To establish Contract for updated Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia

The Department is seeking Responses from Potential Suppliers to develop updated Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia (the Guidelines) that reflect current evidence and best practice in dementia care.

The purpose of the guidelines is to provide evidence-based recommendations for the health and aged care workforce to apply in their professional roles while also responding to the needs and preferences of the person with dementia, and with consideration of their carer(s) and family. The Guidelines should be inclusive of community, residential care, and hospital settings.

The successful Supplier is required to undertake a comprehensive review of the Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia (2016) and identify topics that require updating, and any new topics to be included to incorporate advances in dementia care, and the current evidence base for dementia risk reduction, diagnosis, treatment and care.

The updated Guidelines will need to be developed in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Guidelines for Guidelines Handbook to meet NHMRC Standards, currently the 2016 NHMRC Standards for Guidelines available at www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines. The Guidelines will be required to be approved by the NHMRC.

The successful Supplier must be able to demonstrate:

• expertise in dementia/ dementia care.

• experience in developing clinical practice guidelines with highly developed technical writing skills for guidelines

• an ability to work with a diverse range of stakeholders through the guideline development process.

The Supplier must also outline how they will ensure the interests of different groups (e.g. First Nations peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse people, rural and remote communities, and consumers) are incorporated into the guideline development process.

In performing the Services, the Supplier must undertake actions/activities including:

• Establish and coordinate a multidisciplinary Guideline Development Group to oversee the development of the Guidelines with representation from the mix of expertise and experience of those most likely to be affected by the guidelines including but not limited to researchers, clinicians (such as general practitioners, geriatricians, neurologists, psychiatrists, nurses, allied health professionals), policymakers and consumers.

• Undertaking literature searches and a thorough review of current evidence

• Manage consultation processes, including consultation with people with lived experience of dementia, First Nations peoples and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) groups.

• Identify and consult with key professional organisations (such as specialty colleges) and consumer organisations that will be involved in or affected by the implementation of Guideline recommendations, to inform and support implementation and education activities that are critical to building workforce capability and supporting adoption by the health and aged care workforce.

• Register the Guideline proposal with the NHMRC prior to commencement and, once accepted onto the NHMRC program, follow NHMRC procedures and requirements for Guideline development.

• Draft text for the guidelines and recommendations.

• Finalise the Guidelines and recommendations for submission to the NHMRC for approval.

• Publish final guidelines with NHMRC approved recommendations on publicly available websites.

• Consumer companion resources to the updated Guidelines

• Develop an implementation/dissemination plan to promote the guidelines.