Alcohol and other drug services reformResponses to lodged queries: Week ending 29th November

Questions have been de-identified.

Note: Questions 121 to Q134 are newly added responses.

De-identified Query Response

Q1: Are briefing or information sessions planned for service providers interested in submitting applications under the new funding model?

A Market Briefing Session will be held within three weeks of the release of the Call for Submissions. The date will be confirmed by the time the Advertised Call for Submissions is released.

Q2: What activities are included in Stage One Recommissioning?

A list of ‘in scope’ activities for stage one recommissioning has been uploaded to the AOD Reform website. Organisations with current Funding and Service Agreements with the Victorian Department of Health that include AOD service delivery are encouraged to check the activity numbers of their funded services against those activities listed as ‘in scope’ on the website. This information can be found on: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/aod/sectorreform

Q3: How will peer support functions be incorporated into the new service delivery system

Peer support activity is to be delivered through the Care and Recovery Coordination Stream in each of the 16 catchments rather than being a separate funded activity.

Care and recovery coordination functions will be informed by local catchment based planning which identifies the needs of the community. Together with a suite of treatment and support functions, peer support may be utilised to address the needs of clients and their families. This will promote greater equity in availability of peer support across the state and greater integration within local service systems.

Q4: How will prospective service providers work with homeless and other vulnerable clients?

Prospective service providers will be required to demonstrate how they will work with a range of vulnerable populations, including Aboriginal clients, those with a dual diagnosis, homeless and forensic clients. Vulnerable groups including homeless people must be considered in service delivery plans at catchment level. The Department will not prescribe the way in which this occurs.

Q5: Will the homeless and drug dependency program be in scope

Yes, refer to query 2. The homeless and drug dependency program will be consolidated under the new care and recovery coordination stream but no longer be subject to a discrete budget. Every catchment will have a care and recovery coordination

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for stage one recommissioning? stream.

The care and recovery coordination functions will be informed by local catchment based planning which identifies the needs of the community. Vulnerable groups including people experiencing homelessness will need to be specifically considered in developing service delivery models at the catchment level. This will promote greater targeting of the homelessness response in all catchments.

Q6: Are programs funded under the Local (Municipal) Drugs Strategy within the scope of the recommissioning process?

Activity 34006 funded under the former Local Municipal Drugs Strategy is included in stage one recommissioning with the exception of peak body funding and youth specific programs. Activities 32021 and 34070 funding under this strategy are exempt.

Q7: Is the scope of some activities moving from state-wide to catchment-level?

Service delivery and resource allocation for some activities currently delivered as state-wide programs will be funded and delivered on a catchment basis. However, catchment boundaries will not restrict people's access and choice in service provider.

Q8: Can state-wide service providers partner with a regional bid?

State-wide service providers may partner with a regional bid subject to the ACS requirements being met.

Q9: Is the framework document available in hard copy?

The New directions for alcohol and drug treatment services: A framework for reform is available online at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/aod/sectorreform.htm. Hard copies of the framework are not available.

Q10: Are organisations permitted to share data with other organisations to support the preparation of responses to the Advertised Call for Submissions? Should the department be involved in this process?

Individual organisations may choose to disseminate their own aggregate information and data as they see fit subject to information privacy and client confidentiality. The department will not be involved in any such dissemination processes.

Q11: There is a typo on p.30 of the New directions for alcohol and drug treatment services: A framework for reform. Goulburn Valley should be represented by dark blue and Hume represented by light blue in the catchment

Thank you for alerting us to this error. An updated document has been uploaded to the website.

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map.

Q12: Which programs are in scope for Stage One Recommissioning?

Please refer to the response provided for query 2.

Q13: Will separate applications be required for one program that covers multiple geographical catchments?

A prospective service provider may apply to deliver AOD services in one or more catchments in a single application. The application will need to address certain questions on a catchment by catchment basis. This will be clearly indicated in the Advertised Call for Submissions documentation.

Q14: Are Commonwealth funded treatment types such as Forensic Counselling Consultancy and Continuing Care, and Home Based Withdrawal included in the reform?

Forensic CCCC's and home-based withdrawal services funded by the Commonwealth Government, but administered by the Victorian Government are subject to stage one recommissioning. These funds will be incorporated into the allocations for each catchment. Providers in each catchment will be expected to deliver services to forensic and diversion clients.

Q15: How will the new model attach drug and alcohol support services to crisis beds operating in homelessness crisis centres?

Please refer to responses to queries 4 and 5 for information on expectations for catchment-based planning to inform service delivery to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups including the homeless.

Q16: Why aren’t older Australians such as those in aged care, included in the framework?

Adult alcohol and drug treatment services are available to all adults regardless of age. Older Australians with alcohol or drug misuse concerns are eligible to access treatment services.

Q17: Is Activity #34074 (CCCC) in scope for phase 1 recommissioning?

All CCCC funded activity ( #34074) is included in recommissioning . Activities currently provided under the CCCC treatment type will be split between the new counselling and care and recovery coordination treatment streams. Younger clients (people aged 16 years or older) are eligible to access these catchment based services. In such instances, service providers will be expected to deliver age and developmentally appropriate service responses. Young people (aged 12 to 25) should be also offered the choice of referral to a youth specific service, as appropriate.

Q18: Where does the Rural Outreach Drug Worker position sit within the reform framework?

