Safeguarding Review Consultancy

As a learning organisation, Mary MacKillop Today seeks to critically examine the work we do to better understand the individuals we serve and continually strengthen our engagement approach.  Mary MacKillop Today is committed to continuous improvement of our safeguarding policies and practices. As part of this, Mary MacKillop Today seeks to conduct periodic meta reviews to assess the effectiveness of our current safeguarding practices, highlight areas of programming that need improvement, and provide recommendations on how we can support our partners and staff to ensure best practice and safe programming. An external organisational review was conducted in November 2023 as part of ongoing efforts to enhance our practices. The process highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement. This Consultancy will address some of the recommendations made as a result of the organisational review and strengthen Mary MacKillop Today’s work in safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable adults.

Terms of Reference 

The consultancy work is expected to be carried out remotely. This review should cover the last five years, from 2019 to present.

The purpose of this Consultancy is to:

1/ Conduct an independent assessment of the degree to which Mary MacKillop Today’s Safeguarding Policy is being implemented.

This will involve:

1. Establishing the extent to which our Safeguarding Policy is being implemented by Mary MacKillop Today Australia, Mary MacKillop Today Timor-Leste, and our partners in Fiji and Peru.
2. Assessing the quality of assessment of the Safeguarding Policy implementation by Mary MacKillop Today
3. Assessing the quality of the project materials and tools that design, monitor, and report on Safeguarding.
4. Assessing the risk management surrounding the Safeguarding Policy and its implementation
5. Assessing our partners’ Safeguarding Policies, including Mary MacKillop today’s assessment of alignment to our Safeguarding Policy and the required DFAT standards
6. Assessing the Focal Point’s and Safeguarding Committee’s Terms of Reference

Note that Mary MacKillop Today’s Safeguarding Policy is currently used as an exemplary policy by ACFID and is reviewed annually. We do not foresee there being any large changes required to the policy but wish to focus on implementation of this policy.

2/ Gain recommendations to strengthen Safeguarding within our programs

Provide recommendations to strengthen our Safeguarding Policy, the implementation of our Safeguarding Policy, and the assessment of our policy implementation in line with DFAT, ACFID, and ACSL (Australian Catholic Safeguarding Limited) compliance requirements and to ensure best practice.

This will include making recommendations on how to build technical expertise across Mary MacKillop Today offices and in-country partners and ensure Mary MacKillop Today’s processes, tools and documentation enable and reflect a sound approach to Safeguarding.

3/ Deliver Safeguarding training to our staff and key partner staff based on their understanding of Safeguarding and recommended actions from (b)

1. Establish the Safeguarding knowledge of our staff and key partner staff
2. Prepare and deliver Safeguarding training to our staff and key partner staff on Safeguarding relevant to their understanding and context. This training will then be used to update staff on Safeguarding and train new staff.

Deliverables 

• Review Plan (3 pages) outlining:

• • Overview of methods and tools
  • Timeframe
  • Stakeholder engagement plan
  • Risk assessment
  • Ethics considerations

• Consultation data (brief report including methods and outcomes)
• Report addressing:

• • the implementation of Mary MacKillop Today’s Safeguarding policy
  • recommendations to strengthen mainstreaming of Safeguarding within our programs
  • Safeguarding training needs of our staff and key partner staff

• Presentation of report to Mary MacKillop Today (Australia & Timor-Leste teams)
• Dissemination Plan and Key Informant Engagement Strategy for sharing of the consultancy findings and recommendations.
• Training of Mary MacKillop Today staff and partners in Safeguarding as appropriate

Consultancy Timeframe  

It is expected that the Consultancy will be completed by April 2024. The Consultant will determine the time required for each phase with consideration of the required consultancy products, methods and timeframe listed above. The specific deadlines will be negotiated with Mary MacKillop Today based on the proposed timeframe in the Consultancy Proposal. Any extension of the Consultancy must be approved by Mary MacKillop Today and is subject to availability of funds.

Budget

The budget for this evaluation is AUD 9,500 (inclusive of tax and reimbursable expenses).

The Consultant(s) will be required to submit a detailed budget that includes a fee per day for the consultant services, as well as all expenses that derive from the work of the consultancy. The Consultant(s) must consider:

• The payment for this consultancy includes insurance, tax, and any other costs associated with the service.
• The expenses from transport, food, accommodation, and travel (if required) are assumed by the Consultant.
• If the final products of the consultancy are not adequate or accepted by Mary MacKillop Today, the Consultant will reimburse the total value or partial value of the expenses in proportion to the final products presented.

The Consultant will be responsible for their own insurance arrangements (including workers compensation, superannuation guarantee charge, public liability, professional indemnity and/or personal sickness and accident cover), vaccinations, health and security preparedness.

1. Selection Criteria

• Proposed methods
• Previous relevant and quality experience conducting similar assignments (including case studies)
• Availability of personnel

• Written and oral communication skills (English professional proficiency required; conversational Tetun desirable)
• Value for money (cost compared to competitors considering the methods being proposed and outcomes that would be achieved)
• Confirmation that the deliverable timeframes can be met
• Identification of risks related to the implementation of this consultancy and Mary MacKillop Today’s approach to gender equity and diversity.

The Consultancy is open to Australian and/or International Candidates. 

How to Apply   

For full Terms of Reference, please visit our website. Expressions of Interest (EOI) are due 25 February 2024 by midnight AEDT. EOIs will be assessed on a rolling basis. Please send all expressions of interest Tessa Henwood-Mitchell, Mary MacKillop Today International Programs & Quality Director ([email protected]) and Belinda Pratten, Mary MacKillop Today Operations Director and Safeguarding Focal Point ([email protected]). Should you have any questions, please contact via email.

All Expressions of Interest should include:

• Up to date CV with details of two relevant referees, for each consultant involved.
• Proposal addressing the Selection Criteria above (no more than 8 pages).

Mary MacKillop Today is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and strongly encourages people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply for any vacancies.