This is the third paper by the authors on managing the relocation of psychiatric services from large institutions to new patterns of local provision. It offers a summary of their current thinking about the characteristics of an assessment and resettlement model which would be compatible with the wider planning issues set out in the earlier papers. They are particularly concerned with two questions:- i) How senior managers use information about the needs and capabilities of people currently living in large hospitals, to improve service planning. ii) How to break down the overall task into stages, to use resources efficiently, and safeguard patients' interests.