NAO flags contractual deficiencies in young women’s residence homes

The National Audit Office has flagged contractual deficiencies in the Conservatorio Vincenzo Bugeja in Santa Venera that houses two residential homes for young women, Programm Fejda and Jean Antide Home.

The report – published in parliament - raises various concerns related to contractual deficiencies, particularly within the Deed regulating the out-of-home residential care services provided to females below the age of 18 years at Jeanne Antide and Fejda Homes.

These issues mainly related to the inadequate definition of services to be provided as well as to the inappropriate distinction between maintenance and refurbishment works at the Homes. Moreover, the Deed does not cap payments due by Government for the services and upkeep of the Homes, or appropriately allocates operational risks between parties.    

Between 2011 and 2014, the Homes accumulated surplus operating funds amounting to €203,148, which were eventually utilised to refurbish Jeanne Antide Home.  However, under the terms of the Deed such works are considered contentious. This review also questioned the conflict of interest situation arising through the awarding of a project management contract, by direct order, related to the afore mentioned refurbishment.

During 2014, the cost per person per night at the Homes averaged an estimated €94 where the care-worker to service–users ratio significantly influenced this rate. This review notes that the opportunity exists for studies to determine the optimal operational staffing ratios. 

Another NAO report focused on the four service agreements, in force during 2014, between Inspire Foundation and three Government Ministries. Through these agreements, the Foundation provides disability and inclusion services, mainly to children who were diagnosed with a disorder within the autism spectrum. The agreements, to varying degrees, do not always appropriately define service provision or comprehensively outline the processes whereby new service-users are referred to the various programmes.   

This audit noted that the Foundation’s management accounts are subject to a degree of qualification due to overhead apportionment inconsistencies. Moreover, in cases, these accounts included payroll emoluments utilised on non-Government subsidised programmes or accounted for service-users who were not referred by Government.  

This report noted a number of positive indicators relating to the quality of services provided by this NGO. However, it was noted that the Foundation’s staffing constraints led to delays in admissions and limited a number of programmes from operating at their full capacity. Additionally, in instances, the Foundation issued invoices at the programmes’ capped financial allocation level when these were operating below such capacity. Both these issues have since been addressed by the parties involved.

The audits followed a request by the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity endorsed by the Minister for Finance on 5 March 2015.