The RODW position is aligned with the Care and Recovery Coordination/ Counselling service streams, and is in scope for stage one recommissioning.

Q19: Is the new Adult Alcohol and Drug Screening and Assessment

The new Adult Alcohol and Drug Screening and Assessment Tool will be utilised by catchment based intake and assessment units. The tool can be accessed via http://www.health.vic.gov.au/aod/sectorreform.htm. Hard copies are not available.

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Tool available in hard copy?

Q20: What are the reasons for AOD sector reform?

AOD sector reform was initiated in response to number of departmental reviews and a 2011 Victorian Auditor-General’s Office report Managing Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Treatment Services. This report recommended comprehensive changes to service delivery and funding arrangements to ensure a more effective and responsive system. Further information on the drivers of the reform agenda can be found in the Victorian Government’s recently released New directions for alcohol and drug treatment services: A Framework for reform.

Q21: Will the current ADIS dataset be replaced as part of AOD sector reform?

Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services will be expected to have well established and tested processes and systems to collect, store and report client and service delivery data at an individual client record and aggregate level. While the department will not prescribe specific information management (IM) and information communication technology system requirements providers are required to have or be able to develop, the following IM/ICT capabilities:

A client information system that can collect client, service provision and outcome measurement information to support coordination of care, service planning, performance monitoring and resource allocation. As a minimum, agency information systems are required to have the capacity to comply with Departmental Quarterly Data Collection specifications.

An information system with the capacity to share client information across the treatment pathway of clients, between service providers and across intake and assessment functions, to facilitate referral, case coordination and reduce screening and assessment burden. These capabilities may be met through the Prospective Service Providers existing IM/ICT systems, planned enhancements to these systems and/or supplementary collection tools.

Q22: What is the best way to receive updates on the reform process?

Updates on the reform process are posted to the ‘Sector Reform’ website, which can be accessed at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/aod/sectorreform.htm.

The peak body for AOD services in Victoria (VAADA) also publish frequent updates on the reform.

Q23: What should an organisation do if it is experiencing difficulties accessing the ACS documents on the Vic Tenders website?

If an organisation is experiencing difficulties in accessing the tender documents, please contact the Tenders VIC Helpdesk on: 03 9651 1671 or email them at tenders@dtf.vic.gov.au.

Q24: How do organisations RSVP for the Market Briefing Session

Registering with the Vic Tenders website allows you to download the Advertised Call for Submission and associated documentation. Please refer to page 30 of the Advertised Call for Submission document for further information of the Market Briefing Session.

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scheduled for 28th October?

Q25: How do you download the ACS documentation if you do not have a login and password?

You cannot access the ACS specifications without registering with the Vic Tenders website. Once you reqister, you will be provided with a login username and password, which will allow you to access the documentation.

Registering with the Vic Tenders website allows the department to record which organisations have downloaded the ACS specifications, and therefore provide such organisations with any further addendums or information published in relation to the ACS, in line with probity requirements.

Q26: Is a Word version of the Screening & Assessment Tool available?

The new Adult Alcohol and Drug (AOD) Screening and Assessment Tool is not available as a Word document. Online training modules will be available on the Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Centre website form late 2013.

Q27: Do non-residential withdrawal services have to be provided by nurses?

Non-residential withdrawal services must provide clients with access to appropriate nursing care. They must also closely liaise with medical practitioners, including General Practitioners and/or Addiction Medicine Specialists to provide generalist and specialist medical support during and post-withdrawal, as required.

Q28: Is ABI/AOD consultant funding included in stage 1 recommissioning?

ABI funding is situated within Activity #34074 (CCCC) and is therefore in scope for stage 1 recommissioning.

Q29: Is funding for Activity #34076 (ED Responding to AOD Presentations) in scope for stage 1 recommissioning?

Activity #34076 (ED responding to AOD Presentations) is out of scope for stage 1 recommissioning.

Q30: Could the total amount of funding in a catchment increase as a result of the 30% aboriginal client loading?

DTAUs represent the upper limit of weighted activity that are expected to be available to be expended across the catchment area over a twelve month period. The total allocation per catchment is inclusive of the indigenous loading.

Q31: Is a service provider only permitted to deliver services within the catchment/s its premises are based?

Providers delivering services across a range of geographic locations have the option of bidding for funding in all the catchments they service, regardless of where their premises are located, provided they can demonstrate demand for those services from each of the catchments for which they are seeking funding and appropriate access and/or outreach arrangements.

Q32: If homeless clients have no fixed address, how can homeless

Providers seeking to deliver homeless services should provide a rationale for which catchments they are seeking funding for based on available data/approximations on demand for services delivered in those catchments and/or to individuals from these

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services demonstrate client need in a given catchment?

catchments.

Q33: If service providers wish to deliver services which fall under more than one funding stream, can they lodge submissions for both?

If providers form the view that they would be seeking to provide services that would fall within more than one funding stream, they may choose to bid for services in both of those funding streams, at their discretion.

Q34: If providers were to be operating as part of a consortium and wanted to bid for more than one funding stream, how many submissions should they lodge?

Both consortia and individual providers may bid for multiple funding streams through a single or multiple submissions at their discretion.

Q35: Where should need for a particular service be demonstrated in a provider’s submission?

Submissions should answer all the evaluation criteria listed in the ACS documentation within the page limits stipulated in the Submission Response Schedule (Part C).

Part B of the ACS document provides detailed information on the specific requirements of each evaluation criterion, including where to provide evidence of local and client need for services.

