Disability Support Services

Home and Community Support Services

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February 2016

What are Home and Community Support services?

Ministry-funded HomeandCommunitySupportserviceshelpdisabledpeopletoliveathomeandinclude householdmanagementandpersonalcare.

Householdmanagementmayincludehelpwith:

  • mealpreparation
  • washing,dryingorfoldingclothes
  • essentialhousecleaning,vacuumingandtidyingup.

Personalcaremayincludehelpwith:

  • eating anddrinking
  • getting dressed and undressed
  • getting up in the morning and getting ready for bed
  • showering and going to the toilet
  • getting around your home.

Who can get Home and Community Support services?

Peoplewho:

  • areunder65yearsold,and
  • meetDisabilitySupportServices’definitionofbeingdisabled,and
  • havehadaneedsassessmentthatsaystheyneedhomebasedsupportservicesto supportthemathome.

ApersonisrequiredtobeaCommunityServicesCardholderinordertoreceivehousehold management.Inthecaseofchildrenwithdisabilitiesundertheageof16,wheretheyare assessedasrequiringthisservice,theirparents/guardiansarerequiredtobeCommunity ServicesCardholdersinordertoreceivethisservice.

Accesstoa CommunityServicesCardisbasedonincomeandfamilysize. Visit the Work and Income website to find out more:

How do I get Home and Community Support services?

Youwillneed tocontactaNeedsAssessmentServiceCoordination(NASC)organisation. Contact details can be found online at

Withyou, theNASCwillassess whatsupportyouneedtoliveaneverydaylife.Theywillwork withyoutosetgoalsanddeterminewhatkindofhomeandcommunity supportservicesyou willneed,paidforbyDisabilitySupportServices.

Ifyouneedhomeandcommunitysupportservices,theNASCwilldiscusswithyouwhether thissupportisforhouseholdmanagement,personal care,orforboth,andhowtheywillhelp youmeetyourgoals.TheNASCwillalsotalkwithyouaboutwhichserviceproviders inyour areaareabletoprovideyouwithasupportworker.

Youcanhavean advocate,careroramemberof yourfamily/whānau/aigawithyou whileyou aregoingthroughthisprocess.Formoreinformationontheneedsassessmentprocessyoucan lookattheNASCfactsheetavailableonlineat

What is a service provider and what will they do?

Service providers are contracted by Disability Support Services to provide home and communitysupportservicesindifferentareasaroundthecountry.

Afteryouhaveselectedaservice provider,theNASCwillsendinformation aboutyoutothemandapersonfromthatservicewillcontact you.Theserviceprovider will prepareanindividualplanwithyouwhichmayincludethingslike:

  • whatyoucandoforyourselfandwhatyouneedhelpwith
  • any thingsthe supportworkerneedstoknowaboutyourcultureorthewayyoulike to dothings
  • anythingsthatthesupportworkerneedstoknowaboutyourhome,forexampleif you haveadog
  • whatdaysortimeofdayyouwouldprefertohavehelp.(Pleasenotesometimesit maynotbepossible forasupport workertocomeattheexacttimeofdayyouwould like.Youcandiscussthiswiththeserviceprovider)
  • whatsupportyouabsolutelymusthave,andwhatsupportcanbeflexible.

Therewillbeotherthingstheserviceproviderwilldiscusswithyou,andifyouhaveany concernsorquestionsabouttheservicetheyshouldbeabletoanswerthemforyou.They shouldalsotellyouwhattodoif youwanttomakea complaintorifyouareworriedabout thesupportyouarereceiving.

Where can I get more information?

You can contact your local NASC.Contact details can be found online at Your doctor or health professional should also be able to refer you to your local NASC.

A disabilityinformation service will also beable to help you find your local NASC and give you information. The New Zealand Federation of Disability Information Centres (NZFDIC) has several member organisationsthroughout New Zealand. You can contact them on free phone 0800 NZFDIC (0800 693 342) or online at members.

Did you know?

The Ministry of Health has factsheets and information pamphlets that tell you about the disability support services it funds.

You can find these online at by emailing by calling 0800 DSD MOH (0800 373 664), choose option 1.

HP4790 Disability Support Services: Home and Community Support Services 1