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Sleepover update: April 2012

Changes to the settlement template

In April the Parliamentary Council Office requested changes to the Settlement Agreements which were before them, agreements were updated and will be re-signed to continue the settlement process. The Settlement Agreement template has also been updated to reflect the changes required and a new version 2 has been made available.

Submitting draft Settlement Agreements

It is important that the Ministry of Health receives an electronic copy of the Settlement Agreement before parties sign. We will then check that changeable clauses, such as what period is being claimed for, are either included or excluded as appropriate and progressed through the Order in Council process as efficiently as possible. Draft settlement agreements should be sent to sleepoversettlement@moh.govt.nz.

Timeframes

This is a new and complex process both for employers and for the funders and we are aware of the hard work that is required to get Settlements signed. However, that is only the start. The Order in Council is a legislative process which requires many steps and can take around three months. After the Order has been made, then the contract variation can be issued which is the mechanism for funding. The funder then has seven weeks to pay the provider.

Information flow

In our March update we acknowledged the importance of keeping information flowing during a time when a lot is happening, and that much of that is behind the scenes. We are committed to keeping employers and employees regularly updated throughout the process. The Ministry will be conducting a review of the process at the end of the year and findings will be published on our website.

Information online

The Sleepover Wages (Settlement) Act 2011 is available from New Zealand Legislation.

Further information on the sleepovers settlement process is available from the New Zealand Disability Support Network.  This includes all templates required to be completed in order to progress.

Page last updated: 03 May 2012