Needs Assessment Service Co-Ordination (NASC)

Providing services for people with support needs

What is Needs Assessment Service Co-Ordination?

This service works with people to identify their support needs, look at the support available and arrange the appropriate support.

This service is for people over 65 years of age, who have long term loss of independent function and require assistance with normal daily tasks.

This includes:

People recently discharged from hospital who require short term assistance with normal daily tasks after discharge
People under the age of 65 who have a long term chronic condition
People who need support as part of palliative care

Accessing our service

For Long Term Services:

You can be referred by your health professional, social worker, community organisation, friend, family OR you can refer yourself
You can make the referral by telephone, fax, email, letter or in person
You will need a community services card to access some services

For Short Term Services (post-discharge):

While you are in hospital, a nurse, social worker or support worker will make the referral on your behalf.

All referrals are vetted for eligibility and both the referrer and client will be informed of the outcome. Any client with an urgent need will be seen as soon as possible.

All referrals are given a priority rating. If urgent, one of our assessors will be in contact with you within one to two days.

If your need becomes urgent while your referral is being processed please phone the NASC Team Leader on 07 343 1030.

If a referral is not accepted, reasons are stated and the referral redirected as appropriate.

Click here to download a referral form.

How do we assess you?

A needs assessment may take up to two hours.

Depending on the type of assessment, it may be conducted over the phone, in hospital or in your home.

You are welcome to have family, whānau, friends, caregivers or an independent advocate with you for support during your assessment.

If the assessment is at home please ensure that all dogs are restrained when you are expecting the needs assessor and that any hazards are identified to the needs assessor prior to their visit.

The assessor will ask for information about what you can and can't do, what you would like to be able to do and what help or resources you currently have.

The assessor will also ask about your recreational, social and personal development needs, training and educational needs, vocational and employment needs and where appropriate, the needs of your family/whānau and unpaid support people.

The main purpose of a needs assessment is to find out what is needed to help you be as independent as possible in your home or community.

This may be through formal contracted services, through one of the contracted home support services, residential care facilities, or through your family, friends, community services, or by private paying arrangement.

While a needs assessment does not guarantee the provision of all services you would like, it is a useful process for identifying what needs are most important to you.

Options for support are discussed and agreed by all involved.

After your assessment

Following a needs assessment a summary of your support plan will be sent to you and to your GP.

A support plan is a letter that confirms what services have been arranged for you and who the provider responsible for providing these services will be.

The provider will then contact you to arrange implementation of the services requested.

What services may I be able to access?

Long and Short Term Services Include:

Personal Care
Carer Support
Home Help
Supported Living
Day Care
Respite Care
Residential Care
Other services based on your individual needs

Service Exclusions

Excluded are people who are:

Covered under the Accident Compensation Act (ACC) may not be eligible
People who require assessment solely as a result of a personal health need (e.g. they require ongoing supervision by a health professional)
People who are not a resident of New Zealand

Referral Forms

Over 65 referral form

Short term service referral form

Contact

Rotorua NASC, 2 Ranolf Street, Private Bag 3023, Rotorua

Taupo NASC, Taupo Hospital, Private bag, 3023, Taupo

Email: nasc.admin@lakesdhb.govt.nz