About the City of Casey S Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)

This purpose of this document is to outline the guidelines for applying for brokerage funding to run CHSP social support groups in the City of Casey.

About the City of Casey’s Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)

The City of Casey’s Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is funded by the Commonwealth Government and the City of Casey. CHSP services provide support to older/frail people aged 65 years and over (or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), who are living in their own homes whose capacity for independent living is at risk, or who are at risk of premature or inappropriate admission to long-term residential care.

Services are delivered within an active service model with an emphasis on person centred, capacity building and restorative care. CHSP provides a range of services including home care, personal care, respite care, delivered meals, transport, as well as social support group programs.

About CHSP Social Support programs

The Federal Government’s Commonwealth Home Support Programme Manual 2015 provides the following definition of Social Support group programs in the context of the CHSP service model:

Social Support-group (formerly known as Centre-Based Day Care) provides an opportunity for clients to attend and participate in social interactions which are conducted away from the client’s home and in, or from, a fixed base facility or centre based settings.

These structured activities are provided in a group-based environment and designed to develop, maintain and support social interaction and independent living.

Activities may take the form of:

»  Group-based activities held in or from a facility/centre (e.g. pre-set or individually tailored activities promoting physical activity, cognitive stimulation and emotional wellbeing)

»  Group excursions conducted by centre staff but held away from the centre.

Services may include light refreshments and associated transport and personal assistance (e.g. help with toileting) involved in attendance at the centre.

CHSP is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government and the City of Casey.

About the Casey Social Support Planning Group (CSSPG) and CHSP Brokerage Program

In 2012, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services funded the City of Casey to conduct a social support planning project to look at the development and future strategic direction of social support services for eligible residents. This was conducted in response to the high growth in population within the Casey population.

The Casey Social Support Planning Group (CSSPG), consisting of agencies that provide social support services to Casey residents, was formed to act as a consultative group to inform and guide the project’s development.

The aims of the group are:

»  To improve collaboration, planning and coordination between agencies,

»  To create an alliance of services,

»  To strengthen infrastructure and its capacity to deliver social support services,

»  To identify gaps in services and develop new and innovative ways to deliver social support services for eligible residents in the City of Casey.

CHSP Brokerage funding program

The CSSPG identified a number of ways that the City of Casey could support this alliance, including being a funding conduit through brokerage arrangements. The Department of Health and Human Services supported this recommendation and agreed to allocate funds to the City of Casey to be brokered to social support services to deliver social support groups to eligible residents of the City of Casey.

Special needs groups within the Casey CHSP target population

Within the Casey CHSP target population it is recognised there are some special needs groups who may experience particular difficulties in gaining access to services. Therefore the CSSPG has determined that priority for brokerage funding will be given to services that can provide programs to the special needs groups listed below:

»  People from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

»  People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

»  People who live in rural and remote areas

»  People who are financially or socially disadvantaged

»  Veterans

»  People who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless

»  People who identify as lesbian, gay men, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (including people who are perceived to be, or have in the past lived as such)

»  People who are care leavers

»  Parents separated from children by forced adoption or removal.

These special needs groups align with those recognised in the Commonwealth Home Support Programme Guidelines, the Aged Care Act 1997 and by other aged care programs.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme Guidelines also list the following guiding principles in working with special needs groups:

»  Ensure that all clients have equity of access to services and that support is accessible, appropriate and free from discrimination

»  Ensure through the quality framework, including the home care standards, that grant recipients consider the requirements of special needs groups, and that services are delivered in a way that is culturally safe and appropriate for older people from diverse backgrounds

»  Support access to translation and interpreting services

»  Consider equity of access for special needs groups in the allocation of new funding

»  Ensure that the inability to pay for services does not exclude anyone from receiving services.

These principles support the goals identified in the Australian Government’s National Ageing and Aged Care Strategy for People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Backgrounds and National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Ageing and Aged Care Strategy.

Eligibility - Who Can Apply?

»  Organisations must be eligible to provide CHSP services. These include community organisations, religious and charitable bodies, state government agencies, health agencies, and private (non-profit) organisations.

»  Organisations must be able to deliver social support programs to the CHSP target group, preferably to special needs groups as outlined on page 2.

»  Organisations must work within the active service model approach and are encouraged to work in partnership with other agencies to deliver social support programs.

»  Organisations should be a constituted, non-profit and preferably an incorporated association. If the organisation is not incorporated, then it must be auspiced by an incorporated association.

»  A community organisation seeking funds should be based in the municipality and/or must be servicing the residents of the City of Casey.

»  Organisations are required to provide detailed information regarding the proposed service, project or program for which funds are required.

»  Organisations must practice equal opportunity and non-discriminatory practices.

»  Organisations must have current Public Liability Insurance (minimum $10 million).

»  Organisations should demonstrate they are meeting a clear need in the community and not duplicating an existing service.

»  Organisations must comply with the Department of Health’s The Commonwealth Home Support Programme Guidelines and any other Acts, Regulations, Local laws and By-laws in any way applicable to the performance of the services agreed to within this brokerage arrangement.

»  Organisations must demonstrate they are in a position to remain financially viable.

Ineligibility

The following will not be considered for funding:

»  Organisations formed under the umbrella of a political party or that have an affiliation with a political party.

»  Programs or services that are considered the responsibility of another authority, funding body or tier of government.

