Equipment and adaptations to the home

Equipment and adaptations to the home

What do the Occupational Therapy Team do?

OT's assess clients in their homes, with the aim of enabling them to achieve increased independence and reduce risk in their daily activities. If you are having difficulties getting in and out of your home, to move about the rooms inside your home, or to access your essential facilities OT's can:

• Provide assessment advice and information
• Recommend equipment or adaptation to help with your practical routine
• Advise on changing routine to increase independence
• Provide support with re-housing to increase independence
• Liaise with other agencies to support needs
• Re-assess you if your needs have changed.

Who can receive help from the Occupational therapy Team?

OT's can assess adults, or a child supported by a carer, living in the London Borough of Havering who have a permanent and substantial disability.

What help can I get?

Aids

Once you are assessed, OT may identify that you need equipment. There is no charge for the loan of equipment. These are generally smaller items such as:

• Raised Toilet Seat / Toilet Frames
• Bath Seats / Shower Boards
• Perching Stools
• Hoists
• Chair / Bed Raisers

Adaptations

These can be minor adaptations such as:

• Grab rails to enable you to get off of toilet, out of your front door
• Ramping to enable you to get into the community
• Stair Rails to enable safe use of the stairs
• Half Steps to allow safe access to the community.

They can also be major adaptations to your home. There is no cost for a major adaptation which the OT team deem to cost less than £1000.

Adaptations in excess of £1000 can be funded in a number of ways:

• Local Authority tenants will have adaptations funded by the Local Authority
• Other tenure, e.g. Private rent, leasehold, Owner Occupiers, PSL can be funded by a Disabled Facilities Grants which is means tested.

Further information can be obtained from the Grants Department by calling 01708 434070.

What help can I get?

Adaptations

Major adaptations are specifically designed to meet your needs, these include:

• Stair lifts to help you safely access your upstairs facilities
• Level access / walk in shower if you are not able to use bathing equipment to access your bath
• Widening Doorways to accommodate wheelchair access.

Eligibility for Occupational Therapy Assistance

You are entitled to an OT assessment if they have a permanent and substantial disability. The London Borough of Havering comply with the Fair Access to Care criteria which is a national criteria for eligibility to services. You will be assessed to determine whether you meet this substantial or critical need within this criteria. This will be explained when you request an assessment and copies of the Fair Access to Care information leaflet can be obtained from the Front Door Team.

What standards of service can I expect?

• When you contact the Front Door Team you will be asked for details about the difficulties you are experiencing
• Your name will be placed on a waiting list based on the urgency of your needs
• You will be offered a convenient appointment for assessments
• Your needs will be listened to with respect and incorporated into the decision making process
• You will be informed in writing of the outcome of your assessment, providing details of agreed plan and timescales
• Standard equipment will be provided within 5 working days of assessment
• Your OT will discuss with you the process and time scale for any adaptations
• Your adaptation or equipment will be reviewed by a member of the Occupational Therapy team and instruction on use will be given
• You will have the opportunity to tell us how we perform in a satisfaction survey.

How can I get help?

The first stage to getting assistance is to have an assessment with an Occupational Therapist.

If you think you would benefit from adaptation or some equipment and would like an assessment or would like to discuss your needs, please contact:

Front Door Team: 01708 432000

Email: haveringdirect@havering.gov.uk

Minicom: 01708 432308

Call in at 2nd Floor Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford RM1 3SL.

Opening Times: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.

Other Useful Contacts:

Homes in Havering

Freepost RRJC-CEXK-EAKL
Homes in Havering
Chippenham Road
Harold Hill
Romford RM3 8YQ

Tel: 01708 434000

Age Concern

Astral House
1268 London Road
London
SW16 4ER

Tel: 0800 00 99 66

H.A.D

Havering Association for People with Disabilities
Whittaker Hall, 1a Woodhall Crescent
Hornchurch
RM11 3NN

Tel: 01708 476554

Interpreting and Translation Assistance

If English is not your first language and you would like to see this document in your preferred language, or if you require this information in audio tape, braille or large print please contact the Front Door Team on 01708 432000.

Children with a disability