Frequently asked questions
Contents
Background
Service Delivery Tracking
NPAH Activities
Frequently Asked Questions
1.Which organisations may find these FAQs helpful?
2.The targets for my organisation do not look right. Who can I discuss this with?
3.Do I still need to report to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare?
4.Where can I find information on the counting rules for funded activities reported via the service delivery tracking system?
5.Is there other information I can use to assist me with counting rules?
6.When should organisations submit their data through the service delivery tracking process?
7.NPAH – Adult Initiatives (94651)
8.NPAH – Accommodation Options for Families (94652)
9.NPAH – Families at risk of homelessness (94653)
10.NPAH – A Place to Call Home (94654)
11.NPAH – Homeless Children’s Initiatives (94655)
12.NPAH – Support to Maintain Tenancies (94656)
13.NPAH – Family Violence Initiatives (94657)
14.NPAH – Youth Initiatives (94658)
15.NPAH – Family Violence Stage 2 (94671)
16.NPAH – Initial Assessment and Planning – Opening Doors (94672)
Background
Service Delivery Tracking
In 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services (the department) introduced an online service delivery tracking process which involves organisations accounting for monthly service delivery against their service agreement target. This ensures that both the organisation and the department have a shared view of service delivery in a timely and regular manner. This supports organisations in managing their progress towards meeting agreed targets, and assists the department to manage its reporting commitments.
For further information about the service delivery tracking refer to Service Delivery Tracking online process frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the Funded Agency Channel <
NPAHActivities
The department funds the provision of services toprograms and services for people who are experiencing, or are at risk of homelessness.This document provides information on performance measures and counting rules for tenNPAH activities that provide assessment, referral and case managed support. These activities are:
•NPAH – Adult Initiatives (94651)
•NPAH – Accommodation Options for Families (94652)
•NPAH – Families at risk of Homelessness (94653)
•NPAH – A Place to CallHome (94654).
•NPAH – Homeless Children’s Initiatives (94655)
•NPAH – Support to Maintain Tenancies (94656)
•NPAH – Family Violence Initiatives (94657)
•NPAH – Youth Initiatives (94658)
•NPAH – Family Violence Stage 2 (94671)
•NPAH – Initial Assessment and Planning – Opening Doors (94672).
For information on other Family Violence and Housing and Homelessness Assistance activities please refer to the Family Violence activities and the Housing and Homelessness Assistance activities performance reporting requirement FAQs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.Which organisations may find these FAQs helpful?
This information will be helpful to organisations funded to deliver any of the above activities.
2.The targets for my organisation do not look right.Who can I discuss this with?
If you have any queries about your targets, please discuss it with your departmental contact.
3.Do I still need to report to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare?
Yes, the reporting requirements remain unchanged and organisations will still need to submit their data through the Department of Health and Human Services Homelessness Data Collection and other homelessness reporting systems.
The Department of Health and Human Services Homelessness Data Collection was introduced in July 2015. This reporting requires all Specialist Homelessness Services Collection data being submitted on or before the tenth working day after the end of the month.The additional requirement is that the same extract is also submitted to the department through the Secure Data Exchange.
In addition to the above reporting requirements, organisations who receive funding through the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness, Housing Establishment Funding and Transitional Housing Management programs must complete the following manual reporting to the Department of Health and Human Services:
•National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness quarterly reporting by 21 July, 21 October, 21 January and 21 April
•Housing Establishment Funding biannually by 20 January and 20 July each year
•Transitional Property Reconciliation when requested
•Transitional Housing Management Rent Remittance by the fourteenth day every month
4.Where can I find information on the counting rules for funded activities reported via the service delivery tracking system?
The activity descriptions in the Volume 3 of the Policy and Funding Guidelines information regarding performance measures and counting rules. These can also be found on the Funded Agency Channel.
5.Is there other information I can use to assist me with counting rules?
Yes, ready reckoners have been developed to provide accessible information on counting rules which has been align to this FAQs as well as other FAQs available on Funded Agency Channel
6.When should organisations submit their data through the service delivery tracking process?
Data for each month must be submitted between the 1st and 10th day of the following month, for exampleJuly 2016, data must be submitted between 1 August and 10 August 2016.
7.NPAH – Adult Initiatives (94651)
7.1What services are provided?
