Planning and reporting Current situation Accountability for funded centres’ service planning is demonstrated by centres through their centre’s CLSP workplans. The strengths of the current workplan template are its inclusion of: strategic statements a description of service area/catchment or focus a table showing the times and locations of services a staffing profile table. Centres then report bi-annually against their workplans in CLSP progress reports. Discussion Progress reports against approved workplans are useful because: they can demonstrate centres’ successes and achievements they can provide early warning of issues that may impact on service delivery capacity they provide centres with a stimulus and format for reflection on what they have done and what they need to do. Progress reports currently do all this in a format that allows for comparison of performance across time and against an agreed set of commitments; i.e. the CLSP workplan. Currently, CLSP workplans are inconsistent — varying in format, clarity and quality. Often, the outputs reported in progress reports are different from CLSIS data against the same activities and timeframes. Some centres are unable to identify which CLSIS reports they have used to source the data given in response to specific items in their progress reports. It could be useful to include the following elements in CLSP workplans: Key strategic statements – in global terms, what the centre is there to do and achieve; what change it is it trying to create or contribute to and its major strategic goals towards that change? Strategic statements for the planning period – the centre’s objectives for the planning period, towards that change. Priorities – a summary of target groups, target locations and services to be offered to those target groups and in those locations. Rationale – a summary of the rationale and evidence that underpins these goals, objectives and priorities. General and core services – a table of service types, locations and times with service targets for clients seen and advice or discrete assistance provided; a table of casework to be provided against types of law. Community legal education (CLE) – an outline of CLE activities planned, including target audience, topics and collaborations that will support these activities, and a
SCHEDULE 4 - CLSP Service Standards The following expectations of legal assistance service providers (which include Community legal services) are taken from the National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Services, and establish and determine the basis for service provision and represent the services standards expected of CLSP funded Community legal centres: legal assistance services are targeted to priority clients with the greatest legal need; legal assistance service providers collaborate with each other, governments, the private legal profession and other services, to provide joined-up services to address people’s legal and related problems; legal assistance services are appropriate, proportionate and tailored to people’s legal needs and levels of capability; legal assistance services help people to identify their legal problems and facilitate the resolution of those problems in a timely manner before they escalate; and legal assistance services help empower people to understand and assert their legal rights and responsibilities and to address, or prevent, legal problems. The organisation must comply with, and meet the following Service Standards which establish and determine the basis for legal service provision, through: Service planning Community legal services should be planned, in collaboration and/or consultation with other service providers in the legal assistance sector and other relevant local, non-legal agencies, through – assessment of evidence identification of legal need targeting of services to priority client groups, priority locations and on priority legal issues effective triage of clients and their matters, including assessment of relative legal needs and capability, and targeting and tailoring of services to those most in need and most disadvantaged. Information and Referral Community legal services offer information and/or referral to people where appropriate and on the basis of need. Provision of Advice Community legal services provide advice to people on legal and other issues that is within their area of competence clear and up to date
This clause 24 does not apply, at VLA’s discretion, to the following circumstances: action by VLA to suspend or withhold payment under clause 23.1.1.e the exercise of rights under clause 15 or where notice of termination has been given by VLA under clause 25.1.1 except clause 25.1.1.b. This clause 24 does not preclude either Party from commencing legal proceedings for urgent interlocutory relief. TERMINATION OR EXPIRY OF AGREEMENT Termination at VLA’s discretion In the case of either of the following events, VLA may give notice to the Organisation to terminate this Agreement: where the Organisation ceases to carry on business or exist, or where the Organisation is in breach of its obligations under this Agreement and: VLA considers the Organisation is not capable of remedying the breach, or the Organisation has been notified in writing by VLA of that breach and the breach has not been remedied within 20 Business Days or such other agreed time of receiving a notice in writing from VLA to do so. Termination by any Party Any Party may terminate this Agreement at any time during the Term of this Agreement or any extended Term of this Agreement by giving notice to the other Party. Any termination of this Agreement will be without prejudice to the rights, liabilities, or obligation of the Parties accruing prior to the date of receipt of the notice of termination. If notice of termination is given under clause 25.2.1, the termination will take effect: six months after receipt of the notice of termination by a Party, or such other time as agreed in writing by the Parties. Organisation’s liabilities and obligations On receipt of a notice of termination under clause 25.1.1 or regardless of which Party gives the notice, the Organisation will: if directed to do so by VLA, cease the performance of its obligations under this Agreement do everything possible to mitigate all losses, costs, and expenses arising from the termination, unless otherwise directed in writing by VLA, and return to VLA any funds provided under this Agreement and not legally committed, as directed by VLA. Clause 25.3.1.c will also apply where the Parties to this Agreement do not enter into a new agreement or do not extend the Service Period.