Q36: Is detailed understanding of local catchment needs required for submissions seeking to deliver services in more than one catchment?

Service providers bidding for funding in multiple catchments must demonstrate an understanding of the target group, local needs and delivery environment of each catchment in which they are seeking to deliver alcohol and drug services.

Q37: Will intake and assessment be included as a function of residential services in stage 2 of recommissioning, and will additional funding be made available?

No. Intake and Assessment is being recommissioned in stage 1 of the recommissioning process. It is intended that this function will over time also be the key pathway to residential services. Residential services wanting to deliver the intake and assessment function in on or more catchments, should bid for the delivery of this treatment type in stage one recommissioning.

Q38: Will the availability of Clients assessed as requiring counselling services will be referred by the intake and assessment function to a counselling service

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counselling services within a given catchment affect client accessibility of those services?

which best meets their individual needs. Clients assessed as complex will have additional support through the care and recovery coordination function.

Whilst service provision is funded along catchment lines, this does not prevent clients accessing services in different catchments, if such services can better meet those clients’ needs.

Q39: Can organisations submit to provide services in more than one consortia?

Prospective service providers may submit to provide services as part of any number of consortia, at their discretion. Respondents are reminded that submissions will be evaluated on the credibility of a service provider’s stated ability to deliver the proposed services. Respondents bidding for service provision as part of a number of consortia will need to provide evidence of their ability to do so effectively. Respondents must declare if they are unable to fully meet the obligations of multiple bids.

Q40: What proportion of clients are anticipated to require a comprehensive assessment in the Intake & Assessment function?

All clients who enter the system through Intake & Assessment will receive a standardised, comprehensive assessment and initial treatment plan through the catchment based intake and assessment function, which will accompany clients to treatment services.

Q41: Will the Department provide support to agencies to develop the capacity for a consortium?

Consortia wishing to submit and be funded as a consortia are required to be able to, or demonstrate they will be able to, meet all requirements stipulated in the ACS by July 2014. The Department will not provide support to a consortium to develop their capacity as a consortium at any stage throughout the ACS process.

Q42: How will DH ensure submission evaluation panels are transparent, have local knowledge and possess clinical AOD understanding?

The Evaluation will demonstrate complete impartiality to, and equitable treatment of, all Respondents. A structured, objective evaluation process applying a consistent methodology to all submissions will be implemented to enable this to be achieved, and will be overseen by a Probity Auditor.

Departmental personnel including regional representatives will participate in the evaluation process. Clinical expertise will be sought as required.

Q43: What modelling has been undertaken to determine funding allocations to each catchment?

Can you please indicate what criteria has been utilised to determine funding to each catchment

The funding distribution across catchments achieves greater equity and responds to the higher level of need related to the level of disadvantage in a local population, without being too disruptive. The current relative share of available funding for metropolitan and rural areas is maintained for stage 1 of recommissioning.

This means that rural areas will continue to receive a higher average per capita rate. Metropolitan funding is distributed across all 9 catchments on a weighted per capita basis. This takes account of relative levels

of socio-economic disadvantage as measured by the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD).

Greater equity is achieved across rural Victoria by closing the gap between the highest and lowest per capita funded regions,

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across total alcohol and drug funding, to bring all rural regions into greater alignment.

Funding in rural regions that are divided into two catchments (Barwon SW and Hume) is distributed across these catchments on a weighted per capita basis that takes account of relative socio-economic disadvantage.

Q44: How will capped funding affect a service provider’s ability to accept referrals from the intake & assessment function?

What is expected if a treatment agency exceeds its target allocation?

In the event that a service provider exceeds its target allocation, including their flexible DTAU allocation, they may inform the Intake & Assessment unit that they cannot accept further referrals. As this new funding model is a baseline starting point, it will be reviewed over time.

For forensic clients, there will still be brokerage funding over 2013-14 available to purchase additional treatment once all forensic targets have been met.

Q45: Annex 1 indicates that up to one third of all assessed clients may be eligible for care and recovery coordination. What is the funding rationale for this treatment type?

It is envisaged that any activity volume over and above the catchment allocation will be sourced from the flexible use DTAUs allocated to the agencies in the catchment. As this new funding model is a baseline starting point, it will be reviewed over time.

Information regarding rationale can be found in Annex 1 of the ACS. The Department will not provide any further information at this stage.

Q46: What establishment funding will be provided to service providers?

No establishment funding will be provided.

Q47: How will the new funding model take into account the separation of the current CCCC’s modality?

Functions of existing activities have been distributed across the new treatment streams.

The funding model is based on the cost to deliver each new treatment stream.

Q48: Where has population data and client numbers been sourced from?

The population data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Estimated Resident Population data. The client numbers are sourced from the Alcohol and Drug Information System.

Q49: Are weightings for disadvantage and Aboriginality included in the funding allocations?

The total catchment DTAU allocations are fixed as outlined in Appendix 2 of the ACS. This equates to approximately $40.7m (2013-14) which is equal to current funded stage 1 activity in-scope for recommissioning. Loading is achieved within the existing funding allocation.

