International Consultant - Development of Pediatric Rehabilitation Training Manual

Consulente-Diritti Umani

Descrizione

Soleterre (www.soleterre.org) is a non-profit foundation that works towards the recognition and application of the right to health in its broadest sense. In addition to providing medical care and assistance, Soleterre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the psychophysical well-being of all people, at any age and in any part of the world. Its program integrates prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation to support holistic recovery and long-term well-being.

Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Soleterre operates in multiple countries, including Ukraine, where it implements program that provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), rehabilitation services, and capacity building for children, families, and caregivers affected by the ongoing conflict.

To strengthen its support to pediatric rehabilitation specialists, Soleterre is seeking an International Consultant to design a comprehensive Training Manual. This manual will be distributed to the health facilities that participated in the training, the hospitals where the Master Trainers are based, and the Ministry of Health, both as a record of the work completed and as a tool for potential scale-up should the Ministry decide to extend the training to other pediatric health facilities. The consultant will work on a home-based basis, collaborating virtually with Soleterre Ukraine office and relevant program teams.

1. Background and Project Description

The war in Ukraine has placed extreme strain on the health system, creating urgent needs in pediatric rehabilitation, especially for children affected by war-related injuries, disabilities, and psychological trauma. Many children require integrated physical and mental health support, yet access to quality rehabilitation remains limited, particularly in conflict-affected areas.

Since 2023, Soleterre has been supporting pediatric rehabilitation services at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lviv and Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv. This work includes establishing a specialized pool for pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation, as well as rooms for psychological and speech therapy sessions, and collaborating with national and international partners to strengthen Ukraine’s pediatric rehabilitation capacity.

Building on an initial project phase, the first and this second phase aims to further improve pediatric rehabilitation service quality in eight pediatric health facilities located in frontline oblasts. Activities included advanced training for pediatric rehabilitation professionals, with continuation of strengthening the capacity of the pediatric rehabilitation professionals, provision of essential rehabilitation equipment, and on-site mentoring to ensure the application of best practices.

During Phase 1 of the project, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital developed training materials for the Master Trainers to train pediatric rehabilitation specialists in these eight pediatric health facilities. These resources, including presentations and video recordings for four modules, were hosted on an online platform with access limited to Master Trainers. The modules covered both theoretical foundations and practical applications essential for pediatric rehabilitation, integrating clinical best practices with local health system needs.

The Master Trainers, trained during Phase 1, have since transferred (module 1, 2 and 3) and will transfer as well (module 4) this knowledge to frontline healthcare workers in their facilities. However, to consolidate the training and ensure long-term accessibility of its content, there is a need to develop a comprehensive, printed training manual.

The manual will compile, adapt, and contextualize the content from Phase 1 training resources (presentations, videos, and supplemental materials) into a single, cohesive tool. This resource will:

• Serve as a permanent reference for trained staff in the participating facilities.

• Be distributed to the hospitals where the Master Trainers are based, the Ministry of Health, and other interested pediatric rehabilitation actors.

• Support potential scale-up of the training program to additional facilities, should the Ministry of Health decide to expand the approach nationally.

• Function as a Training of Trainers (ToT) resource, enabling consistent replication of training content.

2. Scope of Work

Under the supervision of Soleterre Rehabilitation Expert, the consultant will:

a) Review and Consolidate Materials

o Gather all relevant presentations, video transcripts, and training content from Phase 1 (module 1, 2 and 3) and Phase 2 (Module 4).

o Align and consolidate content from modules 1 to 4 developed by Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital.

b) Content Adaptation and Contextualization

o Adapt material for print format, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and relevance for pediatric rehabilitation in the Ukrainian healthcare context.

o Include practical exercises, case studies, and key learning points from both the original training and the Master Trainers’ implementation experience.

c) Manual Development

o Structure the manual for use as both a stand-alone reference and a ToT tool.

o Integrate visuals, diagrams, and checklists where relevant.

o Ensure content reflects best practices and aligns with Ministry of Health guidance.

d) Finalization and Printing

o Prepare the final manual in print-ready format (bilingual English–Ukrainian as required).

