Neighbourhood Connections

Contact Details:

Marie Calderbank
10 Natalie Street
Nelson 7010

P: 03 546 9391
F: 03 546 8165
E: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Deborah Boyd
Wesley Centre
3 Henry Street
Blenheim 7201

P: 03 577 9094
F: 03 577 9053
E: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

What is Neighbourhood Connections?

Neighbourhood Connections is a community based agency, linked to Tautoko Services, which works with people who need a level of support to live in the mainstream community. Most people supported by Neighbourhood Connections have an intellectual disability, or an autism spectrum disorder , or a brain injury, but our service does not exclude other people who may require support. Currently Neighbourhood Connections operates in the Nelson and Marlborough regions.

Our Philosophy

Neighbourhood Connections believes in the inclusion of all people in the community.

• By providing individualised planned support to enable people to live with maximum independence.
  
• By working in a proactive manner with minimal intrusion, walking alongside people and focusing on their strengths and maintaining  their confidentiality.
  
• By assisting people to maintain, develop and expand their own personal support networks.
  
• By supporting people to take risks, whilst encouraging personal safety and respecting choices.
  

Our Key Principles

• People are supported to live in their own communities
  
• Support needs to be varied as the person’s needs change
  
• People are supported to make their own decisions, with access to good information to help make choices.
  
• Support is provided around the person’s life, and is based on a principle of minimal intrusion into the person’s own support networks.
  
• A person’s behaviour is not a barrier to getting support.

How can I access Neighbourhood Connections?

We encourage individuals and their families to make direct contact with us to  discuss their support needs. However, funding for ongoing support will normally come through a formal referral to us from a contracted needs assessment and service coordination agency (we can advise where to seek this). Individuals  and families may contact us directly, but we regard this as a ‘last resort’ option. Currently our funding comes from  the Ministry of Health, ACC and the Ministry of Social Development.

Where can I access support?

Wherever you need it! Neighbourhood Connections seeks to offer support wherever needed - in both urban and rural settings.

What is the process?

Once we receive a referral, one of our coordinators will make contact with you to discuss the support needs and to help develop a support plan. We then introduce a support worker. If the person and family accept the worker, then support gets underway.

What does a support worker do?

A support worker can assist a person with any or all of the following:

• Increase skills required for maximum independence.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with family and friends.
• Access and maintain community links and networks.
• Access social and leisure activities.
• Learn daily living skills.
• Access vocational, educational, social and recreational interests.
• Find and maintain an appropriate living arrangement.
  
  

In summary - We assist the person with whatever is needed to develop and maintain a stable and safe lifestyle.