Q50: What is the potential impact Overall funding available for drug and alcohol support to people experiencing homelessness is being maintained but will be part of

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of recommissioning on the delivery of homelessness services, and the viability of smaller agencies?

broader activity streams. This is being done in order to simplify funding and accountability arrangements.This funding will be allocated as part of catchment specific service networks rather than to state-wide services. This will ensure greater equity and targeting to areas most in need.Existing homelessness support service providers (regardless of size or location) may submit to deliver relevant services to meet the needs of multiple catchment populations

Q51: How will the Intake & Assessment function align with current processes within the forensic system?

COATS will continue to undertake intake and assessment of forensic clients as currently provided. COATS will work with Intake and Assessment in each catchment to appropriately refer clients to local services.

Q52: What is the relationship and who assumes the risk between Intake & Assessment and the Care and Recovery Coordination functions?

There will need to be a close working relationship between the intake and assessment service and the provider of the care and recovery function to ensure seamless service provision and continuity of care for the client between intake and assessment and the commencement and continuation of treatment. Intake and assessment service will manage any risk associated with the client during the assessment phase and as in any service referral situation will be transferred once the client is referred to the care and recovery service provider. This will be discussed with preferred service providers prior to commencement of service delivery.

Q53: Is the Intake & Assessment function expected to be operated as a separate entity to other functions or can it be part of a total service delivery model?

The Intake & Assessment function may be part of an overall service delivery model within a single entity if the provider is delivering more than one service type, but will need to be delivered on behalf of other services in the catchment. The provider would need to be able to demonstrate their ability to do this.

Q54: Can a client walk into any service and gain entry to the Intake & Assessment function?

Catchment based intake and assessment services will work with local alcohol and drug treatment services to intake and assess clients who present directly to those services, either via telephone, web, face-to-face or on an outreach basis. The intake and assessment functions should primarily be delivered by the catchment based community intake and assessment provider, although service providers will have the option to use some of the flexible component of their funding allocation to support the intake and assessment of clients who present directly to their service where this is necessary and in accordance with the pricing for this function as specified in this document.

Q55: If a client is receiving treatment in one catchment and relocates to another catchment, do they need to be referred through the catchment-based intake & assessment process?

Service providers will be responsible for supporting a client to transition to and from other alcohol and drug services, in collaboration with the Intake & Assessment function. This includes assisting a client to transfer to another provider within or outside of the catchment. The Intake & Assessment function is required to ensure client data, including screening, assessment and care plan information accompanies clients throughout their treatment journeys in a secure and timely manner.

Q56: What are the performance A key feature of the AOD reform agenda is a renewed focus on outcomes-focused performance monitoring, with a specific

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measures and expected outcomes?Will service integration be measured?What will separate a good performing service from a poorly performing one?Will this be measured by performance against funded targets only?

commitment to developing a new Performance Management Framework for state-funded alcohol and drug treatment services. The department will be developing a Performance Management Frameworks as part of a set of developments being undertaken to support the implementation of the recommissioning process. The new Framework will demonstrate a shift to more effective outcomes-based performance measures. It will strengthen accountability mechanisms and support the Department in monitoring and assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of state funded alcohol and drug treatment. All funded providers following recommissioning will be required to participate in monitoring under the new Framework as a condition of funding.Preferred providers will be engaged in the finalisation of the Performance Management Framework, which will include measure related to integration and quality.

Q57: What incentives will be provided to other sectors to engage in service integration with AOD services?

This is not part of the current ACS. Inter-sectoral coordination is premised on the notion that the delivery of more holistic care for clients will improve their treatment outcomes and reduce duplication across services.

A number of other sectors are also undertaking reforms where service integration is essential, and guidance and support in relation to linkage with AOD services is a recognised priority.

Q58: How will client records be transferred in the new system?

The Advertised Call for Submission documentation outlines the requirements of Respondents regarding information and data management capability, including client confidentiality and consent requirements. Any further major data development and management initiatives in the AOD treatment system would include consultation with service providers from the AOD treatment sector.

Agencies will need to demonstrate capacity to securely transfer client information. Client consent is essential. Q59: What are the governance arrangements around the use and protection of data?

Organisations should: have implemented business and technology processes to ensure compliance with the Victorian Health Records Act (2002)

and Victorian Information Privacy Principles. have an actionable disaster recovery plan in the event of data loss and/or infrastructure failure. have clear IM/ICT governance policies, standards and guidelines in accordance with Victorian Government ICT Strategy:

2013-2014Q60: How will health records be transferred from organisations not funded in the new system?

Health Records will be transferred with client consent. The Department will seek the cooperation of providers to manage this appropriately.

Agencies will be expected to comply with the Health Records Act in transferring records. The Department will provide further information in relation to this once preferred service providers have been identified.

Q61: What transition period will Data collection requirements will be discussed with successful providers and transition will be staged if necessary.

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be in place to support agencies to collect data that is required?

Q62: Will the current ADIS dataset be replaced as part of AOD sector reform?

Broad information relating to datasets is provided in the ACS. Further detail will be provided to service providers prior to new service agreements commencing.

Q63: What role will the DH have to support redundancy packages, retraining, reprogramming and potential loss of staff?

The Department is under no obligation to assist agencies to meet staff redundancies should they be unsuccessful in securing a Service Agreement through the ACS process.

Q64: Can the Department of Health terminate an organisations Funding and Service Agreement before it expires in 2015?

Yes. The Department may alter or terminate Funding and Service Agreements as a result of a shift in government policy.

The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Treatment reforms represent a change in Victorian Government policy which affects the delivery of funded alcohol and drug treatment services (ADTS) state-wide.

