Introduction to the Occupational Therapy (OT) service
What are minor home adaptations?
Minor home adaptations are small changes that may make a big difference. These are easy fixes, specific to your child's needs, costing less than £1000. They can include:
- grab rails
- handrails
- temporary ramps
- shower seats.
These are all changes that do not require big structural changes to your home.
Your child/young person's Occupational Therapist (OT) will assess your child/young person's needs. They may recommend and provide suitable minor home adaptations.
- The OT and/or housing provider funds minor home adaptations. The OT will guide you through the process.
Your home situation
There are different processes to follow for minor home adaptations depending on your home situation:
- If you are a homeowner, the OT will refer to the community equipment service on your behalf.
- If you are a tenant, the OT will refer to your landlord. The landlord will need to give permission for the minor adaptation work. The landlord may also provide it. The community equipment service can also provide this if the landlord agrees to it but declines to provide it.
- Social housing tenants: Your local housing authority usually has a minor adaptations team. You or the OT can refer to them. Please see the contact page for their details.
- Other housing providers: Your local housing provider usually has a minor adaptations team. You or the OT can refer to them. Please see the contact page for their details.
These changes can make a big difference in your child/young person's daily life.
Don't hesitate to ask questions, the OT and/or housing team are here to help.
To start the home adaptation process go to Step 1 - getting an OT assessment.