Commonwealth Home Support Program Advisory Group

Meals Review Sub-Group

Review of Meal Services under HACC

Agenda Item 5-Overview of review process

PURPOSE

The purpose of this paper is to:

  1. Provide an overview of the review process including project timing (Attachment A); and
  2. Present more detail on the methodology to be adopted (Contractor will present this section andtable paper at meeting for comments out of session).

DISCUSSION

The following details the key objectives, scope, areas of interest and contract phases for the review of meal services under HACC.

The Department has engaged the Australian Institute for Primary Care and Ageing (AIPCA) at La Trobe University to support the review and provide expert work on data analysis, literature review development and facilitation of national consultations. The AIPCA will also produce a range of reports collating the evidence base, identifying service delivery implications and recording sector feedback on service delivery models developed.

Although the contract for services with AIPCA has been finalised, there is scope for input from Sub-Group members across all phases of the project. For example through providing:

  • input to the literature review (relevant reports, data);
  • comment on the stakeholder engagement plan to be discussed in Session 6 (including how volunteer perspectives could be captured);
  • advice on regional locations for national consultations;
  • comment on draft reports as they are produced; and
  • development of service delivery and funding models for broad sector consultation and Ministerial consideration.

OBJECTIVE OF REVIEW

  • Develop an evidence base on how meal services are operating in each jurisdiction including current funding and service delivery models and emerging trends in client need.
  • Identify funding and service delivery implications and developservice delivery and funding models, to ensure meal services contribute to CHSP objectives e.g. helping people to remain living at home and meeting (future) client’s needs.

SCOPE

  • Meals delivered at home or at centres (Service Group 6);
  • Assistance to prepare food at home (Other Meal services –component of Service Group 1); and
  • Consideration of Dietician & Nutritionist assistance (Allied Health - Service Group 3).

SPECIFIC AREAS OF INTEREST (not exhaustive)

  • Definition of a meal
  • Nutritional value of meals provided
  • Volunteers – role, trends and expectations of them
  • Models of service delivery operating (including any innovation)
  • Emerging patterns of client need/preference
  • Core functions meal services deliver (reliable and nutritious meals, connection with community and health monitoring)
  • Maintaining provider sustainability into the future

STRUCTURE OF CONTRACT SERVICES TO SUPPORT REVIEW

  • Stakeholder engagement plan and communication strategy detailing how to best engage with the sector and clients
  • Literature Review Report – mapping domestic and international evidence regarding the range and efficacy of service and funding models for meal preparation and provision.
  • Jurisdictional mapping of the current application of meal service types and funding models per jurisdiction.
  • Data analysis of both publicly and non-publicly available HACC data to understand patterns and trends in HACC meal service types and data sourced from service providers, peaks and/or State and Territory Government officials.
  • National evidence-collection consultations in all States and Territories (urban and regional) with HACC service providers, including State and Territory Government officials, peak bodies and clients. Aim is to capture breadth of service and funding models operating and map client needs and preferences.
  • A one-day forum with the Meals Review Sub-Group and selected providers to test future service delivery and funding models developed by the Meals Review Sub-Group and Department.

CONTRACTOR TO SUPPORT REVIEW

The Australian Institute for Primary Care and Ageing (AIPCA) at La Trobe University is led by Professor Yvonne Wells, head of the Lincoln Centre for Research on Ageing. The project team includes a range of experts in specific research functions such as data analysis who are also experienced in undertaking work relating to HACC. The team includes a dietician and nutritionist, members with communications expertise and staff with experience in working with different cultural groups.

AIPCA to present on methodology.

PROPOSED FEATURES OF METHODOLOGY

  • Total of 14 provider consultations in half-day workshop format (all 8 capital cities and 6 regional locations) – estimated 50 providers per workshop
  • Total of 14 client consultations as focus groups (half day each) – providers attending to invite their clients and help them attend (community transport) – estimated 20 clients per workshop
  • Regional locations – to be discussed with Meals Review Sub-Group
  • Engaging volunteers and capturing their perspectives – advice from Sub-Group
  • Hard copy letters and workshop outline mailed to all HACC providers of meals and Other Food Services inviting them to attend (reply paid envelope if can’t attend but want to contribute)
  • These providers participating will invite their clients to attend focus groups sessions and help organise transport for them- those who can’t attend will be given a list of questions to complete at home and return via a reply paid envelope

ADVICE SOUGHT

  • Sub-Group members to provide comments on:
  • the broad review process and indicate any involvement they wish to make;
  • the approach to engage providers;
  • the approach to engage clients;
  • how to capture perspectives of volunteers; and
  • key issues to be discussed at workshops.
  • Members to note the high level project plan at Attachment A.

ATTACHMENT A – PROJECT STAGES - REVIEW OF MEALS

STAGE / DESCRIPTION - CONTRACTOR MILESTONE / PROPOSED TIMEFRAME / INPUT FROM MEALS REVIEW SUB-GROUP (MRSG)
PROJECT PLANNING /
  • Project establishment meeting with Department including draft communication strategy & stakeholder engagement plan.
/ Mid April 2013
  • Identification of research, data and reports for literature review
  • Plan for national consultations – identify participants and locations, stakeholder engagement strategy
/ End April 2013 / Face-Face MRSG meeting with Department, contractor and MRSG – provide comment on stakeholder plan and input to literature review
DEVELOPMENT OF EVIDENCE BASE
LITERATURE REVIEW AND DATA ANALYSIS /
  • Provide draft Literature Review report and draft data analysis report to MRSG for comments
  • Provide draft kit for national consultations
  • Final literature review report, data analysis report and consultation kit
/ End May 2013
Mid June 2013 / Telepresence MRSG
Provide comments on reports and consultation kit
NATIONAL CONSULTATIONS
JURISDICTIONAL MAPPING /
  • Hold national consultations
-reports written as consultations occur over 3 weeks / Mid June-First week of July 2013 / MRSG members may like to attend
SERVICE DELIVERY IMPLICATIONS /
  • Provide the following to CHSP Advisory Group and MRSG :
  • Consultation report
  • Jurisdictional mapping report
  • Draft Interim report
/ Final week of July 2013 / CHSP Advisory Group will provide comments
MRSG telepresence - provide comments on report
DEVELOPMENT OF MODELS /
  • Provide structure/agenda for one day consultative forum
  • Provide Final Interim report
/ End August 2013 / MRSG to provide feedback on preparation for consultative forum
TARGETED CONSULTATIVE FORUM /
  • Facilitate one day forum with MRSG and selected providers/consumer reps to test models
  • AIPCA to incorporate any feedback on models from the Forum and from the sector (Department will collect and give to AIPCA any additional comments provided through online posting of paper)
/ Start October 2013 / MRSG face-face attendance with Department and providers at forum
CONSOLIDATION OF EVIDENCE AND MODELS / Provide draft Final report to MRSG then CHSP Advisory Group / Start November 2013 / Comments on draft report provided by MRSG before being considered by ADVISORY GROUP

1