Community Neurobehavioural Service
The core function of the Community Neurobehavioural Service (CNS) team is to provide a
psychological service for people who have an acquired brain injury and experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties relating to that injury.
The services provided include assessment, psychological therapy and behaviour management (working in clinic or home setting). The CNS team works collaboratively with individuals and their families/whanau/caregivers to better manage the cognitive, behavioural and emotional sequelae following brain injury. CNS is a small team comprising members from various disciplines, including: psychiatry, psychology and nursing. The team provides a free community based service to Auckland and Northland regions.
Initial assessments are conducted to ascertain psychological treatment needs of individuals and their families/whanau/caregivers. Neuropsychological assessments may be conducted to inform the interventions of the CNS team. Following the initial assessment, the CNS team will tailor a program to the needs of the client and family/whanau/caregivers. This may involve a combination of the following: brain injury education, psychological therapy, staff training, behavioural management and medication management.
Referrals
Referrals are accepted from any source, including self-referral. Non-clinicians are encouraged to facilitate referrals through the client’s GP, to ensure all relevant medical and medication history is provided.
Entry Criteria:
Service users must meet all of the following criteria:
- have documented evidence of acquired brain injury
- experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties relating to that injury
- live within the Auckland or Northland region
- be aged under 65 years.
Acquired Brain Injury Criteria:
- An acquired insult to the brain must be verified by supporting documentation that corroborates an injury.
Types of acquired brain injury that are core business for CNS include:
- traumatic brain injury - resulting from accident/assault
- non-traumatic brain injury - e.g. cerebrovascular accidents, hypoxic injury, neurotoxicity, infective disorders, demyelinating disorders.
Criteria for Emotional/Behaviour Difficulties:
- The individual’s behaviour must be impacting on a person’s functional capacity and may be disruptive to one or more of the following: activities of daily living, community activities, and/or interpersonal and professional relationships.
Such behaviours could include, but are not limited to:
- irritability, verbal and physical aggression
- lack of self-care or activity
- mood and anxiety disorders
- adjustment difficulties
- significant cognitive changes that impact on function and/or behaviour.
Behaviour change may be a direct result of organically based behaviour dyscontrol (e.g. poor executive functioning). It may also be due to difficulties with adjustment to the consequences of brain injury (resulting in e.g. anxiety, depression or grief).
You can download the CNS Referral Form at the bottom of this page. Forms can be sent or faxed, along with supporting documentation, using the contact details below.
Contact
Community Neurobehavioural Service
PO Box 44-037
Pt Chevalier
Auckland 1246
Fax: 09 815 5642
Phone 09 815 5643
Website: www.adhb.govt.nz
Free service for those currently under the care of a mental health clinical team, GP or psychiatrist who live in the Waitemata district (North Shore, West Auckland and Rodney districts).
