Needs Assessment Office for people with disabilities

The Cantonal Council of the Canton of St.Gallen has passed an amendment to the Act on Social Security and Integration of People with Disabilities (BehG) that strengthens the freedom of choice for people with disabilities through outpatient services in the area of housing. A central element of the new law is the needs assessment. This process involves assessing the individual support needs of people with disabilities using a standardized needs assessment procedure and, based on this, determining which support services are necessary.

The purpose of this call for proposals is to evaluate a competent and capable provider who, as the needs assessment agency, will conduct needs assessments for people with disabilities in the Canton of St.Gallen during the service period from 2027 to 2031, with an optional extension through 2036. The agency is responsible for conducting needs assessments for the provision of outpatient and inpatient care services.

The Needs Assessment Office plays a central coordinating role in the needs assessment process. It reviews and verifies the individual support needs of people with disabilities, determines the recognized needs, and evaluates the necessary services. The actual needs assessment conducted by the office takes place through a collaborative dialogue. The focus is on the person being assessed, who actively participates in guiding the process. This process should be adaptable to the specific situation — for example, in terms of duration, the support persons or peers involved, and the location where it takes place (preferably in the individual’s own living environment).

Two basic services are provided:

GL01: One-time setup and preparation work (for establishing the Needs Assessment Office)

GL02: Determination of individual support needs and issuance of recommendations regarding the

need for services (including consideration of potential services provided by third parties)

The legislative amendment is subject to a mandatory financial referendum, which is why a referendum will be held in November 2026. The awarding of these services depends on the outcome of this referendum.