EASPD is the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities. We are a European not-for-profit organisation and represent over 17,000 social service provider organisations across both Europe and disability. The main objective of EASPD is to promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high-quality service systems.
 

1. Tender specification

EASPD is looking for a Researcher/Research team to carry out a study on good practices concerning the integration of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) principles in training of social care and support staff and the concrete implementation on the ground. The research will be subcontracted in the framework of EASPD’s Workforce Development & HR Forum.

The UNCRPD changed attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities, reaffirming that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including making decisions for their lives based on their free and informed consent as well as being active members of society.

Article 4 of the UNCRPD underlines the importance of training of staff working with persons with disabilities in relation to the rights outlined in the Convention, to provide better assistance and services. Social services providers across Europe are becoming increasingly aware of the UNCRPD, however, little is known about the concrete training sessions on the principles and on their impact on the day-to-day work of social care and support providers and their staff working on the ground.

2. Main elements of work

2.1.  As part of its “Commit!” Work Programme 2021, EASPD is looking for a Researcher/Research team to carry out a study identifying good practices concerning the integration of the UNCRPD principles in training of social care and support staff and the concrete implementation of the principles on the ground. The study should consider both the initial job training, as well as training in the framework of vocational training.

2.2.  The study should compile 10 promising practices from EASPD network. Based on an analysis of these practices, key recommendations should be provided on how to improve and complete the initial staff training based on the UNCRPD principles, develop the skills and competences of social care and support workers through vocational training, this in order to have a concrete impact on the way services are delivered.

The Researcher/Research team is expected to deliver:
1.     A final report compiling the identified promising practices, their analysis, and key recommendations, of maximum 40 pages. A draft report should be submitted for feedback before the deadline.
2.     An executive summary of 2-3 pages.
3.     A presentation of the research results during a dedicated EASPD Workforce Development & HR Forum meeting.

The study should collect promising practices from (ideally) 10 countries, respecting a geographical balance. The researchers may suggest countries based on the relevance and representativity of the cases and on the availability of data. A final decision on the countries should be taken with the contractor. EASPD can recommend some of its members and facilitate the contact for this purpose.

3. Deadlines

Deadline for application: 05/06/2021
Response to application: 15/06/2021
Selected applicants are expected to take on the assignment as soon as possible after the signature of the subcontract agreement.  
The deliverables are expected to be finalised by 30/11/2021

4. Expertise required​
The researcher(s) will be expected to demonstrate:

-        Solid academic and/or professional background with regards to the social service sectors;
-        Experience in data collection, analysis and presentation;
-        Experience of writing accessible reports for an NGO and/or EU/national organisation readership;
-        Excellent command of English (written and oral)
-        Wide network of contacts and entry-points for collecting data at national level in EU countries; the selected candidate should ensure the processing of national data in local language(s)
-        An operational approach to the integration of good management principles, including correct personal data management in line with the requirements of the GDPR.
-        Only candidates from EU Member States are eligible for participating in the tender.

5. Selection and award criteria

The applicant(s) should submit the following documents until 05/06/2021; 23:59 CET:
-        A motivation letter describing your expertise and explaining why you are the right candidate(-s) for the assignment (not more than 1 page).
-        A technical proposal explaining how you plan to conduct the research, including a review of what has already been done, a proposed methodology, a work plan, resources needed, budget, etc. The technical proposal can include suggestions for the publication of the final report in academic journals and other scientific publications, to be further discussed with EASPD.  
-        CV, including the list of published articles, reports, studies if relevant.
Only selected candidates will be contacted.

6. Content of the bids

The tenderer will ensure that their bid clearly identifies how they meet the selection criteria. It would also be useful to see examples of previous work demonstrating their ability to write and present in English to a primarily NGO audience.

7. Payments and standard contract

Payment will be made on receipt of the draft report compiling the identified promising practices, their analysis, and key recommendations and the delivery of the final report, 40% and 60% respectively.
Only validated deliverables will be accepted and fully compensated.
The Contract will be drawn up between EASPD and the contractor.

8. Price

The estimated price is max. EUR 4.000, all taxes included.
The contract will be awarded to the tenderer whose offer represents the best value for money, taking into account the quality of submitted document and individual expertise. The contract will only be awarded to a tenderer who clearly proves that they have knowledge, experience and expertise which match at least 70% of the selection criteria.

9. Contact details

Please send bids to Renaud Scheuer, Research & Development Officer, European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD): renaud.scheuer@easpd.eu

10. Data Privacy Statement   

• EASPD commits to carefully handle the privacy and data protection of natural persons whose personal data are processed by EASPD.
• EASPD only processes the personal data in a way that is compatible with the purposes for which the data were collected.
• Personal data is collected to facilitate the tender process. Data given to EASPD is included in the CV you need to submit for your application to be considered.
• EASPD takes appropriate measures to ensure your personal data is not kept for longer than necessary for the intended purposes. That is why your CV will not be kept by EASPD after the tender process is finished.