3. Expected Output

By the end of the 60-day consultancy, the consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

1. Comprehensive Training Manual (print-ready) containing:

o Core content from the training modules 1 to 4.

o Contextualized examples and case studies relevant to Ukrainian pediatric rehabilitation.

o Practical tools, exercises, and key learning summaries.

2. Editable Digital Version of the manual for future updates.

3. Brief Final Report summarizing the development process, content sources, and recommendations for future updates or scale-up.

4. Deliverables and timeline

The consultancy will be carried out over 60 days from the date of contract signature, under the supervision of Soleterre Rehabilitation Expert. The work will be organized into four module cycles of approximately 13 days each, with each cycle including review, adaptation, contextualization, and a feedback/revision stage before moving on to the next module.

Deliverables:

1. Detailed Work Plan and Manual Outline

o Proposed structure of the manual and content mapping based on the four training modules.

o Methodology for content adaptation and contextualization.

2. Module-Specific Manual Sections (Modules 1–4)

For each module:

o Adapted and contextualized content from the training materials (presentations, videos, and supplemental documents) used by the Master trainers to strengthen the capacity of the pediatric rehabilitation specialists from the eight health facilities

o Integration of theoretical content, practical exercises, case studies, key learning points, and visual aids.

o Age-appropriate focus for pediatric rehabilitation within the Ukrainian context.

o Revised and finalized content incorporating feedback from Soleterre’s Rehabilitation Expert.

3. Comprehensive Training Manual

o Full integration of all four module sections into one cohesive, print-ready manual.

o Designed for dual use: as a stand-alone reference tool and a Training of Trainers (ToT) resource.

o Aligned with Ministry of Health guidance and best practices in pediatric rehabilitation.

o Editable digital version for future updates.

4. Educational and Visual Additions

o Diagrams, checklists, and visual tools to support learning and retention.

o Clear navigation and design layout for ease of use by healthcare professionals.

5. Final Report

o Summary of the development process.

o List of content sources and references.

o Recommendations for future updates, scale-up, or adaptation to additional facilities.

Indicative Timeline:

Task Timeline

Submission of a detailed work plan, proposed structure for the manual, and content mapping based on the four modules. Day 3

Module 1: Review, adapt, and contextualize training content; develop module-specific manual section; submit draft; integrate feedback and finalize module section Day 4-16

Module 2: Review, adapt, and contextualize training content; develop module-specific manual section; submit draft; integrate feedback and finalize module section Day 17-29

Module 3: Review, adapt, and contextualize training content; develop module-specific manual section; submit draft; integrate feedback and finalize module section Day 30-42

Module 4: Review, adapt, and contextualize training content; develop module-specific manual section; submit draft; integrate feedback and finalize module section Day 43-55

Combine all module sections into a single print-ready manual (including an editable digital version) Day 56

Final feedback and revisions Day 58

Submission of final Training Manual Day 58

Submission of Final Report Day 60

5. Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education

o Advanced university degree in health sciences, rehabilitation, public health, or related fields.

o Specialization in pediatric rehabilitation is considered an asset.

• Technical Experience

o Proven experience in developing training materials/manuals for health professionals, preferably in rehabilitation or pediatric contexts.

o Strong understanding of pediatric rehabilitation principles and multidisciplinary approaches.

o Experience working with Training of Trainers (ToT) models.

o Excellent writing, editing, and instructional design skills.

• Professional Experience

o Previous experience in health systems strengthening, rehabilitation services, or pediatric healthcare settings.

o Experience in adapting and contextualizing technical content for specific healthcare environments is an asset.

• Languages

o Proficiency in English (mandatory).

o Knowledge of Ukrainian and/or Italian is an asset.

• Other Competencies

o Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.

o Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including international and local experts.

o Commitment to Soleterre values, mission, and vision.

6. Submission of Applications

Applicants should express their intention to participate to this tender via e-mail.

Expression of interest should be submitted by email to the following address: rehab.expert.ukr@soleterre.org no later than 10 September 2025, 23:55 (Central European Summer Time – CEST / Kyiv time). The subject line of the email must clearly state the title of the consultancy applied for (Development of Pediatric Rehabilitation Training Manual).

Any applications received after the stated date and time will not be accepted.

Applicants will receive the tender dossier with the instructions to submit technical and financial proposal.