NZ Government Content

Assessing needs

An assessment process is needed to get most heath and disability support services funded by the Ministry of Health or a District Health Board (DHB).

Read the section about ACC if you or the person you support is recovering from an injury.

How the assessment process works

The assessment is done by a Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) organisation. A NASC assessor will work with the person you support and, where appropriate, you as their carer to identify the person's needs. Some NASCs will assess your needs as a carer separately.

The NASC co-ordinator will tell you what kinds of support and services are available and help you co-ordinate these services.

The person you support should have regular reviews (often this happens once a year). You can ask for another assessment at any time if your needs or the needs of the person you are supporting change. Make sure you let the NASC know if you need a new assessment done urgently.

What help is available?

A wide range of services may be available for the person you support. Examples of these are:

  • help at home/home and community support (such as help with housework or personal care
  • Carers Support Subsidy and formal out-of-home services (respite care or having a break) 
  • day activity services (for example, day care programmes for older people)
  • residential care (living away from home, for example, a community residential home for people with a disability, or a rest home or long-stay hospital care for older people) 
  • other support services depending on the needs of the person you support and the area you live in.

Not all health-funded services need a NASC assessment. You can, of course, get emergency services, GP services and district nursing directly if you need them.

Who may get help?

A health professional may refer someone to a NASC organisation or you can contact them yourself. The first thing the NASC will do is check whether the person you support is eligible for services or if you, as a carer, can get support services. There are two main types of NASC, depending on your need:

  • NASC for younger people (under 65 years) with a physical, intellectual or sensory disability (that is likely to last for at least six months), or younger people with chronic health conditions and high ongoing support needs.
  • NASC for older people (aged 65 years and over) and people aged 50-64 years who have similar needs.

The NASCs in some DHBs assess the needs of people across a range of services, including people with mental health, or alcohol or other drug issues. In other DHBs, there are separate NASCs or mental health case managers who just look after the needs of people with mental health, alcohol or other drug issues.

Getting in touch

Younger people (under 65 years)

You can find a list of NASCs for younger people at the Ministry of Health website www.moh.govt.nz/disability or phone the Ministry of Health's disability number 0800 DSD MOH (0800 373 664).

Older people (aged over 65 years and people aged 50-64 years who have similar needs)

You can find a list of NASCs for older people at www.moh.govt.nz/olderpeople or call your local District Health Board or your local hospital and ask to talk to the NASC team for older people.

People with mental health, alcohol or other drug issues

For mental health NASCs (or a similar type of service), call your local mental health service at your local District Health Board.

Your doctor or other health professional should also be able to help you contact a NASC.

If you get stuck

In the first instance, you should talk to your local NASC organisation, your doctor (if you have an illness-related need), your local DHB mental health service case manager (if you have one) or ACC (if you or the person you support has had an injury).

If this doesn't work, you can contact:

  • the Nationwide Advocacy Service at the Health and Disability Commissioner's office
  • Disability Support Services for younger disabled people, 0800 DSD MOH (0800 373 664) the Ministry of Health.
  • the Ministry of Health.