The service agreement provides that if there is a change in Victorian Government policy which affects the delivery of programs or services, the Department of Health may terminate in whole or in part the service agreement by giving the organisation at least three (3) months’ written notice. The agreement also allows the Department to require that the provider cease delivering part of the services currently delivered.

Please refer to your existing funding and service agreement and the Service Agreement Information Kit for information about the Service Agreement terms and conditions.

http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/facs/bdb/fmu/service-agreementQ65: When will services be notified of the cessation of their current funding and Service Agreements?

Refer to question 65

Q66: Are current service providers Yes.

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who are unsuccessful in the ACS process obligated to continue providing services until the date their current Service Agreements are terminated?

This is important to ensure that clients continue to receive the support they need, and government reporting requirements are satisfied. If you anticipate or experience any difficulties meeting these obligations, please contact your regional office immediately.

Q67: What is the rationale for reducing the minimum age to 16 years for adult services?

Under new service specifications young people aged 16 and over are eligible to be clients of adult services being recommissioned. It is a refinement of existing policy, not a significant shift.

An age limit has never been set for generalist AOD services. Programs are defined as youth or adult but some overlap between the two is expected. Victoria’s Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services: The Framework for Service Delivery (1997) states that most “adult” services will also cater for young people where appropriate.

Allowing younger clients (16 years or older) to access catchment based alcohol and drug treatment services:o Ensures greater client choice and equity of access to alcohol and drug treatment statewide regardless of ageo Reflects current utilisation data showing that young people use both youth and general services. At present, some 2000

people aged 16-18, and 6000 aged 16-21, are clients of adult services. Hence, the policy is unlikely to see an increased burden on the generalist system or decreased utilisation in the youth system.

o Creates consistency with the mental health system (both clinical and PDRSS/MHCSS).

Service providers will be expected to deliver age and developmentally appropriate service responses. Young people should also be offered the choice of referral to a youth specific service, as appropriate.

Q68: Can you explain what a unit of Care and Recovery Coordination will comprise?

Please refer to Annex 1 of the ACS for details on the Care and Recovery Coordination function.

Q69: Will the Care and Recovery Coordination workers still have responsibility to provide care coordination services to residents of the AOD supported accommodation program as well as clients of other AOD treatment streams?

CRC workers will provide a range of case coordination, linkage and support services for consumers of AOD services including clients in AOD nominated transitional housing properties. Negotiation of nomination rights will occur with preferred service providers. Clients assessed as standard will not require or be nominated a CRC worker. In addition, some complex clients may already have an active case manager assigned to them from another program, hence will not require CRC.

Q70: What does it mean to As part of the specifications for recommissioning, screening and assessment processes will be required to support identification of

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respond to families and dependent children and how will this activity be recorded?

the needs of the family and dependent children of clients. Providers of AOD services, including new catchment level intake and assessment functions, will be required to use a common alcohol and drug screening and assessment tool that covers the impact of the client's drug use on dependent children.The tool includes specific questions relating to potential harm to dependent children associated with the client's drug use and involves an assessment of risk and documentation of necessary action where the risk is significant.This focus on screening and assessment will be reinforced through a new Performance Management Framework and local service coordination with relevant child and family services.The performance management framework will allow work with families and dependent children to be recorded as appropriate.

Q71: Does the designated Aboriginal Care and Recovery Coordination function indicate that Koori AOD positions have not been ‘ring fenced’, but rather will be a component of care and recovery work with non-Aboriginal clients?

There are a range of Koori community alcohol and drug workers in mainstream AOD organisations across the state. The funding for this service type is included in stage one recommissioning. The support functions provided through this service type will be maintained through the Care and Recovery Coordination function in each catchment. Catchment based service providers will be required to meet the needs of Aboriginal clients in mainstream services. This will provide a more equitable response to the needs of Aboriginal clients state-wide, which is further enhanced through the weighting applied to Aboriginal clients. The department will discuss how this will be met in terms of designated staff capacity after Preferred Providers have been identified during the recommissioning process.

Q72: How will the bed vacancy register be developed to ensure that a coordinated and transparent approach to the utilisation of bed based services is provided?

The BVR has been developed under the advisement of a steering committee of current providers. The next phase of development of the BVR will address prioritisation and utilisation of beds across the system.

Q73: Who will have access to bed vacancy data?

Initially, bed vacancy register data will be accessible to designated staff at centralised intake, catchment based intake and assessment and residential services.

Q74: What is the envisaged role of Services Connect in the AOD sector?

It is envisaged that AOD, Services Connect and other human/health and support services will work in a more integrated manner in future, particularly around the care coordination and cross-referral of mutual clients.

Q75: Do Care & Recovery co-ordinators provide co-ordination of services only or will they be able to deliver treatment interventions

Annex 1 of the ACS provides a detailed description of the Care and Recovery Coordination function. The function will provide additional individualised and flexible support that supplements other alcohol and drug treatment. This includes both broad coordination, support and advice; as well as brief interventions such as motivational interviewing or group work and relapse prevention to clients, as required.

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that may be counted against other funded activities?

Q76: Will counsellors have capacity to undertake aftercare?

Individual service delivery models will identify how they will manage aftercare as required in collaboration with follow-up that may be provided through the Intake & Assessment or Care and Recovery Coordination functions.

Q77: How can residential withdrawal services be responsive to local and/or culturally sensitive demand if they are state wide ‐services?

