Health and Community Services
August 16, 2016

Protecting Health and Well-Being

Report to Inform Planning for Provincial Home Support Program

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is working to develop an implementation plan for recommendations put forward by Deloitte in its review of the provincial home support program.

"This report on the state of our provincial home support program will prove to be a very useful roadmap as we move forward with improvements to the administration and delivery of these services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. While a client survey by Deloitte suggests a degree of satisfaction and effectiveness in the program as it currently exists, there are opportunities for improvement."
-The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services

Deloitte has reported a general consensus among stakeholders that the program is meeting its goals, and clients surveyed have a high level of satisfaction with the program.

The report also outlines a variety of suggested opportunities for improvement of the provincial program, including:

• Enhance the clinical assessment process;
• Streamline the financial assessment process;
• Align policies among the regional health authorities in program delivery;
• Improve standards to reflect best practices in home support;
• Develop a performance management framework to monitor and evaluate outcomes; and
• Establish agency agreements with service providers to increase accountability and oversight.

"On behalf of the Home Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, we welcome the release of the final report of the Provincial Home Support Review. The executive and its members look forward to the opportunity to thoroughly study the report and collaborate with the Provincial Government as we move forward to strengthen home support services in the province."
- Elizabeth Jenkins, President, Home Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador

A review of the provincial home support program was undertaken by Deloitte beginning in December 2015. The purpose of the review was to investigate reasons for the significant growth in caseloads and program expenditures. The Provincial Government will now use the report to identify initiatives that can be put into action and support commitments in the provincial Long-Term Care and Community Support Services Strategy.

To view the report, visit www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/personsdisabilities/pdf/executive_report_phsp_review.pdf .

QUICK FACTS

• A report on the provincial home support program released today shows general consensus among stakeholders that the program is meeting its goals.
• The report shows that clients surveyed also have a high level of satisfaction with the program.
• The report does identify opportunities for improvement that the Provincial Government will consider and implement over the short, medium and long term.
• To view the report, visit www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/personsdisabilities/pdf/executive_report_phsp_review.pdf .

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Media contacts:

Tina Williams Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 728-2837 tinawilliams@gov.nl.ca

Elizabeth Jenkins President Home Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador ea_jenkins@outlook.com

2016 08 16                              3:05 p.m.