@VCOSS /VCOSS What is the Service Agreement? About the Service - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

@VCOSS /VCOSS

What is the Service Agreement?  About the Service Agreement?  What is VCOSS and the Service Agreement Working Group (SAWG) role?  Members of the SAWG VCOSS, ECMS, CFECFW, Launch Housing, VACCHO, Mackillop, Justice Connect, ECIA Vic, Berry Street, Yooralla, NDS, VAADA, Uniting Care

What improvements were made during the 2015 negotiations? On behalf of the sector, VCOSS and the SAWG was able to secure:  Longer notice periods  Providing three months notice and  Limiting the requirements to obtain payment of reasonable costs if Department terminates agreement the Departments consent prior to  Changes to intellectual property disposing assets  Allowing for mediation in the event rights  Procedural fairness; including that of a dispute (if both parties agree)  Extending notice periods when consent will be given within a reasonable time ceasing services due to change of  Acknowledgement of issues policy or insufficient Department funds relating to transitioning to the NDIS

Indexation of funding  Impact of Equal Remuneration Order  Real cost of service delivery  VCOSS work around increasing indexation of funding  Impact of short-term funding

Indexation of funding Funding indexation v. cost of delivery 2011 - 2019 120.0 115.0 110.0 105.0 100.0 Victorian Government indexation Estimated increase in costs

Victorian Auditor General (VAGO) Report Key finding: DHHS does not have sufficient capability to manage its service agreements Five recommendations: • apply quality assurance when setting service agreement performance measures • develop a system-wide framework for risk-profiling funded organisations • clarify roles and responsibilities, and improve staff skills and capabilities • capture corporate knowledge • redesign the service agreement performance monitoring framework.

NEGOTIATING THE NEW AGREEMENT @VCOSS /VCOSS

Initial changes proposed by Government • LGBTI inclusion • New requirements for services to children - Betrayal of Trust (recommendation 26.1) • Legislative changes-Data Security • Clause 9 Audit and Performance Review

Consultations with the sector VCOSS held 3 Regional consultations: • Bendigo • Traralgon • Shepparton • Workshop at the Community Services Industry Symposium last week

Priority issues for negotiation from the sector Service Agreement redrafting  Include a consultation clause  Complexity and length of clauses around major change that will and use of legalistic jargon impact on funded organisations  Not reflective of a partnership of  Subjective clauses and vague partnership standards  Ownership of records  Consortia/ Partnership  Privacy and data protection  Confidentiality of information  Variations to funding especially around performance reviews, suspension, cessation  Triggers for indexation, and termination exceptional circumstances  Clauses to support Aboriginal  Funding for introduction of new self-determination legislation, policies that increase organisational costs

Priority issues for negotiation from the sector Service Agreement processes  Improve funded agency channel  Oversight aligned to risk, cost of  Build capacity of DHHS in compliance administering the service  Reduce red tape and duplicative agreement reporting  Record keeping processes and  Improve data collection “use clauses once report often”  Address the impact of short term  Help funded organisations funding on the industry understand the terms of the service agreement