Volume 3: Human Services Policy and Funding Plan 2015-19, update 2017-18
Chapter 4: Activity descriptions
Contents
Activity information
Service delivery tracking
Output group
Output
Objective
Description of the service
Client group
Service delivery
Service redevelopment
Monitoring and review
Service Agreement
Human Services Standards
Other requirements
Monitoring performance
Key performance measure 1: Number of hours of community based respite
Data collection information
Key documents
Mandatory
Volume 3: Chapter 4: Activity descriptions1
Activity information
Service delivery tracking
Service delivery tracking activity? Yes
Output group
Disability services
Output
Client services and capacity
Objective
Community-based respite aims to support people with a disability, their families and carers, to maintain positive family and carer relationships, through the provision of individually tailored supports.
Description of the service
Community-based respite provides support through community based (or in-home) activities or assistance.
Examples of community-based respite include:
•in-home respite
•recreational programs
•holiday programs (and camps)
•supported community activities.
Support is provided on an individual or group basis.
Client group
The target group for community based respite is people with a disability, as defined under the Disability Act 2006 and their families and carers.
Service delivery
Community service organisations (CSOs).
Service redevelopment
The department will continue to monitor service provision, and where necessary, may amend service specifications or funding allocations based on community needs or in response to changes to government policy and priorities.
During the current Service Agreement the roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will commence in Victoria. The introduction of the scheme will mean changes in the way services are accessed and the funding arrangements for service providers. Community service organisations are expected to work collaboratively with the department and the National Disability Insurance Agency to facilitate a smooth transition.
Monitoring and review
Service Agreement
The Department of Health and Human Services monitors and reviews the organisation’s compliance with the Service Agreement’s requirements set out in the terms and conditions and schedules including the Applicable Departmental Policies. The Service Agreement is used to manage funding provided through the department for services delivered by community service organisations and local government authorities.
The Service Agreement includes two Applicable Departmental Policies:
- Department of Health and Human Services Policy and Funding Guidelines
- Service Agreement Information Kit
The Service Agreement Information Kit provides information on the Service Agreement terms and conditions (chapter 3) and Applicable Departmental Policies (chapter 4). The Service Agreement Information Kit must be read in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services Policy and Funding Guidelines.
Human Services Standards
Organisations funded to provide services to clients are required through the Service Agreement to meet the gazetted Department of Health and Human Services Standards (Human Services Standards) and can be monitored in relation to their compliance with these standards.
Organisations funded through this activity are subject to independent review and accreditation requirements under the Human Services Standards, except where exempted by the department.
Organisations funded to deliver this service activity are required to be registered in accordance with the department's Policy, procedures and forms for the registration of disability service providers and community services
Other requirements
Community service organisations are required to ensure that service information is available on Respite Victoria Online
Monitoring performance
Funding is subject to the delivery of specified targets in performance measures. Where actual annual performance is less than 100 per cent of target performance the funded organisation should provide the Department of Health and Human Services with a justification for retaining full funding. Performance measures
Key performance measure 1: Number of hours of community based respite
Definition / This performance measure provides information about the number of client hours of community respite provided to clients through recreational, holiday program, in-home or supported community activities.Aim/objective / To monitor the numbers of hours of service provided by agencies funded to deliver community-based respite services.
Target / Provided in Service Agreement
Type of count / Cumulative
Counting rule / Count the number of client hours provided during the reporting period.
Annual targets provided to service providers are divided by 2 to translate to indicative biannual targets, divided by 4 to translate to indicative quarterly targets, and divided by 12 to translate to indicative monthly targets.
Counting rule example:
One service provider staff member provides a two hour group session to four clients. This is counted as eight client hours 1 x 2 x 4 = 8
Two service provider staff members provide a two hour group session to four clients. This is counted as two hours for each client, so 2 x 4 = 8 client hours.
Note: Respite coordination and volunteer coordination are not counted as client hours.
Monitoring frequency / Monthly / quarterly
Data source(s) collection / Agencies enter data on
•Service delivery tracking system
•Quarterly data collection/CRISSP
To accurately report 17078 community-based respite in quarterly data collection, report under the former respite activity 17010 and then choose one of the following support types:
•in-home respite
•other flexible respite
•community access respite
Submit data required as per the quarterly data collectiondata guide regardless of the reporting mechanism (QDC tool or other).
Definition of terms / A client is defined as an individual receiving community-based respite.
Client hours are defined as hours of support received by clients. Client hours only include time spent providing support directly to clients.
Data collection information
Data collections comprise data management systems and data sets.
Data collection name / Data management system / Data set / Reporting cycleService delivery tracking (SDT) / FAC/SAMS2 / SAMS2/Service delivery tracking data set / Monthly
Quarterly data collection- disability / Quarterly data collection- tool / Quarterly data collection
- minimum data set / Quarterly
Key documents
Mandatory
Disability Services Access Policy 2009
Disability Services Planning Policy - Disability Services Division 2009
Disability Support Register (DSR) Guidelines – March 2015
Flexible Support Packages Guidelines 2013
Looking After Children framework for children and young people living in out-of-home care arrangements A guide for disability service providers March 2012 (Family Options Providers only)
Undue financial hardship guidelines – Disability Services
Disability Services Access Policy – an implementation guide
Revisions and mapping
Amendment of the Performance Measure 1 (PM) to align to SAMS PM information, July 2015
Re-insertion of Undue financial hardship guidelines, August 2015
To receive this publication in an accessible format, emailService Agreement Communications<>Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
© State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services, 1 July 2017.
Where the term ‘Aboriginal’ is used it refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Indigenous is retained when it is part of the title of a report, program or quotation.
ISSN2207-8347 (online)
Available on the department’s website
Volume 3: Chapter 4: Activity descriptions1