Mental Health Consultant

Terms of Reference (ToR) 

Consultancy Service 

Need Assessment on Mental Health Service Provision and Psychologists Working with Adolescents and children

Medical aid for Palestinians (West Bank) 

MEDICAL AID FOR PALESTINIANS 

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. Our programs provide access to essential health services and build local knowledge and skills to address local health problems. Through our offices in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Lebanon and London, we work with trusted and experienced local partners to achieve our  vision: a future in which all Palestinians can access an effective, sustainable and locally-led system of healthcare and full realization of their rights to health and dignity. Mental health and psychosocial support is an integral part of MAP’s work. It helps individual and communities to heal psychological wounds and rebuild social structures. Throughout our projects, MAP supports Palestinians in their determination to be resilient and active survivors, helping communities to build collective coping mechanisms.

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND 

The Palestinian society has suffered from Israeli occupation, depriving it of its most basic rights, such as freedom of movement, dignified living and sense of safety and security. The occupation practices against Palestinians had greatly affected the health of all segments in the society, especially the mental health of children who make up 45.3% of the population, and who are the most vulnerable to psychological problems that negatively affect their behavior and education and, consequently, their future.

Mental health care in Palestine is provided by the government, the non-governmental sector, as well as the private sector. Governmental mental health services are offered through the only hospital in the West Bank (WB), Bethlehem Psychiatric Hospital, as well as through community mental health centers (CMHCs). Each district has just one CMHC which usually includes a psychiatrist (part-time or full-time), a psychologist or social worker in addition to one mental health nurse. There is only one CMHC in Halhoul (Hebron district) which targets children and adolescents. In addition, there are several international and private organizations or NGOs providing mental health services that offer specialized care, community psychological and mental health interventions, clinical management, and strengthening family support.

There is a lack of standardized training and licensing for non-physician personnel who provide mental health services. There is a small number of mental health master’s programs in the West Bank. Thus, many psychology graduates are not adequately trained to provide patient care. Although many may receive training before they are employed. Yet, the training programs are too short and lack the prolonged applied practice and supervision.

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY: 

The main objective of this consultancy is to conduct a qualitative and quantitative need assessment that details the community needs for qualified and skilled psychologists working with children and adolescents with a special focus on practical psychology internship programs.   The assessment should also review clinical training programs available (past and present) for psychology graduates. This is in addition to identifying the reasons why other counseling and clinical educational programs failed to continue. 

SCOPE OF WORK 

1. Map and collect data on the current mental health service providers in West Bank and Jerusalem including staff level of experience, education, and training needs. 
2. Meet and consult relevant departments in the Ministry of Health (MOH) and relevant local and international organizations. This in addition to meet and consult with the psychologist union and university educational departments. 
3. Review current gaps in mental health service provision in the West Bank and Jerusalem
4. Review MoH and Ministry of Education (MoE) requirements for the training and licensure of mental health professionals, mainly psychologists. 
5. Review the current clinical internship programs for psychology graduates and identify strengths/challenges/ gaps/ problems.  It is also important to review previous attempts at clinical internship programs that no longer exist.
6. Review university curriculums to assess the preparedness for psychology graduates for employment to provide clinical care.
7. Collect data from psychology students and psychology fresh graduates about their needs for a training/internship programme 
8. Conduct literature review on relevant research and assessments conducted on the mental health workforce and clinical training/internship programs in the Opt.
9. Analyze the community needs for qualified psychologists working with children and adolescents in the West Bank, including Jerusalem
10. Provide recommendations for an optimal methodology to implement an effective and relevant psychology internship program for fresh graduates in the West Bank and Jerusalem. 

DELIVERABLE/S: 

A detailed qualitative and quantitative needs assessment report which includes the above-mentioned elements. 

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 

As the consultant will be working on behalf of MAP, s/he will be required to adhere to MAP policies and ethical guidelines. 

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Consultant Qualifications 

A senior consultant with the following experience and competencies is required:

A higher university degree in a relevant health and/or social science discipline.

Proven combined experience in areas related to health systems development, health services delivery, or human resources for health, with specific experience in the mental health sector. 

• Strong track record of completing similar assignments.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Fluent in both written and spoken English and Arabic.

TIMEFRAME and PRICE OFFER 

The timeframe of the consultancy will be 3 months starting from October 17, 2021. The consultant must provide a detailed timeframe for each task after signing the contract.  In addition, please submit a proposal along with the price offer including the detailed methodology that will be applied to complete this assignment. 

Please submit your price offer, proposal including timeframe and methodology), evidence of completing similar assignments, and CV no later than (September 30, 2021) to the email address: ([email protected]).  Please write “MH Consultant- price offer- your initials” in the email subject line. Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted.