A needs assessment may take up to two hours.  You are welcome to have family, whānau, friends, caregivers or an independent advocate with you for support during your assessment.  

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 to 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. 

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

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.