EPIC Research Tender - deadline Tuesday 31 October @ 5pm

Research Tender

Ireland

Experiences of state care amongst children and young people who have sought international protection: A qualitative study.

Closing date: 31st October 2023, 5pm
Work period: November 2023 – October 2024

Background

EPIC has received funding from IHREC (Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission) to carry out a research project on the experiences of state care amongst children and young people who have sought international protection. We are seeking applications from qualified researchers to conduct this comprehensive study.

The research aims to provide a better understanding of the needs, challenges, and perspectives of these children and young people, and to inform policy and practice to improve their access to rights, including their well-being, integration, and transition to adulthood.

In doing so, it seeks to ascertain how their rights, as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Refugee Convention and Optional Protocol are upheld in Ireland.

Overall, the study aims to give voice to their experiences and to promote their rights and active participation, as well as to contribute to the development of more effective, responsive, and rights-informed services for this group who are seldom heard.

Tasks

• Establish a comprehensive understanding of the specific challenges faced by children and young people who have experience in state care and have sought international protection.
• Deliver desk research on the situation of children in care seeking international protection in other EU countries and the UK, including a review of relevant policies and legislation.
• Participate in consultations (focus groups or individual meetings on and offline) with children and young people who have experience in state care and have sought international protection – EPIC will help facilitate this.
• Produce a research and policy analysis, based on the consultations and international best practice, on how the rights of children and young people who have experience in state care and have sought international protection can be upheld in Irish policy and practice – in line with the provisions of the UNCRC, the Refugee Convention and Optional Protocol.
• Deliver guidance and a roadmap for future research and participation work of children and young people who have care experience and have sought international protection.

Outputs

Quarter 1: Desk Research to be carried out including completion of a literature review. Contact made with study participants and information session conducted with them. Ethical approval submission to be completed.

Quarter 2: Field research and interviews with participants will commence once approval from ethical approval has been received and will be conducted during this period.

Quarter 3: Analysis conducted, and final report completion stages will be conducted.

Quarter 4: Launch and dissemination of report findings. We will directly engage with academia, civil society in the children’s rights and migrant rights sector and Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Skills and Expertise

• Proven ability to carry out independent research work in a related area.
• Proven ability to assimilate research findings into clear workable recommendations.
• Ability to present research findings to an audience, online or in person.
• Experience of research work in the children’s rights or migrant rights sectors would be an advantage.
• Experience of participative research with children and youth would be an advantage.
• Experience of working with vulnerable young people would be an advantage.

Application Process

1. Cover letter, to include outline of how to approach the work: maximum 2 pages.
2. Include a link to, or copy of, a sample of past work that is similar in content and/or style to the above outputs.
3. CV

Apply: research@epiconline.ie

Closing date: 31st October 2023, 5pm

EPIC, Empowering People in Care believes in the value of diversity and encourages applications from people from all ethnic, cultural, religious, and social backgrounds: in particular, Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic and LGBTIQ+ people. We also welcome candidates with experience of the care system.