Details regarding the service specifications and requirements of residential AOD services will be released in stage 2 of reform.

Q78: When will demand modelling data be made available to stakeholders?

Decisions regarding the release of demand modelling data will be made in accordance with usual departmental processes following project conclusion.

Q79: Do you have to notify the Intake & Assessment function if you have a client moving from one treatment type to another within your own service?

Yes. Internal referrals should trigger appropriate data flow to catchment based intake and assessment services.

Q80: How does Services Connect link in relation to sharing information across service systems?

Pilot testing is currently underway to assess the use of the common alcohol and drug screening instrument in non-AOD settings, including client referral and data sharing.

Q81: How will the proposed model of intake and assessment interface with the central in-take systems in family violence and Child First?

The new intake and assessment model accounts for and improves system accessibility and pathways to and from other human/health and support services.

Q82: What are the timeframes around the development projects identified in the framework?

Most developmental projects identified in the framework are underway and will be completed to coincide with the commencement of the new system.

Please check the AOD reform website and Bulletin updates regularly for timely information regarding development projects.

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Q83: Will existing processes be acceptable until the work has been completed in the development projects?

Organisations will be required to comply with the requirements outlined in the ACS and any future departmental direction.

Transitional service delivery processes will be negotiated with individual service providers prior to new service agreements commencing in 2014.

Q84: Is a provider expected to meet all the needs of the client, such as cultural and specialist needs?

Prospective Service Providers will be required to be responsive to the diverse needs of clients in the catchment within which they are seeking to deliver services and give priority to those that face the greatest vulnerability and disadvantage as part of their core business. This includes the priority groups identified in the ACS.Further, it is expected alcohol and drug treatment service providers will develop and maintain partnerships with a range of health and community services to support clients to meet their broader health, social and economic goals.Submissions that seek to sub-contract a portion of their work should clearly outline how the requirements of the ACS will be achieved through this approach.

Q85: When will conversations recommence re residential withdrawal and intersections with non-residential programs?

Discussions regarding the reform of residential and youth services are planned to recommence by early December 2013.

Q86: How many providers will be in each catchment?

The Department expects that core service provision in each catchment will be delivered, in most cases, by up to three contracted providers (being either single entities or consortia) with potential funding for one or more smaller scale providers where a compelling case is made that this is the best way to meet particular needs in a given catchment.

Q87: Is there capacity for outreach in the Care & Recovery Coordination and Withdrawal Treatment Types?

Provision of outreach services has been factored into funding allocations for both the non-residential withdrawal and care and recovery treatment types

Q88: Will the Intake & Assessment function intake and refer clients to residential services?

Yes, the Intake & Assessment function will refer clients to all residential and non-residential treatment types once both stages of recommissioning have been completed.

Q89: In regards to the catchment-based intake and assessment process, what ‘checks and balances’ will be in place to ensure equitable service distribution?

The performance management framework and associated monitoring processes undertaken by the Department of Health regions will monitor the equitable distribution of referrals to alcohol and drug treatment services in a catchment. It should be noted that the intake assessment provider must take into account client preferences when referring to an AOD service provider.

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Q90: In relation to criterion 1, where agencies are submitting in consortia, does the page limit apply to each agency or to the consortia overall?

In the event of a consortium arrangement only one submission is to be made by the lead organisation. Other members of the consortium should not submit separate submissions relating to that consortium. The same page limits apply to consortia as they do a single organisation making a submission.

Q91: In relation to criterion 3, does the additional ‘paper’ for each catchment mean one page per catchment?

Yes. For criterion 3, a maximum of 2 pages for the first catchment is permitted, with one page per additional catchment thereafter.

Q92: Is Activity #34043 (Supported Accommodation) in scope for recommissioning and part of the Care and Recovery Coordination function?

Yes, refer question 2.

Q93: Is there a risk to agencies of having their submissions excluded if their current clients independently lobby for services that they wish to defend?

A client as an independent citizen has the right to express their view in the manner of their choice. If a client acts independently of the Prospective Service Provider such action would not put the agency’s submission at risk. If a client acts as part of or, on behalf of, a bidding agency this may been seen as breaching probity. A Prospective Service Provider should not encourage or provide client information that would support them to lobby for the provider.

Q94: What client information sessions provided by a Prospective Service Provider would be considered to contravene the probity requirements of the ACS?

There is no problem in informing clients in general terms that change may occur as a result of the ACS process. The Department would like to emphasise however that current service providers should continue to provide all services throughout this period and not create unnecessary anxiety for clients. The Department is working with VAADA to ensure a smooth transition to new service delivery arrangements for service providers.

Q95: Will the Department make available additional data to what has been provided in the ACS documentation?

The Department advises that it is not able to provide detailed data on current client service utilisation during the ACS process, beyond that which has been published in the ACS documentation. Potential respondents are advised that incorporation of such data is not a requirement in the preparation of submissions related to Advertised Call for Submission (ACS) No. 2487. Following the short-listing and interview process (Phase 1), the Department will provide organisations that are to proceed to Phase 2 with relevant de-identified catchment level client service data (subject to the signing of a deed of release) to assist in their preparation of a proposed high level service delivery plan.

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Q96: Will COATS funding remain in place from July 2014 in addition to funding received for delivery of AOD adult non-residential services?

