RFP for Psychological Treatment Services in Residential Aged Care Using a Stepped Care

⁠⁠⁠Central and Eastern Sydney PHN (CESPHN), invites eligible applicants to apply for Psychological well-being Support in Residential Aged Care. Please read and familiarise yourself with this Request for Proposal (RFP) Application Guidelines (PART A) prior to completing this application form.

The e-portal contains questions that require responses for the submission to be considered. The application should capture in Part C all the relevant financial components that are in scope for funding.
Only responses submitted via the online form in Tenderlink will be considered for evaluation. Please note, you will not be able to upload a word version of your submission.

Summary:
Primary Health Networks are required to commission psychological treatment services targeting the mental health needs of people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). CESPHN is requesting proposals to provide psychological treatment services within a stepped care approach to residents in RACFs in the areas covered by Sydney and South Eastern Sydney Local Health Districts (LHD) within the CESPHN region. The objective of this program is to offer a model(s) of care that uses stepped care principles to provide evidence-based, time-limited psychological therapies which are responsive to the needs of older people in RACFs.

The target population includes residents of RACFs experiencing mild to moderate mental illness or those who are assessed as being at risk of mental illness over the following 12 months if they do not receive services.

The proposed model(s) of care will need to be implemented collaboratively, in close communication with RACF staff and key stakeholders, including GPs, consumers and family and carers.

About CESPHN:
The Central and Eastern Sydney catchment spans 667 square kilometres and includes Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island (please note that this procurement does not include coaching services for Norfolk Island or Lord Howe Island). Our region stretches from Strathfield to Sutherland and as far east as Bondi, and our boundaries align with those of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Local Health District.

We are the second largest of the 31 primary health networks across Australia by population, with more than 1.4 million individuals residing in our region. The demographic profile of the region is characterised by cultural diversity and high population growth. More than one third (35%) of our region's population was born outside Australia, significantly higher than NSW as a whole (26%). By 2031, our region's population will reach more than 1.85 million, an increase of 28.1% or more than 400,000 individuals.

About the RFP:
CESPHN is requesting proposals from mental health service providers to provide psychological wellbeing support services to residents in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) across the Central and Eastern Sydney PHN region covered by Sydney and South Eastern Sydney Local Health Districts (LHD). The focus on the program should be to provide in-reach services to the RACFs to the target residents with a diagnosed mental illness or who are assessed as at risk of mental illness if they do not receive services. The proposed program should address all the identified elements in the model of care as outlined in the tender documents. The services will be evidence-based, time-limited psychological therapies which are adjusted to be responsible to the needs of older people.

Registration: Tender documents must be obtained after registration.

Enquiries: Tender enquiries should be directed via the online forum.
Information session: N/A

Submissions:
Completed responses must be submitted via online submission form. Respondents will receive a Successful Submission Receipt timed and dated upon completion. Should assistance be required please use the online manual on the portal under Support/Online Manuals/Making a Submission or contact Tenderlink Customer Support on 1800-233-533.