Republic of Moldova

National Consultant in the psychiatric institution

Vacancy Number: Pr12/00253

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	31 Dec 2012, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:	07 Jan 2013, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	18 Jan 2013
Reference to the project:	Joint UNCT for Human Rights Promotion and Protection Project
Expected Duration of Assignment:	18 months
Submission Instructions: Proposals should be submitted online by pressing the "Apply Now" button or by email to vacancies-moldova@undp.org , no later than 31 December 2012. Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: violeta.fetescu@one.un.org. UNDP will respond by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.
Supporting Documents: Terms of Reference Individual Consultant Procurement Notice Personal History Form (P11) UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Ms. Violeta Fetescu.

Background

The human rights issues in the psychiatric institutions in the Republic of Moldova were repeatedly addressed to international bodies and human rights organizations. The extensive recommendations of CPT during the visit in 2007 are still entirely pending for realization in practice. The European Court of Human Rights is monitoring Moldova for violations of rights of persons in psychiatry institutions, including for violation of right to freedom. Separate aspects of treatment of persons in psychiatric institutions are constantly present in international human rights reports.

There are reports of human rights organizations on the treatment of persons in psychiatric institutions (MDAC, IDOM).

Main issues (current situation): Cases of arbitrary involuntary confinement; lack of adequate/genuine review of detention criteria validity; cases of arbitrary legal capacity deprivation; cases of punitive work, medication, physical abuse against detainees and other persons in psychiatric institutions; increased number of beds and admissions with practically no complaints documented; lack of a complaint review system for psychiatry institutions, no legal or regulatory provisions of an independent complaint review mechanism; lack of data on the number of complaints at different levels; lack of implementation of the CPT recommendations on psychiatric institutions; Parliamentary Advocates office/Centre for Human Rights and NPM are primarily focused on penitentiaries and weak in monitoring psychiatry institutions; defective process of obtaining informed consent for treatment and hospitalization in psychiatric institutions; broad lack of understanding among medical and other staff of human rights requirements; ECtHR cases on Moldova on psychiatric issues; art 37 of the mental health act requires implementation by Ministry of Health of an independent patients’ rights commission, which was not realized from 1997 until present.

Due to large number of residents in the Chisinau Psychiatry Hospital and the vulnerability of people with mental and intellectual disabilities to human rights violations, especially in a closed institution, there is a need for implementation of an independent complaint service – the ombudsperson in psychiatry institution. This will contribute to improvement of the quality of the mental health services provided.

Scope of work

The scope of work of the Ombudsperson will be (1) to work with individuals and groups in the organization to explore and assist them in determining options to help resolve conflicts, problematic issues or concerns, and (2) to bring systemic concerns to the attention of the organization for resolution.

An organizational ombudsperson operates in a manner to preserve the confidentiality of those seeking services, maintains a neutral/impartial position with respect to the concerns raised, works at an informal level of the organizational system, and is independent of formal organizational structures. Successfully fulfilling that primary function in a manner consistent with the office’s Standards of Practice requires a number of activities on the part of the ombudsperson while precluding others. The ombudsperson is also following the principle of subsidiarity and putting effort to ensure effective remedy in a timely manner at the lowest possible level, although having powers to bring issues to a higher level, bodies outside the institution and to court.

The core activity of the ombudsperson in the psychiatric institution will consist in reviewing of patients’ complaints. This will require that the ombudsperson is physically located in the institution and access to his office is free; the working program is at least 4 hours in the office for a full working week; available and visible telephone numbers for after-hours emergencies.

The Ombudsperson has to ensure an effective complaint system that should be:

• respectful
• accessible
• responsive (and timely)
• accountable
• transparent
• non-discriminatory

This system needs to provide for genuine participation of consumers and careers (or institution staff) in the development, implementation and review of the system, incorporate sound governance and enable advocacy and recourse to independent complaints mechanisms.

Requirements for experience

I.       Academic Qualifications:

• University degree in law, social sciences or other relevant fields;

II.    Experience and skills:

• Minimum 2 years of working experience in the area of the rights of persons with disabilities;
• Proven commitment to universal human rights and rights of persons with disabilities (excellent knowledge of UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities);
• Advanced knowledge of practical human rights issues in the (mental) health field;
• Previous experience of work with/in international organizations with human rights activities – a strong advantage;
• Ability to work independently; auto-evaluation and report writing;
• Ability of effective inter-personal relationships with both patients and authorities;
• Adheres to the core values of the United Nations; in particular, is respectful of differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status.

III.   Language requirements:

• Fluency in Romanian and Russian.  Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language is an asset.
• Knowledge of English would be an advantage.

Documents to be included

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Proposal:

(i)     Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;

(ii)     Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work (if applicable);

2. Financial proposal;

3. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables. Payments are paid in equal installments and are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including fees, mobile phone calls, etc.). The travel expenditures are to be approved in advance by the Project Manager and shall be covered from the Project budget.

 

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