Pre-paid forensic positions are in-scope for stage 1 recommissioning. Whilst the brokerage funding managed and paid out to agencies by ACSO is out of scope of stage 1 recommissioning, the program is being considered under the scope of reform. Delivery arrangements will be reviewed as the new service delivery is rolled out. There will still be a need for some fee for service arrangements to continue for unanticipated demand (and for elements under Stage 2 of reforms) but these will only be paid after all forensic targets have been met and will be reviewed post implementation.

Q97: Is the COATS retainer in scope for stage 1 recommissioning?

All adult non-residential forensic positions included in funding and service agreements are in scope for re-commissioning. This includes those that are referred to as "retainers" that are utilised by COATS for forensic clients. The brokerage funding managed and paid out to agencies by ACSO is currently out of scope of the recommissioning process but the funding is being considered under the scope of reform. There will still be a need for some fee for service arrangements to continue for unanticipated demand (and for elements under Stage 2 of reforms) but these will only be paid after all the new forensic targets have been met in the relevant catchment/agency and this will also be reviewed post implementation.

Q98: Is the funding model based on current provider data?

Current provider data was one element used to inform the development of the model.

Q99: How has the difference between standard and complex clients been determined?

The difference between standard and complex clients is modelled on the basis of earlier service utilisation patterns.

Q100: Are there similar hourly allocations for the Counselling function as the Care and Recovery Coordination function?

Units of treatment for the counselling function are defined differently to the care and recovery coordination function. Please see the ACS for further information.

Q101: Can a non-AOD service provider be subcontracted by a current AOD provider for catchment planning purposes?

Submissions will be evaluated against the criteria listed in the ACS. Submissions that seek to sub-contract a portion of their work should clearly outline how the requirements of the ACS will be achieved through this approach.

Q102: Will the Department of Health be releasing full contact lists of pharmacotherapy prescribers and dispensers for services submitting to provide the Intake & Assessment function?

No. Please refer to Q95.

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Q103: Will DirectLine still be the first referral point for pharmacotherapy clients?

This question is outside the scope of this ACS.

Q104: Why have requests for regional ADIS data such as service delivery data, postcode, gender and drug use trends been denied under probity guidelines?

Please refer to Q95.

Q105: Are services currently funded through COATS brokerage in scope for stage 1 recommissioning?

Please refer to Q96 and Q97.

Q106: Can the Department identify the weightings, SEIFA and IRSD that were used to determine funding distributions?

Metropolitan funding is distributed across all 9 catchments on a weighted per capita basis that takes account of areas of socio-economic disadvantage.

Q107: The ACS documentation states that only one page per additional catchment is permitted in response to criterion 3. However, in Addendum No. 1 criterion 3 states that two pages may be provided for each additional catchment.

Which is correct?

The page limits for criteria provided in Addendum No. 1 override any page limits provided in previous documents, including the ACS and Question & Answer documents released thereafter. This answer also overrides the answer to Q91 in this document.

Q108: How is the Intake & Assessment function expected to conduct its comprehensive assessments? Can the client choose their preferred modality?

The comprehensive assessment conducted by the Intake & Assessment function may be undertaken via phone, face-to-face or online, according to the individual needs and preferences of the client.

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Q109: Can Intake & Assessment funding be sub-contracted to other organisations to conduct assessments for walk-ins and clients referred after screening?

Please refer to Q101.

Q110: Where should an overview of the proposed service delivery model be incorporated and is it acceptable to use any 'spare' pages allocated (but not used) to the provision of responses regarding each of the individual streams?

A valid, responsive and flexible service delivery model should be presented in response to criterion 2. Prospective Service Providers must not exceed the maximum 5 pages per service stream. Unused page allocation for one service stream cannot be utilised for another service stream.

Q111: Is the expectation that an assessment occurs at the same time as intake, and that this is undertaken by the same person?

Prospective service providers submitting to perform the Intake & Assessment function will be required to demonstrate how they will undertake the intake & assessment of clients in accordance with the requirements of the ACS. The Department will not prescribe the way in which this occurs.

Q112: What is the expected breakdown of standard to complex clients?

The Department will not prescribe the proportion of clients to be assessed as standard or complex. Rather the assessment of a client according to the established criteria will determine the number of individuals in each of these categories. Please refer to the ACS for further information.

Q113: For rural services that have all their service types bundled into small rural drug services, what funding is not in scope?

Please refer to question 2 for a list of activity types which are in scope of stage 1 recommissioning.Note that youth alcohol and drug services are out of scope for stage 1 recommissioning.

Q114: Is there capacity for co-location or brokerage of Intake & Assessment services in regional areas where there is a large catchment area?

Please refer to Q101.

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Q115: If a provider is submitting to deliver all five service functions, will their response to criterion 2 be assessed in its entirety, or will each function be assessed separately?

Each criterion will be assessed in its entirety, regardless of the number of service functions a Respondent is proposing to deliver.

Q116: Will the department release the underpinning data and assumptions used to price the DTAU?

No the Department will not release any underpinning data or assumptions used to develop the funding model.

Q117: Can you confirm that the funding for Care and Recovery Coordination has been based on an average of 15 hours of activity per client over 12 months?

Eligible clients will be entitled to an average of 15 hours of Care and Recovery Coordination over 12 months. As this is an average, some clients may in practice utilise more or less than this 15 hour amount. Clients who use more will not need to re-episode.

Q118: What are the nominal hours that have been used to calculate funding for standard and complex counselling and non-residential withdrawal?

