@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?

 Longer notice periods  Limiting the requirements to obtain the Departments consent prior to disposing assets  Allowing for mediation in the event

• f a dispute (if both parties agree)

 Extending notice periods when ceasing services due to change of policy or insufficient Department funds  Providing three months notice and payment of reasonable costs if Department terminates agreement  Changes to intellectual property rights  Procedural fairness; including that consent will be given within a reasonable time  Acknowledgement of issues relating to transitioning to the NDIS

On behalf of the sector, VCOSS and the SAWG was able to secure:

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

Funding indexation v. cost of delivery 2011 - 2019

100.0 105.0 110.0 115.0 120.0

Victorian Government indexation Estimated increase in costs

Indexation of funding

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.

Victorian Auditor General (VAGO) Report

Key finding: DHHS does not have sufficient capability to manage its service agreements

@VCOSS /VCOSS

NEGOTIATING THE NEW AGREEMENT

• LGBTI inclusion
• New requirements for services to children -

Betrayal of Trust (recommendation 26.1)

• Legislative changes-Data Security
• Clause 9 Audit and Performance Review

Initial changes proposed by Government

VCOSS held 3 Regional consultations:

• Bendigo
• Traralgon
• Shepparton
• Workshop at the Community Services Industry

Symposium last week

Consultations with the sector

Priority issues for negotiation from the sector

Service Agreement redrafting

 Complexity and length of clauses and use of legalistic jargon  Not reflective of a partnership of partnership  Ownership of records  Privacy and data protection  Variations to funding  Triggers for indexation, exceptional circumstances  Funding for introduction of new legislation, policies that increase

• rganisational costs

 Include a consultation clause around major change that will impact on funded organisations  Subjective clauses and vague standards  Consortia/ Partnership  Confidentiality of information especially around performance reviews, suspension, cessation and termination  Clauses to support Aboriginal self-determination

Priority issues for negotiation from the sector

Service Agreement processes

 Oversight aligned to risk, cost of compliance  Reduce red tape and duplicative reporting  Improve data collection “use

• nce report often”

 Help funded organisations understand the terms of the service agreement  Improve funded agency channel  Build capacity of DHHS in administering the service agreement  Record keeping processes and clauses  Address the impact of short term funding on the industry