Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) unsolicited proposals for bushfire affected providers
Australia's bushfires have been devastating for many individuals, communities, providers of essential services and our environment and wildlife.
The department would like to recognise the ongoing effort of CHSP providers in assisting with the bushfire response and recovery in affected areas. Your work has enabled essential aged care services to continue to those in need.
The department is aware the bushfires may have significantly impacted providers’ ability to deliver CHSP services. As such, we would like to remind CHSP providers they may submit an unsolicited proposal for additional grant funding where the provision of services has been significantly impacted. This is for existing CHSP providers and services only and is not available for new services.
CHSP providers may submit a business case outlining the following:
- summary of how the bushfire has directly impacted CHSP service delivery
- capacity for ongoing management of the funds
- information about relevant service types
- requested funding amount for the unsolicited proposal (available until 30 June 2020).
The department will endeavour to make the funding available as soon as possible.
The business case for the unsolicited proposal should be emailed to CHSPprogram@health.gov.au.
If providers have any questions about their ongoing CHSP service delivery capacity in fire affected areas, they can contact the Department of Social Services, Community Grants Hub Funding Arrangement Manager in their state or territory.
For other information about bushfire recovery efforts, please visit the National Bushfire Recovery Agency website.
CHSP ‘grandfathered clients’ My Aged Care client record update
Following the recent My Aged Care system enhancements, around 140,000 My Aged Care client records, along with their service information, were created or merged from the collection of Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) grandfathered client data.
The department would like to thank all those CHSP providers who provided their client data for this purpose.
The majority of client records are available in the My Aged Care provider portal for providers to view. However, a limited number of client records were unable to be created/merged due to:
- data matching issues
- data errors
- incomplete information.
The department is also aware that those organisations affected by the cyberattack in Victoria were unable to submit their client data within the project timeframe. Providers are asked to please retain a copy of the template in the event that we can offer another opportunity.
With regards to the limited number of client records that were unable to be created/merged, we would like to assure providers that options are being investigated for creating/merging these records in My Aged Care where possible. However, this may not be undertaken until later in 2020.
CHSP providers are reminded that there is no penalty for those who were unable to undertake the data collection or data upload. Clients who have submitted their information for this data collection project are not required to undertake an assessment. Providers should not be referring any grandfathered clients for an assessment unless their needs have changed.
CHSP clients should only contact My Aged Care if they feel their needs have changed and they require a re-assessment of their needs.
If providers have any further queries they can contact the My Aged Care provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799. The helpline is available Monday to Friday between 8am to 8pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
Extension of the CHSP Sector Support and Development Sub-Program
In October 2019, the department engaged KPMG to do a review of the Sector Support and Development (SSD) Sub-Program. The scope of the review was recently expanded with findings now due in April 2020.
The review recommendations will be considered in mid-2020. The department will consult with providers and the sector on potential changes coming from the review. This will occur before any policy and funding changes are finalised.
To provide funding certainty for SSD providers while the review and consultations are finalised, the department will extend funding for SSD providers until 30 June 2021. A further extension until 30 June 2022 will follow to allow for potential changes to the SSD Sub-Program to be reflected in the July 2021 to June 2022 funding arrangements.
If you have any questions about the extension of the SSD Sub-Program, please contact your Funding Arrangement Manager. Alternatively, you can contact the department at HomeSupportPolicy@health.gov.au.
Wellness and Reablement Report for CHSP providers – due 21 February 2020
CHSP service providers are reminded that the wellness and reablement report is due on Friday 21 February 2020.
Please contact your Funding Arrangement Manager if you have any queries.