The program provides assessment, referral and case managed support which may include counselling, crisis resolution, personal care, life skills training, information and advocacy and/or assistance with accessing appropriate long term housing and training and employment opportunities.
7.2How is the number of new support periods counted forthis activity in the service delivery tracking system?
Count the number of new support periods opened during the month.
7.3What is the definition of ‘number of new support periods’?
A support period in the Adult Initiatives activity includes the period of support to an individual client.
This may include assessment, referral and case managed support.
A support period starts on the day the client first receives support.
A support period ends when:
1.the relationship betweenthe client and service provider ends
2.the client has received the maximum support that can be provided
3.a client has not received any servicefor a whole calendar month and there is no ongoing relationship.
7.4What is a client?
A client is a person who receives a direct service from your agency.To be a client the person must directly receive a service and not just be a beneficiary of a service.
A client can be of any age and accompanying children who receive direct services are a client.
8.NPAH – Accommodation Options for Families (94652)
8.1What services are provided?
The Accommodation Options for Families programhas two distinct service components:
•Flexible support package to families and individuals.The service enables access to short and medium term accommodation and provides support for up to fourteen months and leads to long term secure housing. The length and intensity of support is based on assessment with provision of intensive support for families with complex needs andshort interventions (six weeks to six months) for families with less complex needs.
•Private rental brokerage funds to families and individuals to establish and/or maintain tenancies in the private rental market. The service can include the provision of rent in advance, payment of bond (if not eligible for the Department of Health and Human Services bond program), utility costs, alleviation of rental debt, purchase of furniture, payment of a time limited rent subsidy, and provision of support to obtain and sustain private rental.
8.2How is the number of new support periods counted forthis activity in the service delivery tracking system?
Count the number of new support periods opened during the month.
8.3What is the definition of ‘number of new support periods’?
A support period in the Adult Initiatives activity includes the period of support to an individual client.
This may include assessment, referral and case managed support.
A support period starts on the day the client first receives support.
A support period ends when:
1.the relationship betweenthe client and service provider ends
2the client has received the maximum support that can be provided
3.a client has not received any servicefor a whole calendar month and there is no ongoing relationship.
8.4What is a client?
A client is a person who receives a direct service from your agency.To be a client the person must directly receive a service and not just be a beneficiary of a service.
A client can be of any age and accompanying children who receive direct services are a client.
9.NPAH – Families at risk of homelessness (94653)
9.1What services are provided?
The program provides assessment, referral and case managed support which may include counselling, crisis resolution, personal care, life skills training, information and advocacy and/or assistance with accessing appropriate long term housing and training and employment opportunities.
Case workers also direct support which typically includes assistance to meet the goals and outcomes identified in a person’s case plan.
9.2How is the number of new support periods counted forthis activity in the service delivery tracking system?
Count the number of new support periods opened during the month.
9.3What is the definition of ‘number of new support periods’?
A support period is the total period of time a client receives services from the agency.
One support period is counted for each individual who is receiving support under this activity.
A support period ends when:
1.the relationship between client and the agency ends
2.the client has received the maximum support the agency can offer
3.a client has not received any service from the agency for a whole calendar month.
If a client’s support period has ended and the client returns in a new reporting month requesting further support, this will be counted as a new support period.
Clients are counted once in a support period (noting that a support period may span across several months).
9.4What is a client?
A client is a person who receives a direct service from your agency.To be a client the person must directly receive a service and not just be a beneficiary of a service.
A client can be of any age and accompanying children who receive direct services are counted as an individual client.
10.NPAH – A Place to Call Home (94654)
10.1What services are provided?
The program provides homeless families or families in housing crisis with access to 68 dispersed properties coupled with support for twelve months. The properties are allocated to the transitional housing management program and families living in these properties together with the property are transferred to long term public housing.Support will continue for an additional two months after the transfer to ensure that strong links are developed with local communities.
10.2How is the number of new support periods counted forthis activity in the service delivery tracking system?
Count the number of new support periods opened during the month.
10.3What is the definition of ‘number of new support periods’?
A support period is the total period of time a client receives services from the agency.
One support period is counted for each individual who is receiving support under this activity.
A support period ends when:
1.the relationship between client and the agency ends
2.the client has received the maximum support the agency can offer
3.a client has not received any service from the agency for a whole calendar month.
If a client’s support period has ended and the client returns in a new reporting month requesting further support, this will be counted as a new support period.
