IBT Monitoring Working Group

Terms of Reference

IBT Monitoring Working Group

Purpose

1. The purpose of the IBT Monitoring Working Group is to monitor the operation of the Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Act during its implementation phase.
2. This document records the IBT Settlement Parties agreement to the objectives, parameters and scope of the work.

Background

1. The Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill is currently being considered by the Health Select Committee.
2. Following Royal Assent, the Act will implement the settlement agreement reached by the IBT Settlement Parties that will result in Home and Community Support (HCS) employees receiving payment towards costs and payment for time spent travelling between clients, from 29 February 2016.
3. Payment is made under a ‘1 band model’ based on weighted averages and calculated in accordance with formulas prescribed in Schedule 3 of the Act
4. The IBT Settlement parties are:

• the Crown represented by the Crown Negotiator (and Ministry of Health)
• the Ministry of Health as a funder of DSS services
• the 20 District Health Boards
• the Public Services Association and Etū (formally Service and Food Workers Union) on behalf of HCS employees
• Healthcare of New Zealand Ltd. and Access Home health Ltd. on behalf of HCS providers.

ACC, although not a settlement party, have agreed to similar arrangements and therefore need to be included in the monitoring work.

1. The IBT Settlement Parties and HCHA have agreed to monitor the operation of the Act between 1 March 2016 and 31 August 2016 pursuant to clause 3.6 of the IBT Settlement Agreement.

Objectives

1. To monitor the operation of the Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Act between 1 March 2016 and 31 August 2016.
2. To provide the IBT Settlement Parties with an indicative report with recommendations as at 1 June 2016 and a final report with recommendations as at 31 August 2016 on any issues arising including proposed processes for resolution.

Parameters and Scope

1. The IBT Settlement Parties have agreed that the monitoring will cover:

(a) time and distance thresholds -- 3.7kms and 8.5 minutes including 2 minutes car to door time, 15kms Exceptional Travel threshold – as used in a one band model

(b) affordability -- potential to adjust 15km to a lower threshold, potential to increase the mileage rate to $0.60

(c) service delivery – any disruption arising specifically from implementation of IBT and the agreed thresholds

(d) disadvantage – as defined in clause 3.1 (vi) of the Settlement Agreement

(e) fairness of compensation to workers the 1 band model (including consideration of factors like parking)

(f) impact of removing the existing Fair Travel funding; and

(g) any disadvantage raised by Providers following implementation (as outlined in the Settlement Variation).

1. The IBT Monitoring Working Group will determine what data will be monitored and reported on. The IBT parties will have access to that data
2. The IBT Settlement Parties have acknowledged and agreed that the outcomes of the monitoring process are reliant on the availability of robust data and potentially conclusions may need to be based on reliable indicative data.
3. This TOR may be varied via agreement in writing by the IBT Settlement parties.

IBT Monitoring Working Group Membership

1. Membership of the IBT Monitoring Working Group is:

• Melissa Woolley (PSA)
• Sam Jones (E Tu)
• Graeme Titcombe (Access Homehealth Ltd for providers)
• Richard Williams (HHL Group for providers)
• Paul Baines (ACC)
• Jon Shapleski (DHBs)
• Mark Powell (MOH)
• Toni Atkinson (MOH)
• Karina Kwai (MOH)

1. The IBT Monitoring Working Group will determine a schedule of meetings as required to develop the:

(a) indicative report as at 1 July 2016 by 15 July 2016

(b) final report as at 31 August 2016 by 16 September 2016

Signatures:

The Home and Community Health Association was part of the IBT negotiations and endorsed the IBT Settlement Agreement and endorses this Terms OF Reference.