»  Programs with the sole purpose of advocating a religious faith or belief.

»  Capital Works projects. An item is considered capital if it is permanently fixed to the ground or building and increases the value of the facility.

»  Applications from individuals, registered or private businesses and/or profit making groups.

»  Any items that do not directly relate to the delivery of the project/activity for which funds are being applied for.

»  Applications for fundraising purposes.

»  Applicants seeking retrospective funding where projects have commenced prior to receiving funding approval.

Note: Applicants are advised not to commit, order or spend any funds for a brokerage application prior to receiving funding approval. Council will not reimburse groups for any funds already spent.

Incomplete or unsatisfactory applications may be deemed ineligible.

Applicants may be contacted and asked to submit additional information. If the information is not received within a specified time period, the application may also be deemed ineligible.

Funding Timeline

27 March 2017 Funding opportunity advertised and information distributed.

29 March 2017 Brokerage funding information session for interested applicants.

3 April 2017 Applications open. Online application via Council’s website at

casey.smartygrants.com.au

14 April 2017 Applications close. No access to online application process after 5 pm.

An acknowledgement email will be sent to groups once the online application has been submitted.

12 May 2017 Applications processed to determine eligibility.

Applications assessed.

Organisations informed of the outcome of application.

Conditions of Funding

All successful applicants will need to sign a Service and Funding Agreement with the City of Casey prior to any brokerage funds being provided. All applicants must then commit to the following once the program commences:

»  Statistical information – Service hours to be submitted to City of Casey on a monthly basis.

»  Acquittal and narrative report on program progress at six and 12 months after program commencement.

»  Compulsory attendance at Social Support Planning Network meetings with City of Casey at least twice yearly.

»  Site interviews as required.

»  Acknowledge the financial support provided by City of Casey in any publications produced as part of the funding.

»  Funding will be provided at the standard CHSP unit price of $15.48.

»  Client fees will also contribute to the total costs for funding the program.

»  The CHSP brokerage funding can only be given to support participants who are CHSP eligible and aged 65 years and over (or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). Please note, alternate funding will need to be obtained to support any individuals who attend the program who are under 65 (or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are under 50 years of age).

»  The CHSP targets can only include service delivery hours provided to clients people aged 65 years and over (or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people).

»  Failure to meet target hours may result in the need for brokerage funding to be returned.

In addition, all successful applicants must adhere to the Conditions of Grants and Contributions as outlined in the City of Casey’s Grants and Contributions Policy, which is available from Council’s website at:

www.casey.vic.gov.au/council/policies-strategies/g-i/grants-and-contributions-policy.

Important Information

»  An application for brokerage funding does not result in funding, or may result in only a portion of the amount requested being allocated.

»  Funding applications must be completed online using the CHSP – Brokerage Funding Application Form on Council’s grants website: casey.smartygrants.com.au

»  Minimum brokerage funding: The minimum amount that groups can apply for is $5,000.

»  Funding allocations are for a one year period with possible extension upon review.

»  Number of applications: No limit to the number of applications per organisation/agency.

»  Auspice organisation: Organisations that are not incorporated will require endorsement from an auspice organisation. Auspice organisations must be incorporated, not-for-profit, and must be aware of and support the funding application. Usually funds will be paid directly to the auspice organisation that will manage the funds on behalf of the group and ensure the funds are spent in accordance with the funding application.

Assessment criteria

All applications for funding will be assessed by an evaluation panel which will comprise of representatives from the City of Casey and the Department of Health.

All applications will be assessed based of the following criteria:

»  Priority will be given to programs that are addressing current service gaps, are able to identify a need for this program and will not duplicate what is currently available to City of Casey residents.

»  Must deliver programs to meet the CHSP target group, with priority being given to special needs groups and guiding principles listed on page 2.

»  Programs based on innovation and creativity that facilitate a capacity building, person centred and an ASM philosophical approach to service delivery.

»  Programs that create meaningful opportunities to reduce social isolation, and develop, maintain and support social interaction and independent living.

»  Must be able to outline the number of service hours and number of clients the program will aim to provide.

»  Programs that will work in partnership with other agencies are highly desirable.

Application information

Online application forms are available on Council’s website at: casey.smartygrants.com.au and are administered using SmartyGrants grant management software. Supporting documents and attachments should be in electronic format (paper forms can be scanned and saved) and submitted as part of the online application process.

ALL applications require:

»  Current Public Liability Insurance Certificate of Currency (provided by your insurance company)

»  Proof of legal status (the group’s incorporation number or the incorporation number of an auspice organisation).

»  Organisations without an ABN will be required to complete and provide an electronic copy of a Statement by a Supplier Form (SBS) which is available from Council’s website at:

www.casey.vic.gov.au/community-services/community-support/funding-grants/grants-contributions

»  The attachment of these documents is mandatory and is required to complete the application. Please plan ahead and have information ready in electronic format when submitting the online application.

If you have any questions about the CHSP Brokerage Funding Program, please contact Troy Macris on 9792 7075 or email

The closing date for applications is 14 April 2017 by 5 pm.

Community Care Vision: Unified services that offer choice, support independence and respect people, their families and communities.

Supported by the Australian Government Department of Health. Visit the Department of Health website (www.health.gov.au) for more information.

Although funding for this program has been provided by the Australian Government, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Australian Government.

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