Performance Audit: Service Agreements between Government and Richmond Foundation Malta

The Report highlighted in caption refers to the five Service Agreements between four Government Entities and the Non-Government Organization (NGO) Richmond Foundation Malta. These Agreements relate to six services concerning the provision of mental health care Programmes within the community during 2014 and 2015. The National Audit Office reviewed these Agreements following a request by the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity (MFSS), endorsed by the Minister for Finance on 5 March 2015.

This review noted that service-users participating in the Government funded Programmes provided by Richmond Foundation benefitted from professionally delivered services, which generally also fulfilled value for money criteria. Economic considerations, however, could have been significantly improved had three major programmes – the ‘Kids in Development’, the ‘Villa Chelsea Rehabilitation Programme and Respite’ and the ‘Employment for All’ – operated at the maximum stipulated contractual capacity.

Although the Contracts under review capped the maximum charges payable to the Foundation, in two cases – namely the ‘Villa Chelsea Rehabilitation Programme and Respite’ and the ‘Supportive Housing Scheme’ Agreements – did not stipulate the number of service-users, which could participate in these Programmes. Moreover, these Agreements do not refer to the ensuing payment adjustments in cases of sustained low demand to the Programmes concerned. Three of the Agreements also do not refer to service users’ financial contribution due to the Foundation. Furthermore, to varying degrees, all Agreements omit clauses, which are deemed as standard or reflect best practices in Contract drafting.

This audit acknowledges that the Richmond Foundation Programmes delivered social benefit to all parties involved in these Agreements, particularly service-users. It is augured that the recommendations proposed in this Report, together with the endeavors of Governmental Entities and the NGO concerned, contribute towards strengthening future Agreements to ascertain the sustainability of mental health care services within the community.