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This chapter is under development.

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This special edition of SATE Social Work Newsletter is covering different aspects of how COVID-19 pandemic affected social work field in Armenia.

The special edition is available in Armenian.

The “Armenian Association of Social Workers” non-governmental organization (hereafter AASW) announces a competition for the selection of the “Local Consultant for the development of Methodological document for social case management intervention, operational manual, training materials, development/revision of tools for social workers and referral protocols for key service providers, and implementation of the training for social workers (activation dimension)” assignment within the framework of the “Promoting Social Inclusion and Self-Reliant Livelihood Activities in Armenia” Project (hereinafter Project).

The main objective of this consultancy is to support the implementation of Component-1 covering the design and implementation of a structured social case management approach that can serve as a tool to enhance the internal cohesion of services and benefits in the country’s social protection and labour system.

The assignment will be implemented in March 2021 – December 2022 period.

Scope of work

Under the guidance of the Local Lead Consultant, the leadership of  two International Consultants and under the supervision of the representative of the Project Implementing Agency (Project Component-1 Coordinator) and in close collaboration with  other two local consultants (as per Project dimension), the Local Consultant for Dimension-1 (Activation) shall:

1. Contribute to the elaboration of the methodological document for the social case management intervention
2. Contribute to the development of the Operational Manual for social workers,
3. Elaborate training materials for Dimension-1 (Activation) to train social workers,
4. Develop/revise tools for social workers such as
   • Comprehensive tools (screening and assessment) to assess households’ vulnerabilities for Dimension-1 (Activation)
   • Templates for the preparation of “family development plans”
   • Referral manual linked to an inventory of key social and active labor market services for Dimension-1 (Activation)
   • Management Information System (MIS) for social workers for Dimension-1 (Activation)

5. Develop/revise referral protocols for key service providers for Dimension-1 (Activation),
6. Conducting the training (workshops, SW’s on-job-the training (coaching)) on Dimension-1 (Activation) for social workers.

The Local Consultant Dimension-1 (Activation) shall be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Under the “Elaboration of methodological document for the social case management intervention”, the Local Consultant shall be responsible for the following tasks in the context of Dimension-1 (Activation):

• In coordination with other two local consultants, develop the Social Case Management Report in Armenia covering the following components:

1) Case management practice in Armenia, 

2) Case Management Policy Regulations including, Social Case Management procedure and tools, referral protocols for key service providers and training curricula including content and certification criteria.

• Support the Local Lead Consultant to Develop Recommendations on conceptual framework of the social case management with focus on the activation dimension;
• In coordination of the two local consultants and under the guidance of the lead local consultant, develop Methodological Documents (Guidelines, Procedure, etc.) on social case management
• Attend and support the local lead consultant and international consultant to introduce the developed methodological document at the workshop with relevant stakeholders (Government/MLSA officials, social work practitioners, NGO stakeholders, etc.)

The methodological document will be based on the specifics of all three dimensions indicated by MLSA, and (self-) employment support for vulnerable individuals.

2. Under the “Development of the Operational Manual for social workers” the Local Consultant shall be responsible for the following tasks in the context of Dimension-1 (Activation)

• In coordination of the two local consultants and under the guidance of the lead local consultant prepare descriptions of operation procedures (to be described in the Operational Manual) based on the new methodological document for social case management, with focus on the activation dimension,

• In coordination of the two local consultants and under the guidance of the lead local consultant elaborate sections of the Operational Manual, which should:

A. reflect the revised/developed social case management methodology in a step-by-step process,

b. provide a detailed description of tasks that social workers need to complete in each step and relevant annexes (intake, screening, assessment, planning, networking, clarification the role of the network participants, including community social workers, and definition of procedures for cooperation, monitoring, positive guidance, evaluation and case closure).

C. provide the features of social work with various social groups (children, elderly people, persons with disabilities) as well as in the case of various social issues (violence, armed conflicts, discrimination, etc.),

D. provide clarification of the functions of members of the social assistance network (case manager, community social worker, etc.), procedures for their cooperation and networking mechanisms,

E. describe social protection system in emergency situations, and rapid renewal mechanisms in accordance to situation specific features,

F. include a user-friendly guide for social workers with key messages and techniques for screening, interview and observation during home visits and interview, case conference, assessment interview, motivational interview, needs-based intervention, etc.

• Attend and support the local lead consultant and international consultant to introduce the developed Operational Manual at the online workshop with relevant stakeholders (Government/MLSA officials, social work practitioners, NGO stakeholders, etc.)

3. Under the “Elaboration of training materials to train social workers” the Local Consultant shall be responsible for the following tasks in the context of Dimension-1:

• In coordination of the two local consultants and under the guidance of the lead local consultant develop training (including on-line and/or offline training) package (including manual, handouts, guidelines, presentations, practical exercises, etc.) with focus on the activation dimension. The training package should be comprised of: 

• Detailed description and explanation of social case management (procedures and processes),
• Features, attributes and peculiarities of applying case management methodology in work with families with complex needs, differences with clinical intervention of social worker, social case coordination and management and other type of social workers’ functions,
• Tools describing standardized methods on how to identify the needs of marginalized people, undocumented persons, how to cope with resisting clients, how to map community social services and maintain effective interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral collaboration,
• Definition and concept of activation approach, specifics of activation, support and care, advanced practices and lessons learned, including skills to identify potential collaboration opportunities with local businesses and CSOs to propose alternative employment/entrepreneurship for beneficiaries; the practical tips/examples for (self) employment support will be provided by the Consultant for Component-2.
• Roles and functions of social workers’ in the frame of the Project.

