Implementation of the new core performance indicators (PIs) supports the NSW Health vision that people with alcohol and other drug (AOD) related harms experience person-centred, safe, high quality intervention and care. The new core PIs focus on building safety and quality practice across all service providers.
Additionally, the new core PIs aim to reduce the administrative burden on all NGO contract stakeholders by streamlining indicators and providing consistency across contracts.
The new core PIs are applicable to all non-government organisations contracted by NSW Health to provide AOD treatment services, including withdrawal management, residential rehabilitation, day rehabilitation programs, counselling, case management, continuing care and support services.
No. The new core PIs do not apply to non-treatment AOD services such as prevention, education, and health promotion. The new core PIs apply to AOD treatment services, including withdrawal management, residential rehabilitation, day rehabilitation programs, counselling, case management, continuing care and support services.
The new core PIs will be included in all AOD treatment services funding contracts, including those funded through the Ministerially Approved Grants (MAGs) program, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services (DATS) grants, Methamphetamine Commitment contracts, Drug Package contracts, and Drug Court funding arrangements.
The new core PIs will replace many of the existing key PIs included in AOD treatment service contracts. However, some funding, service specific and activity PIs may continue to be included in contracts.
The new core PIs apply from 1 July 2018 for the majority of funding contracts. The one PI that requires monthly reporting is AOD-Core1: NSW Minimum Data Set (MDS) for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services (DATS), with the first report due 21 August 2018. All other new core PIs require six (6) monthly reporting, with the first report due 21 January 2019.
NSW Health contract managers – either Local Health District (LHD) NGO coordinators and/or Ministry of Health AOD Branch - will communicate with organisations that hold contracts for AOD treatment services, informing them of the new arrangements and providing support materials.
More information about the new core PIs is available through the PI specifications documents.
Yes. Each PI has specifications describing the indicator, the reporting requirements, and any related NSW Health policy documents. Each PI also has a fact sheet that provides general information about the PI topic. Organisations will receive electronic copies of these resources from contract managers, and they will be freely available through the Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (NADA) website and the NSW Health website.
Yes. In addition to the PI specifications and fact sheets, NSW Health and NADA are developing a clinical incident management protocol and reporting template, as well as other related policy and reporting templates. Organisations will receive electronic copies of these resources from contract managers, and they will be freely available through the NADA and NSW Health website.
NADA is continuing to develop functionality within NADAbase, its on-line database for members to collect and report on national and NSW MDS for DATS and will provide face-to-face and on-line MDS DATS training.
NSW Health is exploring options to provide contracted NGOs with clinical incident management training. Information will be made available once arrangements are finalised.
NADA provides its members with NADAbase for the collection and reporting on national and NSW MDS DATS. On behalf of its members, NADA provides monthly MDS DATS report extracts to relevant health agencies. Organisations that are not NADA members may arrange alternative MDS reporting arrangements which comply with NSW Health policy.
The majority of organisations are required to hold current organisation accreditation against NSW Health approved health and/or community service standards for alcohol and other drug treatment services. The approved standards are:
*Note: Stand-alone accreditation to these standards is only acceptable for dedicated mental health service organisations and those recognised as mental health and AOD ‘dual diagnosis’ service organisations.
More information is available in the Approved Organisation Accreditation Standards for NGOs Funded by NSW Health to Provide AOD Treatment Services Fact Sheet.
No. There is no mandatory patient reported experience measure (PREM). However, it is recommended that a validated and/or an in-house developed PREM be consistently used to measure change over time. PREMs commonly used in the AOD sector include: Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) (licenced); Outcome or Session Rating Scales (ORS and SRS) (licenced); Treatment Perceptions Questionnaire (free for not-for-profits); and organisation/in-house developed measures.
No. Organisations are required to have a clinical incident management process in place to manage all clinical incidents, and to report serious clinical incidents. Serious clinical incidents are those that cause death or serious injury to an active client requiring immediate medical attention; alleged or actual sexual assault of an active client; or injury to a child of an active client if the child is in the care of the service. NSW Health and NADA are developing a clinical incident management protocol and reporting template to support organisations; this, along with other resources will be freely available through the Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (NADA) website and the NSW Health website.
Yes. Client discharge and transfer of care is a critical time for ensuring client safety and quality of care. Discharge and transfer of care planning is a part of assessment and treatment planning which is continually reviewed and updated throughout treatment. This indicator requires the organisation to have a discharge and transfer of care policy and protocols in place, and to report on the percentage of clients with a planned or known discharge/transfer of care that had a discharge/transfer of care plan documented.
Organisations holding contracts with LHDs can contact the LHD NGO Coordinators and/or the nominated LHD drug and alcohol service contact.
Organisations holding contracts with the Ministry of Health can contact the AOD Branch System Enablers team through AOD_CPH@moh.health.nsw.gov.au or the AOD Branch Safety and Quality team through MOH-AODSafetyQuality@moh.health.nsw.gov.au.
Members of NADA can also phone NADA on (02) 9698 8669 for support.
PI resources will be available through the above contacts, on the NADAwebsite and the NSW Health website.