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
Monitoring performance
Key performance measure 1: Daily average number of clients
Data collection information
Key documents
Mandatory
Volume 3: Chapter 4: Activity descriptions1
Activity information
Service delivery tracking
Service delivery tracking activity? Yes
Output group
Child protection and family services
Output
Specialist support services
Objective
To provide case management for children and young people placed in residential out-of-home care facilities.
Description of the service
Residential care - case management is the provision of assessment, planning, facilitation and advocacy for options and services to meet the needs of children and young people in residential care through communication and available resources to promote cost effective outcomes.This activity has historically comprised two sub-activities that align with the residential care activities: residential care intermediate (RP2) and residential care complex (RP3).
Placement in residential care is based on assessment of each individual’s needs. This includes consideration of alternative placement in home-based care, and in particular kinship care, wherever possible.
Ensuring the quality and safety of residential care for children and young people is a priority.
In October 2016, policy requirements were introduced for all residential care homes funded at the complex level. Four (or more) bed homes, homes with less than four beds, time limited placements negotiated with the department to meet individual need and those providing therapeutic residential care are required to have stronger safety and supervision requirements, as outlined in the program requirements for residential care. These policy requirements expand on safety and supervision requirements introduced in April 2015 for four bed homes funded at the complex level.
Each year, the department funds the delivery of the Residential care learning and development strategythrough the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare. The strategy provides training and professional development opportunities to support the skill development of the residential care workforce.
In May 2016, funding was allocated to upskill current residential care workers ahead of introduction of a minimum qualification by the end of 2017.
Therapeutic residential care
Therapeutic residential care is a contemporary model of residential care informed by an understanding of trauma, attachment and child development.
A therapeutic loading, in addition to residential care base funding, is allocated for all therapeutic placements. The therapeutic loading provides for additional staffing, including a therapeutic specialist as outlined in the program requirements for the delivery of therapeutic care in Victoria. These program requirements set out the department’s expectation for delivery of the therapeutic residential care model, including additional mandatory training requirements. The program requirements for therapeutic residential care are in addition to the program requirements for residential care services in Victoria.
Client group
Children and young people and/or larger sibling groups in out-of-home care – 100 per cent of whom are subject to current protective involvement.
Service delivery
Community service organisations (CSOs)and the Department of Health and Human Services
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.
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
Monitoring performance
Funding is subject to the delivery of specified targets in performance measures. Where actual annual performance is less than 85 per cent of target performance the funded organisation should provide the Department of Health and Human Services with a justification for retaining full funding.
Key performance measure 1:Daily average number of clients
Definition / This performance measure provides information about temporary, short-term or long-term contracted case management services provided by community service organisations.This is required to monitor performance against case management funded targets.Aim/objective / To provide case management for children and young people placed in residential out-of-home care facilities.
Target / Provided in Service Agreement.
Type of count / Non-cumulative
Counting rule / Total number of placement days being case managed during the reporting period, divided by number of days in the reporting period
The placement days includes the first day (i.e. the day the child enters placement) and excludes the last day (i.e. the day the child departs from the placement).This is not a cumulative measure.
For example:
1 child, placed for 29 day = 29 placement days
3 children, placed for 31 days = 93 placementdays
10 children, placed for 28 days = 280 placementdays
No. of placement days used in June quarter = 402 (29 + 93 + 280)
Total days June quarter = 91
Daily average placements 402/91 = 4.4
Monitoring frequency / Monthly – by the 10th day of the following month.
Data source(s) collection / CRIS/CRISSP and the service delivery tracking system.
Data collection information
Data collections comprise data management systems and data sets.
Data collection name / Data management system / Data set / Reporting cycleOut-of-home care / CRISSP / CRISSP / Quarterly
Service delivery tracking (SDT) / FAC/SAMS2 / SAMS/Service delivery tracking data set / Monthly
Key documents
Mandatory
Child Protection Practice Manual
Program Requirements for Residential Care Services in Victoria
Program requirements for the delivery of therapeutic care in Victoria
Improving safety for children and young people in residential care Overnight Safety Plan template
Labour Hire Procedures
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