Clients are counted once in a support period (noting that a support period may span across several months).
10.4What is a client?
A client is a person who receives a direct service from your agency.To be a client the person must directly receive a service and not just be a beneficiary of a service.
A client can be of any age and accompanying children who receive direct services are counted as an individual client.
11.NPAH – Homeless Children’s Initiatives (94655)
11.1What services are provided?
The program provides a suite of support responses to children and families, including:
•case management
•therapeutic group work.
Linked flexible brokerage is also available to enhance opportunities for children experiencing homelessness.
11.2How is the number of new support periods counted forthis activity in the service delivery tracking system?
Count the number of new support periods opened during the month.
11.3What is the definition of ‘number of new support periods’?
A support period is the total period of time a client receives services from the agency.
One support period is counted for each individual who is receiving support under this activity.
A support period ends when:
1.the relationship between client and the agency ends
2.the client has received the maximum support the agency can offer
3.a client has not received any service from the agency for a whole calendar month.
If a client’s support period has ended and the client returns in a new reporting month requesting further support, this will be counted as a new support period.
Clients are counted once in a support period (noting that a support period may span across several months).
11.4What is a client?
A client is defined as a child aged up to 12 years (with capacity to support children up to the age of 18) whose familyarereceiving case management support from a specialist homelessness support or family violence support from the agency.
To be a client the person must directly receive a service and not just be a beneficiary of a service.
12.NPAH – Support to Maintain Tenancies (94656)
12.1What services are provided?
The program provides assessment, referral and case management to address needs and risk factors that make tenancies within public and social housing vulnerable.
12.2How is the number of new support periods counted forthis activity in the service delivery tracking system?
Count the number of new support periods opened during the month period.
12.3What is the definition of ‘number of new support periods’?
A support period is the total period of time a client receives services from the agency.
One support period is counted for each individual who is receiving support under this activity.
A support period ends when:
1.the relationship between client and the agency ends
2.the client has received the maximum support the agency can offer
3.a client has not received any service from the agency for a whole calendar month.
If a client’s support period has ended and the client returns in a new reporting month requesting further support, this will be counted as a new support period.
Clients are counted once in a support period (noting that a support period may span across several months).
12.4What is a client?
A client is a person who receives a direct service from your agency.To be a client the person must directly receive a service and not just be a beneficiary of a service.
A client can be of any age and accompanying children who receive direct services are counted as an individual client.
13.NPAH – Family Violence Initiatives (94657)
13.1What services are provided?
The program provides support to people to address the range of issues related to their family violence experience.These issues impact on their ability to access and maintain long-term housing. An assertive case management framework is used and builds on people’s strengths and aspirations. Services are provided in a range of accommodation settings, including the family home.
Case workers also provide direct support which typically includes assistance to meet the goals and outcomes identified in a person’s case plan.
The average support period is generally up to 13 weeks in duration.This service provides intensive support and referrals for a range of issues.
13.2How is the number of new support periods counted forthis activity in the service delivery tracking system?
Count the number of new support periods opened during the month.
13.3What is the definition of ‘number of new support periods’?
A support period is the total period of time a client receives services from the agency.
One support period is counted for each individual who is receiving support under this activity.
A support period ends when:
1.the relationship between client and the agency ends
2.the client has received the maximum support the agency can offer
3.a client has not received any service from the agency for a whole calendar month.
If a client’s support period has ended and the client returns in a new reporting month requesting further support, this will be counted as a new support period.
Clients are counted once in a support period (noting that a support period may span across several months).
13.4What is a client?
A client is defined as an individual or a family receiving case management directly from the agency. However if a child or partner of the client receives support via their own agreed case plan, they are counted as individual clients.
To be a client the person must directly receive a service and not just be a beneficiary of a service.
14.NPAH – Youth Initiatives (94658)
14.1What services are provided?
Four programs are auspices under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness Youth Services. One or more of the following programs may be delivered:
•strengthening youth crisis responses
•leaving care
•family reconciliation
•employment, education and training
14.2How is the number of new support periods counted forthis activity in the service delivery tracking system?
Count the number of new support periods opened during the month.
14.3What is the definition of ‘number of new support periods’?
A support period is the total period of time a client receives services from the agency.
One support period is counted for each individual who is receiving support under this activity.