4. Under the “Development/revision of the tools for social workers” the Local Consultant for Dimension-1 shall:

• In coordination of the two local consultants and under the guidance of the lead local consultant, develop/revise the tools for social workers, with focus on the activation dimension.
• Contribute to the development of  MIS for social workers
• Pilot/test the social workers’ tools in project target and contribute to the adjustment of the tools (if necessary).

5. Under the “Development of referral protocols for key service providers” the Local Consultant for Dimension-1 shall:

• Study the existing IT tools used by social workers and provide recommendations on the development of MIS for social workers, with focus on the activation dimension
• Develop referral protocols, with focus on those associated to the activation dimension, which should cover the work with various social groups as well as describe formal arrangements on preferential access for referred beneficiaries to various institutions and provide the integrity of the support from referred institutions.

6. Under the “Conducting the training (workshops, SW’s on-job-the training (coaching)) for social workers” assignment the Local Consultant for Dimension-1 in coordination of the two local consultants and under the guidance of the lead local consultant shall:

• Conduct three two-day training workshops for state and community social workers in project target marzes following the training workshops with focus on the activation dimension
• Deliver on-the-job training activities (coaching) to social workers involved in training workshops with focus on the activation dimension (if needed).
• Carry out group supervision sessions to promote best practice exchanges among the case managers coming from various social services with focus on the activation dimension (if needed).

      Trainings and coaching sessions will be in person, virtual or of mixed modalities, depending on the official health recommendations in the country associated to the pandemic.

Timetable & Milestones

The deliverables (Methodology, Operational Manual and other documents) have to be provided in English (if there is no a special request from PIA to prepare in Armenian).

The above mentioned tasks shall be carried out within the framework of a Service Contract concluded between the contracting body (Armenian Association of Social Workers) and the Consultant. 

The working days for the activity N7 (training workshops and coaching) will depend of the personal workload of the Consultant and will be fixed by work-sheets.

 Expected skills and qualifications of the Local Consultant:

The Consultant shall fulfil the following qualifications:

• Higher professional education in task-relevant field (e.g. sociology, social work, social sciences, etc.),
• Sound knowledge on social work frameworks and models and at least 5 years of working experience in the relevant field, with specific experience on activation projects targeted to vulnerable populations,
• Experience for developing methodologies, tools, designing and delivering of trainings (experience in specific project dimension is an advantage),
• Experience with social protection sector, transformative social work, case management,
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) and Armenian,
• Very good communication, presentation and facilitation skills,
• Relevant computer skills necessary to execute well-designed, professional documents.

Application

All interested candidates meeting the above-listed requirements are requested to submit their letters of interest and CVs to the e-mail address below until March 8, 2021.

Please clearly indicate the title of the position (Local Consultant: Activation Dimension) in the subject line of the e-mail. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for the interview.

E-mail:  procurement@aasw.org

Tel: (374 93) 514499 (for questions and clarifications)

The Project

The project is expected to help increase access to social assistance benefits and services and provide self-employment support to about 11,000 vulnerable members of society in urban and rural communities in Ararat, Armavir, Kotayk, Lori and Shirak regions of Armenia. The Project grant was received under the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) which is financed by the Government of Japan.  

The Project includes three components:

• Component 1. Development and implementation of a pilot counseling program:

This component will support the country’s efforts to design and implement a structured social case management approach that can serve as a tool to enhance the internal cohesion of services and benefits in the country’s social protection and labor system. The objective of the Component-1 is twofold: a) to increase the accessibility of social services for the most vulnerable populations (FBP beneficiaries) in Armenia, and b) to activate those FBP beneficiaries with spare labor to become self-reliant by providing a number of (self-) employment opportunities. These objectives will be achieved by policy and technical support to the development of a social case management system through development of operational procedures for identification, registration, enrollment and targeting beneficiaries as well as procedures for grievance redress, monitoring, community outreach, information campaign and capacity building.

The conceptual framework and methodology of the social case management will be based on the following main dimensions been identified by the government as priority needs to be met within the Project:

• Activation,
• Inclusion/involvement of households experiencing the highest rates of marginalization and extreme poverty (provision of state and non-state resources including education and health services for children, health services for adult members, and specialized services),
• Reduction of child poverty(ensuring access to education and health services; addressing the issue of malnutrition for children up to age five; prevention from institutionalization and early intervention to mitigate risks).

Special attention in all dimensions will be paid to households with a disabled family member.

(ii) Component 2. Capacity building and entrepreneurship support:

This component will strengthen the supply of programs supporting entrepreneurship by testing the provision of small business grants and the accompanying business training/coaching to FBP beneficiary households with spare labor to support their “graduation” out of the program. Based on lessons learned, including from the previous JSDF project, the project will emphasize strong screening, comprehensive evaluation and continuous capacity building (including training, mentoring, and coaching) to ensure sustainability of project outcomes.

(iii) Component 3: Project management and administration; monitoring and evaluation; and knowledge dissemination.

The project has been designed by the World Bank in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia and will be implemented by the Association of Social Workers– a non-governmental, not-for-profit national professional representative body of social workers in Armenia.  The JSDF was established by the Government of Japan and the World Bank as a mechanism to provide direct assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in eligible World Bank countries. The aim is to enhance their capacities, strengthen their empowerment and participation in society and economic life.