including Bekaa, North Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, and South Lebanon, the venues per each region will be selected as much as possible within the vicinity, away from camp, gathering, home and workstation but at same time not at distance requiring long travel. The number of days in each location will be agreed with MAP, mainly based on the number of staff groups in each area. The schedule of the activities will be agreed between the consultant and MAP and might be modified if needed.

The staff work in community centres in 9 Palestinian refugee camps and 2 gatherings. They have different roles (as listed in the below sections) and job tasks. The staff care support is envisaged to focus on soft skills and for the facilitator to have a positive and flexible attitude in communication with the participants. It is expected to have more of recreational, fun, and energizing approach rather than a psychological debriefing format or based on intrusive or advanced techniques. The proposed plan by the consultant for the away day can include guided and free activities intervals that do not necessarily require sophisticated materials, tools, or equipment. Provision of take away tips or materials on taking care of their wellbeing is optional.

5.Staff

The activities will be delivered to a total of 142 frontline staff working in 9 Palestinian camps and 2 gathering. They work in delivering different services including psychosocial support (PSS) services, gender-based violence (GBV) component, mental health support, child multidisciplinary specialised services, and support staff and volunteers. Staff details are as follows:

6 GBV Specialists(psychologists)

7 GBV Social workers

4 GBV Volunteers

69 PSS Animators

15 PSS Senior officers/CPCM

8 MHPSS psychologists

14 Community Helpers/cleaners

9 Assistant Community Helpers/cleaners

2 Social workers

1 Speech therapists

2 Occupational Therapists

2 Special Educators

1 Physiotherapist

2 Assistant physiotherapists

6.Number of groups/ Locations/ geographic distribution

7.Objectives of the consultancy

The Objective of the consultancy is to deliver up to 10 group staff care activities  to MAP partners field staff. This activity should be organized in the form of one away day per group including recreational activities and energizers to support staff and help them release stress and tension resulting from working, and often living, in a challenging context. It should not follow a structured psychological debriefing or in-depth analysis or lecture formats. The support is to be delivered within a framework of one away day that could encompass various activities which do not require sophisticated material and tools or equipment.

8.Tasks

• To propose and develop a staff care activities package, designed to be implemented in-person for different groups taking in consideration possible variations in groups dynamics/backgrounds and context.
• Prepare the resources and materials for the soft skills-based staff care activities to be delivered in the form of a one away day program per group. A debriefing or focused, intrusive technique or in-depth approach is not intended as part of this activity.
• Prepare the resources to be fit for staff of different roles and tasks within the program services.
• Develop activity plan with geographic distribution and number of staff in coordination with MAP, flexibility in design is advised. The schedule of the activities might be modified as required based on the consultancy implementation estimations, progress, and the evolving context in the country.
• Deliver the staff care support package activities planned in all regions.
• Documentation of capacity building activities delivered for partners (report, attendance sheets, photos).
•  

9.Duration

The consultancy is expected to be completed by 15^th October 2024. However, given that the plan is subject to the country situation, evolving events and security situation, the duration of consultancy contract will be set in accordance with program duration, i.e. from start date till December 2024.

10.Deliverables

Develop a cumulative report of the above activities, including observations, participants feedback, and recommendations of the wellbeing activities to the Lebanon Director and MHPSS Programme Coordinator.

11.Qualifications of consultant

Advanced university degree in the field of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support MHPSS, or sociology, or social Sciences, or social work, or equivalent training and expertise in the field of care facilitation.

Strong experience in delivering activities for adults or providing facilitation skills for humanitarian frontliners is required as main component of envisaged approach with strong interpersonal and communication skills and managing group events.

Experience in providing training on wellbeing for humanitarian frontliners is required.

Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the development of trainings is required. Carrying out wellbeing initiatives is a strong asset.

Experience under a supervision and underwent relevant training and any other continuing professional development is an advantage.

Valid Driving license and able to travel frequently to the various locations in Lebanon. Ability to arrange his/her own transport means is a must.

12. Personal attributes and other requirements

Experience and knowledge of the latest developments and issues related to the humanitarian context in Lebanon including Palestinian camps and understanding the impact on of frontline workers’ wellbeing is highly desirable.

Significant knowledge with good understanding of context of Lebanese and Palestinians, the Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon, and understanding of the current political, social, economic, cultural, and historical context of Lebanon and refugees’ crisis is an asset. Familiarity with community-based humanitarian aid and development interventions is an asset.

Familiarity with UN Agencies, International NGOs, donors’ administrative procedures and systems. Previous experience in emergencies; ability to easily access and move within the Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon is an asset. 

Ability to work flexibly in emergencies and to meet deadlines.

13.Application and selection process

The application should include proposal with description of the suggested activities, approach, and plans; suggested work plan schedule; budget; as well as CV and references of the consultant.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted. 

Interested consultants should send their technical and financial proposal to [email protected].  The deadline for receiving proposals is 21/07/2024.

MAP and/or partner NGOs will arrange for the locations and venues and will support on logistic arrangements.

1. 14.Budget

Up to 350$ per each staff care facilitation full day. The amount is inclusive of transport and the consultant should be arranging for his/her own transport means to-and-from locations. No other benefits will be included within the service contract. The Consultancy based service contract (renewable based on additional need for extra staff care activities, project extension or availability of funds)

The budget limit for this consultancy is no more than USD 3,500.