Disability in New Zealand

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Ministry-funded Services

Frequently Asked Questions about Needs Assessment Services Co-ordination

What is a NASC?
What is needs assessment?
What is service co-ordination?
Who is eligible for a needs assessment?
What is Government’s definition of disability?
Who is eligible for Ministry-funded services?
Who is excluded from Ministry-funded support services?
How do I get a needs assessment?
What are NASCs' key roles and responsibilities?
What is NASCA?

What is a NASC?
NASC stands for Needs Assessment and Service Coordination. It is often used to refer to the organisation which the Ministry of Health Disability Services contracts to work with people with a lifelong impairment to determine their eligibility and need for Ministry of Health funded disability support services. The NASCs also assist the person to determine the best mix of supports based on their own strengths, resources and goals. The supports or services are then delivered by people in the person’s networks, community or by service providers.

What is a needs assessment?
A needs assessment is a facilitated process undertaken in partnership with the disabled person to determine their current abilities, resources, goals and needs and identifies which of these is the most important. The purpose is to decide what is needed to maximise a person’s independence so they can participate as fully as possible in society.

What is service co-ordination?
Service co-ordination is a process of identifying, planning and reviewing the package of services required to meet the prioritised needs and goals of a disabled person and, where appropriate, their family, whanau and carers.

Who is eligible for a needs assessment?
Disabled people are eligible for a needs assessment should the person with the disability meet the Government's definition of disability.

What is the Government's definition of disability?
The Government's definition of disability determines who is eligible for Ministry-funded Disability Support Services (DSS) via a NASC. The definition states that: "A person with a disability is someone who has been assessed as having a physical, psychiatric, intellectual, sensory, or age related disability (or a combination of these) which is likely to continue for a minimum of six months and result in a reduction of independent function to the extent that ongoing support is required".

The Ministry primarily works with people with physical, intellectual, and sensory impairments/disability. Support for people with psychiatric and age related support needs are accessed through the person’s local DHB.

Who is eligible for Ministry–funded services?
In applying the definition above, the Ministry will fund a range of Disability Support Services (DSS) for people who have been assessed as having a physical, intellectual or sensory disability (or a combination of these). Mainly these are younger people under the age of 65 years. Funding of Disability Support Services (DSS) for people with psychiatric disability and age-related disability was devolved to District Health Boards (DHBs) in 2002.

The Ministry will also fund DSS for people with certain neurological conditions that result in permanent disabilities, certain developmental disabilities in children and young people such as autism, and physical, intellectual or sensory disability that co-exist with a health condition and/or injury. A NASC can clarify these by contacting its Ministry of Heatlh Contract Relationship Manager.

Who is excluded from Ministry-funded support services?
People who are covered under the Injury, Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2001. ACC has been responsible since 1974 for funding support services for people whose disability is caused by injury or accident.

People aged 65 years and over who do not have a long term impairment (ie, physical, sensory, intellectual disability that was acquired before the age of 65 years)
People aged 65 years and over with a long term impairment who have been Ministry funded but who have been clinically assessed by a DHB or needs assessor as requiring age related residential care.
People aged 50–64 years who have been assessed by a DHB or DHB needs assessor as ‘close in interest’ to persons aged 65 years and over and whose needs would be best met by DHB integrated health and disability services.
People who require an assessment solely as a result of a mental health need or addiction condition – these assessments are contracted for by the DHB through Mental Health Assessment Services or Community Mental Health teams.
People who require assessment as a result of a personal health need. A personal health need is defined as when a person’s level of independent function is reduced by a condition that requires ongoing supervision by a health professional.

How do I get a needs assessment?
A referral is required before a needs assessment can take place. This is a documented request for needs assessment and/or service coordination. A person can self refer or any other person or organisation can make the referral, with the disabled person's agreement.

What are NASCs' key roles and responsibilities?
The contract the Ministry has with NASCs requires three things of the NASC:

Facilitating a Needs Assessment process
Service Coordination, which includes giving information about options, planning and coordinating the supports in a support plan, and allocating some DSD funded support services
Budget Management. The NASC manages an indicative budget for DSS on behalf of the Ministry as the funder, and has to ensure equitable and cost effective packages of support within that budget.

Some NASCs have different staff working as Needs Assessment Facilitators and Service Coordinators; while others have the same person fulfilling the two different roles.

What is NASCA?
The Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination Association is a non-for profit incorporated society comprised of managers of NASCs contracted by either the Ministry or DHBs to work with disabled and/or older people and in a few instances mental health consumers. Membership is voluntary, but all Ministry of Health-contracted NASC managers are members.

Page last updated: 1 July 2007