Please see Q100.

Q119: Can agencies not delivering the Intake & Assessment function use part of their 20% flexibility funding to undertake intake & assessment on site?If so, is it possible for an agency to use the flexible funding component to deliver other treatment activities that they have not been funded for?

The flexibility incorporated in the funding model provides capacity for service providers not funded for the intake and assessment function to intake a limited number of clients presenting at their service. Service providers will need to liaise closely with the catchment intake and assessment provider regarding the intake of clients at their service.

Within the constraints of the achievement of performance outcomes and compliance with the service agreement, prospective service providers are able to innovate to achieve prescribed outcomes.

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Q120: If an organisation that delivers a service in one catchment has a high proportion of clients from a neighbouring catchment, can they ask for funding from the neighbouring catchment to deliver services to those clients in their own catchment?

Services cannot ask for funding from their neighbouring catchment to deliver services to clients in their own catchment. Catchment boundaries are for planning purposes only and should never restrict client access.

Providers seeking to deliver services in multiple catchments should provide a rationale for which catchments they are seeking funding for based on available data/approximations of demand for services delivered in those catchments and/or to individuals from these catchments.

Q121: In relation to criterion 2, can ‘spare’ pages not used in the response to individual treatment streams, be used to provide an overview of the overall systems service delivery model?

When responding to Criterion 2, Prospective Service Providers may use the maximum 5 page limit to address the service stream in question, as well as the overall systems model within which this service stream will operate. Spare pages may not be used for any other purpose.

Q122: Can service providers bid to deliver one service stream in a whole catchment, and another service stream in only some parts of that catchment?

Organisations may bid to deliver a service stream(s) on a catchment-wide basis and another service stream to specific LGAs within a catchment, provided credible and convincing rationale of the need for those services in that area could be provided.

Q123: Will Care and Recovery Coordinators be expected to provide support to complex forensic clients given that people referred through ACSO have a Community Corrections Officer that is tasked with providing a coordination role?

It is anticipated that a proportion of forensic clients will be assessed as complex. If a forensic client is eligible for CRC, it is expected that this function will provide care coordination and support, which complements that provided through other means.

Q124: Is Activity #35402 (Small Rural Health Service Drug Services) in scope for stage 1 recommissioning?

Activity #35042 Small Rural Health Service Drugs Services is not in scope for stage one re-commissioning due to the flexible nature of the funding provided and the agreements in place around this. However, the services provided under this funding will need to be considered in the development of catchment based service delivery plans. It will be expected that Small Rural Health Services will work with the catchment based intake and assessment services to coordinate access and treatment pathways for clients.

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Q125: If a preferred provider intends to sub-contract work to other parties, will it be necessary for the sub-contractor to have achieved preferred provider status in their own right?

Submissions will be evaluated against the criteria listed in the ACS. Submissions that seek to sub-contract a portion of their work should clearly outline how the requirements of the ACS will be achieved through this approach.

A sub-contracted party will not need to have achieved preferred provider status in its own right.

Q126: Will organisations who sub-contract aspects of their service delivery be responsible for the quality of their sub-contractor’s service provision?

Yes. It is the responsibility of approved service providers to ensure that the quality of their entire service delivery model is maintained.

Q127: Considering the Koori Alcohol Drug Diversion Worker (KADDW) positions are to realign with the CRC stream, will they still be expected to provide the current level of support to the Adult and Children’s Koori Court under the CRC role?

The specific activities to be undertaken and the associated targets for these functions are still being finalised but there will continue to be a focus on work with the Koori Courts and providing diversion options for clients.

Q128: Considering the Rural Outreach Diversion Worker (RODW) positions are to realign with the CRC and Counselling streams, will they be expected to provide the current level of support to the Magistrates’ Court under the CRC stream?

The specific activities to be undertaken and the associated targets for these functions are still being finalised but there will continue to be a focus on work with Magistrates’ Courts and providing diversion options for clients.

Q129: Is it expected that the pre-sentence assessment currently performed by the RODW and KADDW positions, will be undertaken by the catchment based Intake & Assessment

The arrangements for assessment of pre-sentence clients are still being considered and may need to be somewhat flexible in transition to the new system, but will be negotiated with Approved Providers before implementation. The forensic accreditation process and requirements are currently being reviewed to ensure they are aligned with, and are appropriate for, future service delivery specifications.

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function?If so, will the assessors in the Intake & Assessment function need to be accredited?If not, will ACSO/COATS take on this role?Q130: Are the costs associated with mandated quality accreditation accounted for in the current funding formula or can agencies apply to the Department for assistance?

Applicants would be expected to meet quality accreditation requirements within the specified funding.

Q131: What formula has been applied to determine the funding allocations for each catchment?

Please refer to Q43.

Q132: In Q115 it is stated that each criterion will be assessed in its entirety, regardless of the number of service functions a Respondent is proposing to deliver. Does this mean that the page limits can be shared across multiple treatment streams?

No. Although responses to each criterion will be assessed in their entirety, page limits for each treatment type still apply. Refer to Q121 for further information.

Q133: Is it possible to attach a list of references to the AOD Submission?

Respondents may attach a list of references to their submission, provided that it does not include additional information which would add to the response to any criteria.

Q134: Can organisations provide services to interstate clients, for example, organisations located close to the Victorian-NSW border?

Yes. Catchment boundaries are for planning purposes only and should never restrict client access.

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