seeking tenders for the project listed below which is co-funded by
Tusla and DCEDIY.
Tusla is dedicated and committed to working in partnership with
children, families & communities to ensure that children in need or at
risk of harm are supported, protected, and connected to people who can
safeguard and promote their wellbeing throughout their lives.
PROJECT TITLE: A Literature review to examine definitions,
interventions, and indicators of institutional, organisational, and
organised abuse of children and young people.
BACKGROUND
Under the Child and Family Agency Act *, the
Child Care Act * and the Children’s First Act
*, the Child and Family Agency has obligations
to put in place measures including policies, procedures and protocols
for the protection of children and young people living in a range of
settings. A joint Tusla/DCEDIY working group on institutional and
organised abuse has been established and is tasked with examining
pathways to enhance and develop the Agency’s response and
intervention in the areas of institutional, organisational, and
organised abuse of children and young people.
PROJECT AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM
The overarching aim of this project is to generate a robust evidence
base to inform Tusla’s policy and practice developments which
underpin its child protection responsibilities and obligations. As
such, Tusla and the DCEDIY are jointly commissioning this literature
review which will aid the deliberations and decision making about how
Tusla responds to and intervenes in the institutional, organisational,
and organised abuse of children and young people. The work of this
project is confined to the examination of institutional,
organisational, and organised abuse. The project will involve a
desktop review of a range of evidence sources to include academic
literature, legislation, indicator sets and training materials (others
will be specified in the search protocol).
OBJECTIVES
This project will achieve the following:
* The literature review will take a systematic approach to
identifying definitions of institutional abuse, organisational abuse,
and organised abuse across a number of jurisdictions including
Ireland. A set of definitions will be presented taking account of
relevant socio legal contexts which will inform a draft definition for
the Irish context.
* The review will examine international best practice in
interventions in these types of abuse and will identify or construct
as an output an indicator set for use by practitioners in the
identification of these types of abuse.
* Within this work, the review will explore any relationships
between organised abuse, and child sexual exploitation.
* In addition, the review will identify internal and external
environmental factors that facilitate or support organisational abuse
and organised abuse, and this will extend to the influence of the
online environment.
* The identification and review of a range of evidence informed
awareness and training programmes for practitioners working with
children and young people in community, foster care and residential
settings is also required.
* To develop a range of key messages and specific recommendations
for impact on relevant policy and practice and in consideration of the
context of Tusla as an employer and service provider and DCEDIY’s
legislative role.
In undertaking this literature review the consultant/researcher will
be expected to:
* Agree search terms and a search protocol, identify the most
suitable type of literature review methodology and to provide
rationale and justification for same.
* Utilise best practice literature review methods to critique and
synthesise international evidence sources across the agreed
requirements.
* Collate and synthesise international evidence and present the key
messages arising in plain language for a variety of relevant
audiences.
* Collaborate with the relevant Tusla/DCEDIY governance and
oversight structure to ensure that the literature review methods align
where possible to the emerging policy and practice questions in this
area building on the already existing policy and operational framework
active in this jurisdiction.
* To present the outputs of the research in a manner which
facilitates the further development of policy and practice in this
jurisdiction, including the development of indicators and operational
procedures.
* To provide expertise and advice as required for the project.
Applications for funding will need to demonstrate that the project
will:
* Engage with research best practice in conducting reviews of
literature, evidence, legislation, policy, and practice as relevant to
the specified topic.
* Be implemented and aligned to an agreed search protocol which will
be devised by the consultant/researcher(s) and approved by
Tusla/DCEDIY.
* This is a desktop review, however, during the course of the
project if the methodology should change a review by the Tusla
Independent Research Ethics Committee may be required. Any change must
be discussed and approved by the Tusla/DCEDIY governance and oversight
structure.
* Engage with the relevant Tusla/DCEDIY governance and oversight
structure for the duration of the project and provides subject matter
expertise on the topic for the duration of the project aligned to the
project delivery schedule. Progress updates to the Tusla/DCEDIY
governance and oversight structure will be required at intervals
agreed upon once the project is commenced.
* Provide the working group with a proposed dissemination plan in
preparation for publication of reports and the communication of
research findings to a range of audiences including presentations to
Tusla and DCEDIY, networking and collaboration events, conference
contributions, and other opportunities.
Expected output to include a short report ( *
pages) and presentation on the findings and outcomes of the project to
Tusla/DCEDIY. The successful tenderer will be required to submit
progress report(s) at intervals agreed in advance.
BUDGET
The total budget for this work is up to €**Apply on the
website**, * excluding VAT. The successful
tenderer will be responsible for all tax, VAT, and other associated
liabilities. Tusla will be responsible for contract management for the
duration of the project. The successful tenderer will adhere to all
the terms and conditions of the contract. The contractors reserve the
right to withhold payment where the successful tenderer fails to meet
his/her contractual obligations in relation to the delivery of
services to an acceptable level of quality.
HOW TO APPLY
Tenders should be submitted to Karen Mc Dermott, Tusla **Apply on the
website** by close of business on TUESDAY **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**TH
NOVEMBER **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**. Informal queries and research
design related queries can be directed to Angela Feeney, Tusla **Apply
on the website** and queries relating to the subject matter of the RFQ
can be made to Claire O Kelly, Tusla *.
The project duration is up to 6 months commencing 1st January –
*th June *.
The tender should include information under the following headings:
* Consultant/Researcher profiles including relevant experience,
skills and knowledge of the sector and study context. This information
should include reference to, and details of other similar work
undertaken previously.
* The lead consultant/researcher specified for all correspondence
during the lifetime of the project
* Proposed outline of the approach including methodology, analysis
and report writing.
* Proposed budget including a breakdown of costs, timeline, and
schedule for the delivery of the project. This should include the
costs for all personnel involved in the project.
* Consultant/Researcher to adhere to quality assurance processes of
the Tusla/DCEDIY governance and oversight structure for reviewing and
commenting on draft outputs prior to finalization.
* Risk assessment with mitigation and escalation strategy outlining
any potential difficulties or delays that may be encountered through
the course of the project.
* Consultants/Researchers must carry out their work in accordance
with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare
of Children, published by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs
(DCYA, *).
* Data processing review in line with Data Protection requirements
and the General Data Protection Regulation *
(GDPR).
* Evidence of insurance/public indemnity.
* Referees (2 referees).
* Contact details; and
* Gantt Chart outlining a timeline of project deliverables.
Tenderers are advised that Tusla is subject to the Freedom of
Information (FOI) Acts, *. If a Tenderer
considers that any of the information supplied in their Tender
response is either commercially sensitive or confidential in nature,
this should be highlighted and the reasons for its sensitivity
specified. In such cases the relevant material will, in response to a
request under the FOI Act, be examined in the light of the exceptions
provided for in the Act. Evaluation Process
All tenders will be evaluated by the relevant Tusla/DCEDIY governance
and oversight structure and Tusla National Research Office under the
following criteria:
* Cost.
* Research design and methodology.
* Relevant experience.
* Skills and knowledge.
* Contract management including demonstration of ability to complete
project within the specified timeline.
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Others
