Behaviour Assessment
Who are we?
The Behaviour Assessment Team provides services for any person with an intellectual disability who displays challenging or difficult behaviours for their families/whanau and other organisations involved in their lives.

The Behaviour Assessment Team is comprised of psychologists and allied professionals.  Collectively, we have many years of experience working with people with an intellectual disability in a variety of settings.

It is our belief that people with an intellectual disability should be supported to share the same rights and responsibilities as all other members of the community.

What do we do?
The Behaviour Assessment Team provides positive and educative supports and strategies for people who engage in difficult or challenging behaviours.  These behaviours frequently interfere with, restrict or prevent access to everyday routines, settings, activities and relationships, and consequently pose a significant challenge to providers, staff, caregivers and families/whanau in terms of developing effective responses, supports or services.

The Behaviour Assessment Team uses a wide range of approaches for assessment, intervention and ongoing support for an individual, their family/whanau and significant others.  Training and education are often an integral part of these responses.

Who can use our services? 
The services of the Behaviour Assessment Team are available to: 

• The individuals themselves.
• Parents, caregivers, spouses, legal guardians & family/whanau
• School staff (Teacher, teacher aid, principal)
• GPs, Public Health Nurses, Paediatricians and other Health Professionals
• Welfare agencies (e.g. Children, Young Persons & their Families Service)
• Mental Health Providers
• Judicial agencies (e.g. Police, Lawyers, Community Corrections)
• Providers of residential and day services for people with disabilities

How can our services be accessed?
You, your GP, or any other Community Agency can make a referral via a Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination (NASC) Agency in your area.

• Disability Support Link - Hamilton

          Phone: 64 7 839 1441 Or 0800 55 33 99

• Access Ability - New Plymouth

          Phone: 64 6 758 0700 Or 0800 758 700

• Support Net - all referrals are made through Tauranga

          Tauranga      Phone: 64 7 571 0093           Fax: 64 7 571 0277

          Whakatane   Phone: 64 7 306 0986

          Rotorua         Phone: 64 7 349 4213

          Afterhours     Phone: 0800 262 477

• Or Behaviour Assessment Team who will assist you in making a referral

Therapy Services
Who are we?
The primary focus of the Therapy Services is to support individuals with an intellectual disability to maintain their physical function and wellbeing at optimal levels.  We work in partnership with individuals and their family/whanau and caregivers in pursuit of a quality of life that upholds dignity, comfort and maximal independence.

What do we do?
We have been contracted by the Ministry of Health to provide specialist Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy assessments and interventions for people with an intellectual disability who live in the central North Island region.

The following are aspects of the physical function and wellbeing that may be covered:

• Physical status and functional abilities
• Physical environment and access
• Personal care
• Skills for independence
• Manual handling
• Physical safety
• Adaptive equipment
• Mobility
• Respiratory health
• Pressure care
• Sensory processing disorders

Our process includes:

• Assessment, including interview and clinical observations
• Recommending solutions to problems and developing management plans
• Training of caregivers
• Prescription of specialised equipment and environmental modifications
• Training in the use of specialised equipment and environmental modifications
• Training in the use of specialised equipment
• Regular reviews and re-assessment

Who can use our services?
Our services are for anyone, 15 years of age or over, who has an intellectual disability and an accompanying physical and/or sensory disability.

There are, however, some specific exclusions from eligibility, including:

• Service aimed at rehabilitation, intervention or treatment of an acute or short-term need (ie post trauma or surgery)
• Specialised wheelchair and seating needs
• Therapy services for young people eligible for services through the Ministry of Education (except to meet whole-of-life equipment needs)
• Therapy services for anyone eligible for services under the Accident Insurance Act 1998

How can our services be accessed?
Anyone can make a referral to Therapy Services.  For a referral form, contact:

Therapy Services

Phone: 64 7 834 3700

E-mail: therapyservices@clt.org.nz.

Residential Services
Who are we?
Residential Services provide opportunities for the people with an intellectual disability to live ordinary lives within their own homes and provides 24 hour support and supervision for this to occur.

