Academic research: Review of children & adolescent gender identity services

Tender description

This market engagement is to understand supplier interest & capability in relation to the Independent Review into Gender Identity Services for Children & Young People.In order to make recommendations for the optimum management of children and young people who are questioning their gender identity or experiencing gender incongruence, the review team wish to explore the epidemiology & range of possible outcomes of children accessing gender identity services, as well as the evidence base for current approaches to assessment & management. This should include best practice in assessment of children presenting to both local & specialist services, & the role of psychological & social support, as well as of medical management.Both research streams must demonstrate:• Experience handling sensitive information on high-profile issues• A track record of timely delivery on policy-driven research.• Commitment to equality& diversity in both departmental culture & research outputs. Lot 1: We are considering splitting the work into two lots. In practice, it may be that a single provider is best. We would be happy to receive a single proposal for the full piece and/or a two centre joint bid if applicants consider that this would give the best skill mix to conduct the research.Lot 1. A participative, primarily qualitative research project with the principle aim to understand the full range of outcomes for young people with gender dysphoria, seeking to capture their perspectives on their journey, and their views on how services could and should be delivered in the future. The research will need to ensure that all stakeholders are able to contribute to the framing of questions relevant to the scope of the review. Stakeholders will need to include young people and young adults with lived experience, but also parents and carers, professionals delivering services, teaching staff, commissioners of services and other relevant individuals.Lot 2. A broad-based literature review including an interface with the call for evidence to the professional community. The NHSE Policy Working Group has already commissioned a NICE evidence review on the effectiveness and the short- and long-term side effects of puberty blockers and cross sex hormones. However, the remit of this wider review is to examine the changing epidemiology of gender dysphoria in children and young people, as well as the appropriate social, clinical, psychological and medical management. This will necessitate a wider-ranging scoping review. We are aware that the evidence base in this area is weak, but we anticipate that there is the potential to fill some of the evidence gaps through collaborative work with the GIDS service. Ideally follow up questionnaires and / or interviews with patients would be conducted, again subject to ethical approval.A key principle of the Cass Review is that it must be participative, evidence based and incorporate lived experience in order to formulate conclusions and recommendations that will command the confidence of key stakeholders. The two research streams outlined in this business case have been designed to achieve these ends. Specifically, the outputs required are to achieve the best available collation of published evidence, and qualitative and quantitative research and we would like views on what can feasibly be produced within the timeframe of the review.Recognising that not all the published evidence is likely to be of high enough quality to form the sole basis for the recommendations of the review, a process will be needed for synthesising the published evidence and research outputs of the academic team(s) with stakeholder submissions and expert opinion. This will involve a consensus development approach, using Delphi or other appropriate tools, and we would anticipate that the research team(s) would be integral to this important stage of the review. CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTSLot 1: Experience of participatory, interdisciplinary and qualitative research methodologies, experience of direct work with children and adolescents, understanding of complex healthcare interventions, and of the role of community participation in improving health outcomes.Lot 2: Experience of epidemiological research involving children and young people, track record of analysis of impact of changing epidemiology on health service requirements, track record of effective access and usage of multiple data sources to underpin research, experience of conducting systematic and / or scoping reviews. Additional information: If you are interested in this requirement and can demonstrate your ability to meet the specific skills and capabilities of the project please contact anita.pannu@nhs.net to register your interest and request a response document which seeks further feedback and detail around your capabilities.