Occupational therapy

What is the Occupational Therapy Service?

If you have a disability or a long-term medical condition and are finding it difficult to carry out everyday activities in your home, like going up and down the stairs, getting on and off your armchair or using the bath, we can offer an assessment by an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Our aim is to help people of all ages (from children to adults) to be as independent as possible in their everyday lives.

Our services:

Depending on the type and level of help you need we can provide a range of services.  These include:

• Assessment
  We can provide an assessment of your needs within your home.
  Provision of a service is made in accordance with the  Fair Access to Care Services criteria 
• Advice
  We can give you information and advice on different ways to carry out everyday tasks to reduce your difficulties and increase your independence.  We can also tell you about the range of equipment you can buy and give you details of local suppliers. 
• Equipment
  We can provide equipment through two routes, either through prescription or on long term loan from Social Services.  You will need to meet set criteria in accordance with Fair Access to Care Services before we can provide equipment.
• Adaptations
  We can arrange alterations to your home such as fitting grab-rails, installing a level access shower, stair-lift or ramp.  As with equipment, you will need to meet set criteria before we can provide this help.
• Re-housing
  We also provide support for disabled people who wish to move to a more suitable property.

Who can have this service?

You need to live in London Borough of Havering and:

• Have a permanent or long term disability
• Care for someone with a disability

Will I have to pay towards this service?

The advice and assessment is free of charge.  The equipment on your prescription is free and yours to keep once you have received it from a retailer.  Loaned equipment is also free and usually on loan to you for the period required.

If you are a council tenant, adaptations are likely to be funded by the Local Authority.

If you are a Housing Association tenant, the Housing Association will make their own funding arrangements.

A means tested Disabled Facilities Grant is available to fund adaptations in privately owned or rented properties. Please click here for further details.

We can give you information and advice on different ways to carry out everyday tasks to reduce your difficulties and increase your independence.  We can also tell you about the range of equipment you can buy and give you details of local suppliers.

Please note that we do not reimburse for equipment purchased or minor and major adaptations privately installed.

Who provides this service?

Our Occupational Therapy Staff are based in the Front Door Team and Social Work Teams  

Our accredited retailers and equipment stores technicians can fit equipment and we use contractors to complete minor and major adaptations.

How do I contact the service?

If you would like an assessment or to discuss your needs, please contact:

Front Door Team
2nd Floor Mercury House

Mercury Gardens

Romford RM1 3SL

Email:  haveringdirect@havering.gov.uk 
Telephone: 01708 432000
Fax: 01708 433334
Textphone: 01708 433175

If you prefer, you can ask a friend, relative or medical professional to make contact on your behalf.

The person making the referral will be asked about your contact details and the nature of the difficulties you are experiencing, including:

• Your name, address, date of birth, telephone number and GP
• The language you prefer to speak
• Any medical conditions you have
• A description of the difficulties you are experiencing
• How you are currently managing

What happens during the assessment?

During the visit you will have the opportunity to explain and demonstrate the difficulties you experience.  If you wish, you can ask a relative, friend or carer to be with you when we visit.

During the visit the Occupational Therapist or Assistant will ask you about your medical condition and social support. They will ask you to demonstrate certain activities, for example, how you manage the stairs, access the front and back door, getting on and off the toilet, chair and bed, and in and out of the bath.

The worker will discuss possible solutions with you.  If you are eligible for services, the worker will provide you with a prescription for the agreed equipment (please see How can I get community equipment? for further information), or arrange for the loan of equipment or adaptations to be provided following the home visit.

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