National Consultant for Development of a Home Visiting Programme

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and is known for its dedication to providing support and services to children and families in need. UNICEF employs a diverse workforce and offers various opportunities for professional and personal development, ensuring that its staff can grow and thrive in a supportive environment. The organization is passionate about its mission and strives to create a culture of belonging and growth for all employees, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant for Development of a Home Visiting Programme will play a crucial role in strengthening services for children with disabilities and their families in Oman. This position involves providing technical support to the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) to adapt and institutionalize the Portage Home Visiting Programme within the national social service system. The consultant will focus on empowering caregivers by equipping them with practical skills to support the development of children with developmental delays and disabilities. This will be achieved through coaching, individualized developmental planning, regular home visits, and monitoring of child progress. The consultant will also conduct training of trainers (ToT) to enhance the capacities of the social workforce, ensuring that children with disabilities receive timely, family-centered developmental support within their communities. The role emphasizes family participation, individualized goal setting, and continuous assessment to promote children's developmental progress and inclusion.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical assistance for the design and development of a Portage-based home visiting programme for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.
• Conduct training of trainers (ToT) sessions for frontline service providers to enhance their skills in delivering the home visiting programme.
• Collaborate closely with the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) to ensure the programme aligns with national social service systems.
• Develop training curricula and materials that are tailored to the needs of the target population.
• Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the home visiting programme, ensuring it meets the developmental needs of children with disabilities.
• Empower families and caregivers through coaching and support, fostering their active participation in their children's development.
• Conduct regular assessments of child progress and adjust developmental plans as necessary.
• Ensure that the programme adheres to international best practices in disability-inclusive programming.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in Disability Studies, Child Development and Early Intervention, Special Education, Social Work and Case Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the design and implementation of programmes for children with disabilities, early intervention, family support, or community-based services.
• Extensive experience in developing training curricula, training materials, and delivering ToT programmes for frontline service providers.
• Knowledge of disability rights frameworks, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and international best practices in disability-inclusive programming.
• Experience with the Portage Home Visiting Programme or similar family-centered early intervention models is highly desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in relevant disciplines such as Disability Inclusion, Child Development and Early Intervention, Special Education, Social Work and Case Management, or Programme Design and Capacity Development. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively contribute to the development of the home visiting programme.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in relevant fields. Candidates should have a proven track record in designing and implementing programmes specifically aimed at supporting children with disabilities and their families. Experience in developing training materials and conducting training sessions for service providers is also essential, as is familiarity with international best practices in disability-inclusive programming.

Languages:
Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic are required for this position. Proficiency in both languages is crucial for effective communication with stakeholders, including families, caregivers, and service providers. Desirable qualifications include previous work experience with UN agencies or international organizations, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region, which is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this consultancy is 14 months, and the working arrangement includes both on-site work in Muscat, Oman, and remote work with travel as necessary. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities. The organization offers reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.