Commissioning specialist homelessness services for outcomes
Outcomes-based commissioning for specialist homelessness services puts our clients at the centre of our contracting approach.
Homes NSW is implementing a commissioning approach to contracting homelessness services. This means:
- shifting the focus from services offered to outcomes achieved for clients by having:
- agreed outcome measures
- data to track outcomes measures
- using data to inform continuous improvement to meet client needs
This will put clients at the centre of the contracting approach.
Principles of commissioning for outcomes
The principles of the transition to commissioning for outcomes are:
- Collaborative, transparent design and implementation
- Clarity on the role of homelessness services
- Ongoing capability development
- Contracts must include clearly defined, measurable and attributable outcomes
- Performance management is outcomes-focused and data driven.
On 1 June 2021, DCJ released an updated version of the SHS Program Specifications June 2021, which includes:
- Appendix 1 SHS Outcomes Framework Guide
- Appendix 1.1 SHS Program Logic
- Appendix 1.2 Outcomes Framework Toolkit
These documents are being implemented over the course of 2021-26 contracts for SHS service providers.
Sector feedback on the SHS program documents
- Service providers submitted feedback on the key program documents.
- You can read a summary of the feedback.
Transition timeline
May to June 2018
In May to June 2018, Homes NSW consulted with the sector and peaks to identify draft outcome measures and indicators for pilot testing. These were mapped to the Human Services Outcomes Framework (HSOF).
September 2018
In September 2018 a summary of the consultation findings was released. It included agreed client outcomes measures and indicators for piloting with service providers.
Early 2019
In early 2019, DCJ held consultation workshops with the homelessness service sector to clarify how data will be used for monitoring provider, program and system performance.
January to July 2019
From January to July 2019, we ran the SHS Outcomes Based Commissioning (OBC) Pilot across NSW with 17 service providers. They tested the use of the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) and Client Outcomes Survey (COS) with all new consenting clients. We collected data and insights on the use of these tools to track a client’s progress in 3 key outcome areas:
- safety
- housing
- wellbeing.
December 2019
Here is the final evaluation report of the Outcomes Based Commissioning (OBC) pilot, released in December 2019.
2020 and 2021
In 2020 and 2021 we consulted further with specialist homelessness services to finalise the Framework. This clarified what data we collect and how we will use this data to track provider, program and system performance.