New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline - Ministry of Health

Part 4: Treatment and management of ASD
Schools, families and whänau, and services supporting people with extreme behaviour problems
need rapid access to specialist assistance and support for staff, families and whänau (Good Practice
Point 3.2.5.5, section 3.2.e). A timely response may prevent loss of current residential, educational and
vocational placements 11 .
Systems which need to be in place to support a crisis response include:
• specialist staff with skills and experience in ASD from all relevant professions available for
consultancy
• information for people with ASD, parents, family and whänau, and professionals about how to
access consultancy and support from specialist staff
• a multiagency team which can work in all settings
• short break respite (with specific ASD knowledge) and other respite in-home supports for families
• facilities to withdraw a person from a situation when they are, or are likely to be, overloaded
• twenty-four-hour care placement for a small number of people 11 (Good Practice Point 4.6.4).
For some children and young people who have exceptional needs across two or more sectors, a
referral to the High and Complex Needs Intersectoral Unit may be appropriate (Good Practice Point
4.6.5). A successful referral would result in a suitable person being appointed to coordinate the team’s
support plan. Extra funding is provided to resource the plan. Similarly, adults with ASD who exhibit
challenging behaviour should be referred to Adult Community Health, and, if intellectually disabled,
to local Needs Assessment and Service Coordination agencies (Good Practice Point 4.6.5).
Part 4
New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline 157