Vulnerable Victorians might be getting compromised care as the state's health department lacks sufficient capability to manage organisations delivering patient services, a report reveals.
The Victorian Auditor-General Office report released on Thursday found the Health and Human Services Department could not adequately manage the performance of outsourced patient services.
"Its contract management shortcomings compromise its ability to consistently meet this obligation and heighten the risk of further instances where significant client safety risks go undetected," the report reads.
The department's monitoring framework for its partnerships with about 1900 paid organisations was found to be "inefficient and ineffective".
"(It) does not support the provision of system-wide assurance that clients receive safe, high-quality services that meet their needs.
"The framework does not enable staff to gain a clear insight into performance issues and whether contracted services are being delivered as intended."
The department's service agreements have been deemed "not fit-for-purpose" by the auditor-general, with performance measures inconsistently recorded.
"These issues prevent DHHS from having a clear and accurate understanding of funded organisation performance and service delivery risks. This understanding is critical to ensuring that clients' safety and wellbeing is not," the report reads.
There has also been a lack of investment in staff development which has prevented them opportunities to maintain or obtain core contract management skills.
The department accepted all five recommendations which include applying a centralised, system-wide quality assurance when setting service agreement measures.
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