1. Community Aged Care & Disability All Australians deserve to age well

2. Who we are We help people change their lives through enablement, support and education We speak out for a fairer society where everybody thrives We’re Australia’s first charity We’re a not-for-profit and non-religious organisation We’ve helped people, families and communities achieve positive change for 200 years

3. Preferred Provider Panel Purpose of the information sessions:  Explain the tendering process and documents  Present The Benevolent Society’s requirements  Respond to questions from interested organisations  Publicise the Invitation to Tender

4. Preferred Provider Panel The Benevolent Society is tendering for the delivery of the bulk of our brokered services The tender is open to current brokers and any other organisations that wish to apply The tendering process will establish a Preferred Provider Panel from which The Society will select providers as required

5. Service Types Tenders are sought for: Personal Care Domestic Assistance Social Support Community Access Meal Preparation Shopping In-home Respite Overnight-centre based Respite Nursing Allied Health

6. Tender documents There are six document parts: A.Invitation to Tender – explains Tender requirements. B.Background Information. C.Service Specifications – explains service types, worker skills required, service delivery. D.Conditions of Tender – explains obligations of Tenderers and The Benevolent Society. E.Application Form – to be completed by all Tenderers. F.Contract – legal agreement for successful providers.

7. Invitation to Tender  Opened 11 February 2013  Closes 28 March 2013 2pm  The Tender Selection Panel sits in April  Preferred Provider Panel commences 1 July 2013  It concludes 30 June 2016

8. Submitting a Tender  Submitted by 2pm Thursday 28 March  Postal or hand delivery  Fill in Application Form electronically. Handwritten submissions won’t be accepted  Provide one hard copy original and two copies, and a PDF version on a compact disk or USB device  Include Certificates of Currency, evidence of Certification and Registration, audited financial statements, other essential documentation

9. The Benevolent Society’s Obligations  Receive all Tenders  Acknowledge receipt of Tenders  Maintain confidentiality of Tender documents  Timely completion of Tender assessment  Inform successful and unsuccessful Tenderers

10. Questions and Supplementary Information  Outside scheduled Information Sessions, questions in writing only, for fair and open process.  Email questions to: serviceproviders@benevolent.org.au  Q&A and any supplementary information on website: www.benevolent.org.au and view ‘Become a Preferred Provider’

11. Service Specifications Users group: a)frail aged people living in their own home who are at risk of premature of inappropriate admission to long term residential care; b)people with disability who require assistance to live independently; c)people with mental health issues who are living independently; d)special needs groups such as those experiencing dementia, those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, those with poor living conditions including those living in squalor, and palliative care clients; and e)Carers of the people above.

12. Service Specifications  Application form differentiates between basic and complex service delivery based on level of worker skill required  Service Specifications outline Care Worker qualifications and skills appropriate for basic and complex services  Service Specifications include qualifications and skills in Client Delivery, Meeting Individual Needs/Care Plans, Practice & Safety Standards, Compliance & Reporting

13. Service Specifications Service Quality Where required Services must meet and comply with relevant service standards and legislation. These include:  Community Care Common Standards;  The National Standards for Disability Services;  The National Standards for Mental Health Services; and  The Commonwealth Aged Care Act 1997.

14. Service Specifications  Culturally appropriate service delivery  Services delivered in clients’ homes or centres or other facilities  Services are required across NSW including rural and regional locations  Direct service delivery staff are required with varying levels of skills and experience

15. Service Specifications  Normal Service Availability between 6am and 6pm Monday to Friday  After hours availability for Personal Care; Nursing Services; In-home Respite; Meal preparation of weekdays, weekends and public holidays; and Overnight Centre-based Respite  After hours availability for Social Support on weekdays only

16. Service Requests  All request will be made by Service Request Form.  Service Request Form will include:  Program Code to assist reconciliation of payments  Description of service type required, service times, service duration and service frequency  Whether delivery is required at basic or complex level  Documented service costs based on costings provided in the Tender  Care recipient summary  Service details  WH&S information and access to the property  Signature by Preferred Provider, confirming intention to deliver service as described

17. Service Delivery  Service to be delivered as documented in Service Request Form and signed by Preferred Provider  Amendments to service requests are to be documented in Service Amendment Form

18. Service Delivery  Staff presentation and identification  Staff skills and qualifications as per Service Request Form  Special skills as required  Culturally sensitive

19. Travel Costs  Prices in Tender documents to be all-inclusive including travel and GST  Cost of travel to isolated clients to be agreed between The Society and Preferred Provider and included in Service Request Form  Cost of travel to isolated clients can be added on, based on ATO rates

20. Payment for Service  Application Form seeks price information for each service type  Standards for information on invoices  Process for invoice submission  Payment of invoices within 60 days  Fees are fixed for the first financial year, with annual reviews

21. Preferred Provider Panel  Multi-agency  No guarantee of work  No obligation for The Society to use all Preferred Providers  The Society’s expectation that Preferred Provider Panel is an option for brokered services  Future opportunities to join Preferred Provider Panel

22. Preferred Provider Status Must maintain:  National Criminal History Record Checks  Working with Children Check (where needed)  Insurances  Privacy and confidentiality  Record keeping and reporting  Service quality  Service responsiveness

23. Application Form  Complete electronically and submit by mail or hand deliver  Respond to all questions  Note section E12 Non- compliance & amendments

24. Invitation to Tender Next steps: Any queries by email: serviceproviders@benevolent.org.au  Visit The Benevolent Society’s website for updates  Submit tender by closing date  Be prepared for queries during assessment in April

25. Questions Any questions asked at scheduled information sessions, and answers provided, will be recorded and posted in The Society’s website.

26. Contact us Anne Chamberlain National Program Director, Community Ageing and Disability Services The Benevolent Society serviceproviders@benevolent.org.au www.benevolent.org.au ‘Become a Preferred Provider’