It is our belief that people with an intellectual disability should be supported to share the same rights and responsibilities as all other members of the community. 

What do we do?
All referrals to Residential Services come via Disability Support Link who carry out a Needs Assessment.  They then present a funding package to Residential Services - we may make a further assessment to ensure the service is able to meet the needs of the person. 

Once a referral is accepted, a transition into Residential Services is instigated.  Family/whanau or advocates will be consulted and invited to work alongside us as we assist the person to move into our service.  Ongoing support is driven and monitored through a Life Support Programme which includes:

• a Life Plan
• a Service Plan
• a Risk Management Plan

We invite family/whanau or advocates to work alongside us in supporting people to pursue their dreams.

Who can use our services?
People with an intellectual disability that are referred to us by Disability Support Link

How can our services be accessed?
All referrals come to us via Disability Support Link

Phone: 64 7 839 1441 Or 0800 55 33 99

Family Living Options
Who are we?
Family Living Options provide a variety of services that meet the needs of the individual and their family. 

We believe that:

• Living with a family is the most natural way for people to be integrated and accepted by the community and should be considered as an option for everyone regardless of the person's age or ability.
• People with an intellectual disability can live ordinary lives in the community, and support should be in place for this to occur.
• People with an intellectual disability, their families and whanau can have control of their own lives
• All individuals have a right to be supported to have a real life, a real home and real friends.

What do we do?
An initial visit is made by the coordinator with the person, their whanau/family and advocates, to ascertain what family living options would be suitable within guidelines set by the funding and referring agency.

Family Living support options include:

• Respite Care:  providing care for the person for short stays, generally overnight.  This may be a planned weekend or holiday or day time relief for the primary caregiver/family.
• Foster Care (under 17 years) or Supported Board (over 17 years): the person lives full-time with a foster family or support person.  The foster family and natural family are encouraged to support the individual to live an ordinary life.
• Shared Care: the person is supported by a foster family for generally a set number of days per week.  The foster family and natural family unite in providing support for the child or young person.
• Home Support: a support worker provides an identified service to an individual generally for a set number of hours per week as determined by the funding agency and could include personal cares and/or recreational activities.
• Home Support and Buddy System: a support worker is employed by Family Living Options to provide an identified service within the hours contracted by the funding agency.  For example, this may be two hours per week for recreation or leisure activities, or could be five hours a week for personal care.

The Family Living Options coordinator maintains regular contact to make sure that everyone involved is happy and supported.

Who can use our services?
People of any age with an intellectual disability who can safely live within a family/whanau environment

How can our services be accessed?
All referrals come to us via Disability Support Link

Phone: 64 7 839 1441 Or 0800 55 33 99

Vocational Support
Who are we?
Vocational Services provides opportunities for people who have an intellectual disability to participate in all aspects of community life.  Our mission is to increase people's independence through involvement in a wide range of activities.  Individual programmes are developed for people through consultation with family/whanau, the person and significant others.  The emphasis of the person's programme is on individual choice, focussing on the person's interests, hopes and future aspirations.

What do we do?
Personalised programmes are designed for each individual by a coordinator, based on the individual's interests and goals.  Programmes may include life skills training, leisure pursuits, work experience, community group involvement or various therapies.

Following are examples of opportunities and activities offered within Vocational Service's six teams:

• Employment Options - career pathing, interview skills, CV development, job-hunting, job placement, job follow-through-skill development, job maintenance, training/education development.
• Transition to Employment - transition from school, education, community education/orientation, life skill development, art/craft*, experiencing a variety of work, social opportunities and networking/recreation opportunities, career pathing, focus on work ethic and work ready skills, enhancing independence.
• Supported Work - work options in a supported environment.  Options include: horticulture, wood chopping, woodwork, lawn mowing, garden/section maintenance, furniture removal, building maintenance, stone carving, skill development, focus on work ethic, work at own pace,.  Also opportunities for community participation, recreation, social skills and networking.
• Personal Skill Development One - quieter pace of day service, relaxation, fun, art/craft*, community participation, recreation, therapy, horse riding, cooking and skill development.
• Personal Skill Development Two - sharing, behaviour management, recreation, education, art/craft*, fun, horse riding, cooking and skill development.
• Personal Skill Development Three - social groupings, recreation, relaxation, herb/native plant gardening, art/craft*, recycling, therapy, music, fun, participation, horse riding, cooking and skill development.

