NASC (Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination) assessment

Generally people who require an assessment solely as a result of a mental health need, addiction or as a result of a personal health need are not assessed by NASC agencies (unless a District Health Board has contracted this service separately).

If your client has a mental health need, addiction or disability as a result of a personal health need they may have been assessed by another part of the health sector. You may be able to use these assessments to decide if your client is entitled to Supported Living Payment.

For more information see:

• Other types of assessment

NASCs are organisations contracted to the Ministry of Health to work with disabled people to help identify their needs and to outline what disability support services are available. NASC agencies may also contract with other parts of the health system (eg District Health Boards) to provide needs assessments for clients with mental health or addiction issues.

The purpose of the NASC assessment is to decide what is needed to maximise a person's independence so they can participate as fully as possible in society.

NASC agencies allocate Ministry of Health funded support services and assist with facilitating access to other supports.

NASC assessments provide a comprehensive needs assessment report. These reports may also include a medical specialist report that confirms the person's diagnosis.

All NASC agencies have a standard needs assessment report which covers the following areas:

• assessment details (such as date assessment completed, where it was completed and when the person needs to be reassessed)
• disability/diagnosis
• who was present at the assessment
• history/events leading to assessment
• present living situation - covers a description of the person's current living situation
• current support networks
• communication
• mobility - covers mobility inside and outside the home, in the community, transfers, transport, driving
• sensory function - covers vision, hearing, speech
• household management - covers activities such as shopping, meal preparation, housework, finance, home safety etc
• personal care - covers ability to get in and out of their bed, bathing/showering, dressing/undressing, dental care, personal hygiene etc
• medications and disability related costs
• memory behaviour cognition - covers memory, behaviour, delusions/hallucinations, anxiety, supervision etc
• other information such as educational/vocational/voluntary work/activities, social recreational, spiritual/cultural, client goals, other information
• carer support information - current situation

The NASC report may be particularly useful in establishing severity of your client's disability.

For more information see:

• Age of assessment
• Use all information available
• Interpreting NASC assessments
• Diagnosis not available in existing assessments
• Helping your client obtain existing assessments