The Partnerships directorate undertakes a wide range of commissioning, procurement and contract management-related activities that:
- supports DCJ staff to have strong relationships with service partners
- support contract management practice
- put in place mechanisms to manage contract performance, minimise risk to service delivery and ensure service providers are accountable.
This ensures clients receive services at the agreed level of quality and that contracted outcomes are achieved.
Partnerships provides services that support the sector, particularly our contract managers and program areas, service providers, and peak organisations. In addition, the directorate is responsible for managing state-wide contracts and contracts for particular programs.
Responsibilities of the Partnerships directorate
Direction
- Oversee the human services contract management system.
- Support the procurement and performance management functions of the commissioning cycle.
- Develop contract management and related policy.
- Design and implement contract management framework, procedures and systems.
- Oversee and implement prudential controls and risk management.
- Design, implement, and oversee the annual accountability process.
- Design, review and maintain a suite of contract instruments.
Contract management
- Support program areas and districts to issue contracts.
- Host IT systems to support contract management and payments.
- Maintain a centralised record of contracts.
- Negotiate and manage:
- state-wide contracts
- contracts for particular programs.
Payments
- Make funding payments to service providers.
- Maintain a central record of payments.
- Oversee payments and contracts for particular programs.
Investigation
- Investigate allegations of misconduct.
- Handle complex contracting complaints about service providers.
Communication and consultation
- Provide guidance to program areas for the procurement and contract/performance management functions of the commissioning cycle.
- Contribute to the strategy, design, and stewardship functions of the commissioning cycle.
- Liaise with program areas, peak organisations, and regulators.
- Liaise with regulators in relation to compliance matters.
- Work with program managers and contract managers to consider the registration or accreditation status of contracted service providers, when monitoring performance and assessing risk.
- Contributes to the strategic sector development of Aboriginal organisations.
- Design and implement communication with service partners.
- Consult with service providers, individually and through advisory forums, to ensure contract management procedures and systems are fit-for-purpose.
Support
- Provide resources that assist service providers and our staff to better understand and fulfil their obligations agreed in the contract.
- Provide support and advice regarding performance reporting and data.
- Support contract management maturity.
- Support district and central office colleagues with briefings, training, and advice.
- Support contract management via the contracting portal.