*Vocational Services offers art/craft options suited to an individual's needs and wants.  This is provided either in our Visualz Art Studio where modules are worked through on a more formal structured basis, or at our other sites where the person can enjoy art at their own pace.

Who can use our services?
People with intellectual disabilities who are of school leaving age and older.

How can our services be accessed?
All referrals come to us via Disability Support Link

Phone: 64 7 839 1441 Or 0800 55 33 99

Flatting Services
Who are we?
Flatting Services has been developed to provide for people with an intellectual disability who are more independent in our community.

This service has a skilled and experienced support team that is committed to the people that they work with.  People are supported in all ways to suit their individual needs and choices.  They are encouraged to become more independent in their own time.

What do we do?
The aim of Flatting Services is to help people learn the skills they need to manage their lives.  Our main areas of focus are:

• Relationships - social skills, friendships, conflict resolution and communication are skills that a lot of people we support have difficulty with.  With time and encouragement, and the opportunity to interact socially, the people we support can learn these vital skills.
• Family/Whanau - we recognise the strong bonds between family/whanau and the people we support.  Listening to families' needs and expectations is important to the Flatting Service.  Keeping family/whanau involvement is also a priority for us.
• Education - we encourage the people we support to develop many different skills that may lead to possible employment.  Expectations are set to the level appropriate to each individual's needs.

To help develop work and social skills, individual day programmes can be prepared by Community Living Trust's Vocational Services, and external service providers, whichever is most suitable for the individual in partnership with Flatting Services.

Who can use our services?
People with an intellectual disability who can potentially live more independently within the community

How can our services be accessed?
All referrals come to us via Disability Support Link

Phone: 64 7 839 1441 Or 0800 55 33 99

03/RIDSAS (High & Complex Services)
Who are we?
The principle focus of 03/RIDSAS is to provide living options, work, social and interpersonal opportunities, along with behavioural supports that provide ordinary lives in the least restrictive circumstances.  The total package of support intends to maximise the safety of all and and personal development of the individual people we serve.

People in this service have generally presented significant behavioural challenges for their family/whanau, community agencies and other service providers.  Many of the people supported by this service have been involved variously with CYFS, the courts, Community Corrections, prisons and secure mental health services.

Community Living Trust recently signed a new contract with the Ministry of Health to deliver services to a very small group of people with disabilities identified as presenting most significant behavioural challenges.  In earlier times, people were incarcerated for long periods in secure hospital settings.  Deinstitutionalisation has taken away this option and, in recent years, these people have often been placed inappropriately in prison settings.  New legislation (Intellectual Disability Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation Act) and a new funding stream provide the context for this new contract.

Staff come from a diverse range of backgrounds, including:

• psychopaedic nurse/training officer
• social worker/care manager
• psychiatric nurse
• support people who have experience in or interests in supporting people who have high behavioural support needs and/or challenges
• students who are completing teaching/social science degrees/diplomas

What do we do?
There is considerable diversity in the living arrangements offered to, and negotiated with, the people in 03/RIDSAS, including:

• flatting alone with a few hours of support several times a week
• flatting with others or alone with staff on-site
• for some people, we provide continuous 24-hour, one-to-one support in the person's home.

We have been particularly comfortable with supporting several young people in the development of their relationships, with the result that they are living together as couples.  Some people within the service attend day programmes provided by other agencies such as Gracelands and Community Living Trust's Vocational Services.  However, most people we support participate in a variety of work focussed programmes that have developed within the service.

Who can use our services?
The 03/RIDSAS service is available for people with a moderate to mild intellectual disability.  They generally present siginificant behavioural challenges for themselves, family/whanau, and the community.

How can our services be accessed?
Referrals come to 03/RIDSAS via:

• Disability Support Link
• Department of Courts
• Child Youth & Family Services
• Prisons or secure mental health services